mmiscences 


Sermons  and  Correspondence 
1884-1913 


Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 


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Reminiscences,  Sermons  and 
Correspondence 

Proving  Adherence  to  the  Principle  of 

Christian  Science  as  Taught  by 

Mary  Baker  Eddy 


By 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  g.s.d. 


Illustrated 


G.   P.  Putnam's   Sons 

New  York    and    London 

Gbe  ftntcfterbocfcer  press 

1913 


Cr  ,83ori902mrrn 


Copyright,   1913 

BY 

AUGUSTA   E.  STETSON 


Zbe  Imicfcerbocfcet  ptees,  flew  Botfc 


And  I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came  not  with  excellency  of 
speech  or  of  wisdom,  declaring  unto  you  the  testimony  of  God. 


And  my  speech  and  my  preaching  was  not  with  enticing  words  of 
man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power. 

That  your  faith  should  not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the 
power  of  God. 

St.  Paul.     1  Corinthians,  ii.,  t,  4,  5. 


I  am  the  way,  the  truth,   and  the  life:   no  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father  but  by  me. 

Christ  Jesus,    John  xir,,  6. 


Millions  of  unprejudiced  minds — simple  seekers  for  Truth,  weary 
wanderers,  athirst  in  the  desert — are  waiting  and  watching  for  rest  and 
drink.  Give  them  a  cup  of  cold  water  in  Christ's  name,  and  never  fear 
the  consequences.  What  if  the  old  dragon  should  send  forth  a  new 
flood  to  drown  the  Christ-idea  ?  He  can  neither  drown  your  voice  with 
its  roar,  nor  again  sink  the  world  into  the  deep  waters  of  chaos  and  old 
night.  In  this  age  the  earth  will  help  the  woman  ;  the  spiritual  idea 
will  be  understood.  Those  ready  for  the  blessing  you  impart  will  give 
thanks.  The  waters  will  be  pacified,  and  Christ  will  command  the  wave. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy.     Science  and  Health,  p.  570. 


- 


• 


LEAD  THOU  ME 

Shepherd,  hear  my  pleading  prayer, 

Father,  take  my  hand, 
Light  the  torch  and  lead  the  way 

Through  time's  desert  land. 

I  am  longing  for  the  day 

Promised  by  our  Lord, 
Light  the  torch  and  lead  the  way, 

Father-Mother  God. 

Guide  me,  Saviour,  lest  I  stray, 

Firmly  clasp  my  hand, 
Light  the  torch  and  lead  the  way, 

All  my  steps  command. 

Dear  Christ,  thou  my  strength,  and  stay, 

Thou  my  joy,  my  song, 
Light  the  path  and  lead  the  way, 

Through  time's  phantom  throng. 

Thus  I  fearless  walk,  and  pray : 

Father,  guard  Thy  child, 
Light  the  torch  and  lead  the  way 

Through  the  tempest  wild. 

Father — Mother — Love  divine, 

Life  in  Thee  I  find, 
Light  the  path  and  lead  the  way 

To  my  home  in  Mind. 


A.  E.  S. 


PREFACE 

IN  compliance  with  the  frequent  and  urgent  requests 
of  my  students,  members  of  my  church,  and  others 
throughout  the  world  who  have  known  me  as  preacher, 
teacher,  and  practitioner  of  Christian  Science  Mind- 
healing  since  1884,  both  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
this  book  is  sent  forth  on  pinions  of  loye  to  every 
earnest  seeker  for  Truth. 

It  is  a  record  of  the  human  footsteps  which  have  led 
me  from  the  letter  to  the  spirit  of  absolute  Christian 
Science,  and  my  present  demonstration  of  the  spiritual 
facts  of  being,  viz.:  that  "man  is  not  material;  he  is 
spiritual"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468).  "When  the 
following  platform  is  understood  and  the  letter  and 
the  spirit  bear  witness,  the  infallibility  of  divine  meta- 
physics will  be  demonstrated"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  330).  Spirit,  the  one  God  or  Principle  of  all  that 
really  exists,  is  manifest  in  the  spiritual  universe,  which 
is  composed  of  individual  spiritual  identities  or  ideas 
constituting  God  and  His  Christ.  This  supreme  Mind 
or  creative  intelligence  is  the  only  reality  of  being. 
So-called  mortal  man  is  a  myth,  dust  to  dust,  nothing- 
ness. This  understanding  of  man  as  a  spiritual,  mental 
emanation  of  the  one  Mind  or  God  will  finally  be  ac- 
cepted and  demonstrated  by  all  mankind,  and  the 
supremacy  of  the  Mind  of  Christ  will  finally  destroy 


viii  Preface 

the  fleshly  so-called  mind  and  its  effects,  sin,  sickness, 
and  death. 

The  great  Leader  of  Christian  Science,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  states  in  her  text-book  of  Christian  Science, 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  "All  is 
infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  manifestation,  for  God  is 
All-in-all"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468).  Therefore 
it  follows  in  divine  metaphysics  that  all  that  is  unlike 
God,  good,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love  is  produced 
by  the  so-called  fleshly  mind,  the  results  of  which  false 
mentality,  discord  and  disease,  dissolve  when  met  by 
the  omnipotent  power  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  they 
disappear  as  darkness  before  the  light. 

This  volume  chronicles  the  experience  of  twenty- 
eight  years  of  constant  service  in  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science.  Its  purpose  is  to  show  adherence  to  the 
spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Holy  Bible  as  demon- 
strated by  Christ  Jesus,  and  in  this  age  revealed  and 
taught  by  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

To  stand  each  day  during  these  years  in  the  front 
of  battle,  crossing  swords  with  materialists,  and  with 
those  who  interpret  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science 
from  a  material  view-point — to  wield  the  "twoedged 
sword"  of  the  Spirit, — the  Word  of  God,  and  prove  its 
mighty  power  to  defend  and  to  protect  against  the 
mortal  mentalities  which  compose  the  so-called  material 
world, — to  continue  this  battle  of  Truth,  against  error 
till  invincible  Truth  triumphs,  and  Love  leads  out  from 
material  belief  into  the  apprehension  and  understanding 
of  the  "wholly  spiritual"  concept, — all  this  effort  to 
overcome  the  human  is  expressed  by  Mrs.  Eddy  in 
the  following  words,  "If  men  understood  their  real 
spiritual    source    to    be    all    blessedness,    they    would 


Preface  ix 

struggle  for  recourse  to  the  spiritual  and  be  at  peace" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  329). 

May  my  footsteps  up  the  hill  of  Christian  Science 
and  its  rich  reward  of  spiritual  power,  love,  peace,  and 
joy  in  the  holy  Spirit,  quicken  the  earnest  endeavor  of 
all  who  have  entered  the  path  which  Christ  Jesus  trod 
toward  a  demonstration  of  his  manhood,  his  oneness 
with  the  Principle  of  being,  Mind,  Spirit,  God.  May 
the  spiritual  animus, — the  vitality  of  the  Word,  within 
this  volume, — enable  all,  who  peruse  its  pages,  to  grasp 
more  firmly  God's  right  hand,  until  faith  becomes  under- 
standing and  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  Christian 
Science  reveal  the  glory  and  grandeur  of  a  life  con- 
secrated to  God  and  to  the  relief  of  sin-blind  suffering 
humanity.  Christian  Scientists  are  exalting  the  Christ 
in  individual  consciousness  and  are  gradually  dissolving 
the  illusions  of  corporeal  sense. 

This  book  is  not  in  advance  of  its  time.  The  spirit- 
ually minded  of  the  twentieth  century,  quickened  by 
the  impetus  of  the  on-coming  Christ  are  grasping 
and  demonstrating  their  spiritual  "dominion  .  .  .  over 
all  the  earth"  with  which  God  endowed  man. 

Amid  the  smoke  of  battle  the  pioneers  of  Christian 
Science  have  clung  "steadfastly  to  God  and  His  idea" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  495),  while  striving  to  demon- 
strate the  spiritual  facts  of  being, — the  absolute  potency 
of  Truth,  and  man's  oneness  with  his  creator.  Divine 
Love  will  finally  triumph.  The  picture  of  the  woman 
in  the  Apocalypse  will  be  understood  and  pagans  of 
praise  to  God  will  ascend  from  the  hearts  of  men  for 
deliverance  from  all  sin,  suffering,  sorrow,  and  death, 
"for  the  former  things  [mortal  thoughts]  are  passed 
away"  (Rev.  xxi.,  4). 

With  armor  on,  continuing  the  march  toward  the 


x  Preface 

demonstration  of  immortal  womanhood,  I  shall  watch, 
work,  pray,  and  love  more,  and  patiently  await  the 
spiritual  ultimate,  immortality. 

This  volume  will  fulfil  its  mission.  May  every 
Christian  Scientist  throughout  the  world  be  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  rise  to  the  zenith  of 
demonstration  of  the  omnipotence  and  omnipresence 
of  the  Christ-mind  over  all  that  is  unlike  God  and  His 
idea.  Then  they  may  express  their  allegiance  to 
Christ  as  did  the  Master  when  he  applied  to  himself  the 
following  words  of  Isaiah: 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  because  He  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor;  He  hath  sent 
me  to  heal  the  brokenhearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to 
the  captives,  and  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at 
liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 

To  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord  (Luke  iv., 
18,  19). 

And  the  words  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy : 

God  will  heal  the  sick  through  man,  whenever  man  is 
governed  by  God  (Science  and  Health,  p.  495). 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


INTRODUCTION 

HUMAN  belief  passes  through  many  phases  of  illu- 
sion ;  struggling  in  the  darkness  of  personal  sense, 
striking  against  the  walls  of  materiality  which  shut  it 
in  an  atmosphere  of  error,  striving  with  itself  for  free- 
dom— only  to  fall  at  last  at  the  feet  of  Truth,  and  cry 
out:  "O  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death?" 

In  its  beginning,  the  belief  which  held  me  was  nour- 
ished by  the  human  love  of  devoted  parents  trained 
to  believe  in  a  personal  God.  Taught  to  lisp  the  infant 
prayer,  "Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep,"  and  frequent 
repetition  of  its  termination,  "If  I  should  die  before 
I  wake,"  became,  to  sense,  a  dark  shadow.  There 
was  developed  a  pronounced  and  restless  fear,  lest, 
before  dawn,  God  might  call  me  away  from  home  and 
from  my  dear  father  and  mother. 

As  I  grew  older,  I  was  given  the  Trinitarian  faith 
to  digest:  three  persons  in  one  God, — cognizant  of  both 
good  and  evil,  together  with  divine  wrath,  original 
sin,  and  Adam  as  the  first  and  real  man.  Sin  was 
esteemed  a  terrible  and  inevitable  reality;  sickness,  a 
dispensation  of  Providence;  death,  the  gateway  of 
Life,  through  which  all  must  pass  to  gain  heaven ;  while 
heaven  was  regarded  as  a  locality  where  the  departed 
are  to  find  God.  Taught  by  those  older  in  belief, 
moulded  and  biased  entirely  by  others,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  I  yielded  to  the  force  of  education  and  joined 
the  church  which  had  thrown  its  influence  over  me 


xii  Introduction 

during  the  years  of  my  childhood,  and  I  remained  a 
member  until  I  became  a  Christian  Scientist. 

As  time  went  on  I  began  to  reason  for  myself.  I 
heard  both  pastor  and  members  pray  to  a  personal 
Deity,  apparently  regarded  as  afar  off;  while  I  read 
from  the  Bible  that  God  was  ever-present.  I  heard 
these  worshipers  petition  Him  to  supply  the  necessities 
of  this  temporal  existence,  enumerating  their  various 
needs ;  while  I  read  that  God  was  a  loving  Father,  ever 
ready  to  bestow  His  bounty  upon  His  children.  I 
found  earthly  parents  anticipating  and  providing  for 
every  need  of  their  children,  and  naturally  questioned 
why,  if  God  was  omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omni- 
present, it  was  necessary,  either  to  advise  or  to 
importune  Him. 

These  spiritual  guides  affirmed  that  God  was  their 
refuge,  a  very  present  help  in  time  of  trouble;  while  I 
beheld  them  experiencing  the  same  troubles  as  the 
worldly, — as  helpless  to  avert  sickness  and  sorrow,  as 
those  who  made  no  claim  to  Christianity.  I  observed 
them  taking  much  thought  of  the  corporeal  body,  to 
sustain  it  with  food,  to  protect  it  from  atmospheric 
elements,  and  to  deliver  it  from  disease;  disregarding 
the  injunction  of  the  Master,  "Take  no  thought  .  .  . 
for  your  body,"  I  read  in  the  sacred  Word:  "Because 
thou  hast  made  the  Lord  .  .  .  thy  habitation;  there 
shall  no  evil  befall  thee,  neither  shall  any  plague 
come  nigh  thy  dwelling,"  and  I  naturally  continued  to 
question. 

Taught  to  ask  God,  who,  I  was  told,  would  answer, 
L  cried  out  for  light  to  reveal  the  meaning  of  promises 
which  never  seemed  fulfilled.  Still  continuing  to  ask, 
Christians  received  not ;  ever  seeking,  they  did  not  find ; 
and  persistently  knocking,  the  door  was  not  opened. 


Introduction  xiii 

Sin,  sickness,  and  death  prevailed.  They  had  not 
found  the  Truth  which  Jesus  and  his  disciples  had 
proved  to  be  effectual  in  healing  the  sick,  casting  out 
evils,  and  raising  the  dead.  I  questioned  if  creed  and 
dogma  could  be  the  way  to  eternal  Life.  The  words  of 
the  Master  sounded  frequently,  "  Whosoever  liveth  and 
belie veth  in  me  shall  never  die."  Either  his  professing 
disciples  did  not  believe  his  words,  or  they  could  not 
demonstrate  the  truth  of  them.  Some  one  had  blun- 
dered. Some  one  had  lost  "  the  way,"  and  had  led  us  in 
a  way  that  brought  us  into  sickness  and  death.  We 
all  like  sheep  had  gone  astray. 

One  desire  was  paramount:  that  God  would,  as 
He  had  promised,  some  time,  and  in  some  way, 
manifest  Himself  to  me  as  Love  and  Life,  which 
would  free  me  from  fear  and  bondage.  Weary  sense 
longed  for  rest,  and  could  not  be  happy  while  every- 
where were  apparent  suffering  and  discord.  Human 
sympathy  availed  nothing  toward  relieving  the  suffer- 
ing and  sorrow-stricken;  for,  though  human  hands 
could  wipe  away  the  tears,  they  could  not  arrest  their 
flow.  Jesus  and  his  disciples  understood  the  power  of 
the  Word,  and  demonstrated  it;  while  I,  baffled  and 
tossed  in  a  fruitless  search  for  God,  helplessly  listened 
to  the  piteous  cry  of  professing  believers,  as  waves  of 
sickness  and  grief  swept  over  them,  and  I  finally  gave 
up  pleading  with  a  personal  God. 

Then,  with  others  who  could  not  prove  the  promises,  I 
tried  to  believe  that  He  was  chastening  humanity  for  a 
purpose;  that  He  was  compelling  His  children  "to  pass 
under  the  rod;"  that  some  day,  when  all  these  salutary 
lessons  were  learned,  I  would  win  a  home  beyond  this 
world  of  chance  and  change.  I  was  bursting  the  shell 
of  a  fruitless  faith  and  a  doubtful  theology. 


xiv  Introduction 

Human  love  would  not  allow  me  to  denounce  the 
faith  of  my  beloved  parents,  though  unable  to  accept 
it.  Heaven  was  their  goal,  and  I  must  win  it;  but 
where  was  it?  I  remember,  as  a  child,  asking  my 
Sunday-school  teacher  if  there  were  horses  and  pianos 
in  heaven.  She  answered,  "Oh  no!"  but  portrayed, 
with  enthusiasm,  a  picture  of  harps  and  palm  trees,  of 
golden  streets  and  pearly  gates — all  of  which  offered 
neither  incentive  to  attain,  nor  equivalent  for  my  highly 
prized  horse  and  piano. 

Years  unfolded  nothing  more  than  a  vision  and  hope 
of  rest,  a  realm  peopled  with  spiritual  beings,  which 
finite  sense  conceived  to  be  shadows  rather  than  sub- 
stance. I  loved  the  green  earth,  and  pearly  clouds 
floating  in  the  azure  blue;  the  beautiful  sea,  the  hills 
and  vales,  the  mountains  towering  to  the  skies;  the 
cattle  grazing  on  the  hillside,  or  peacefully  resting  in 
the  shade  of  the  trees.  Babbling  brooks  and  many- 
tinted  flowers  whispered:  "God  is  Love,"  and  "God  is 
good."  I  ceased  pursuing  a  phantom  hope,  and  tried 
to  realize  the  words  of  another:  "They  also  serve,  who 
only  stand  and  wait." 

I  stood  waiting,  hoping,  watching,  praying,  listen- 
ing; talking  to  God  in  silent  communion  on  land  and 
sea;  visiting  occasionally  other  denominations,  because 
they  looked  to  a  higher  power  as  sincerely  and  longingly 
as  I,  and  because  their  faith  was  as  undemonstrable  as 
mine;  feeling  ever  the  clasp  of  an  invisible  hand,  until 
belief,  material  sense,  gradually  lost  its  tenacity,  and 
offered  little  resistance  to  Truth. 

The  long  night  was  passing  away;  the  faint  rays  of 
the  morning  dawn  were  appearing.  At  this  hour  the 
call  came:  "Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to 
the  waters. "     It  was  a  voice  I  had  never  before  heard. 


Introduction  xv 

I  listened.  Again  it  seemed  to  say,  "Come  and  drink. " 
Long  time  I  hesitated  to  follow  this  voice,  lest  I  should 
be  drawn  into  a  labyrinth  of  false  teachings,  or  lose  the 
little  hold  I  had  upon  faith.  In  the  extremity  of  de- 
spair at  my  inability  to  relieve  the  continued  suffering 
and  helplessness  of  a  dear  one,  I  determined  to  drink 
from  the  fountain  of  Christian  Science,  whose  waters 
could  not  be  more  bitter  than  those  already  drunk  from 
the  ancestral  well.  Again  the  voice  called:  "Come  and 
drink.  Thirsty  one,  stoop  down  and  drink  freely." 
Love  was  calling  the  wanderer  home,  and  Love  was 
the  victor.  I  turned  from  husks  of  creed  and  dogma, 
looked  up,  and  "the  way"  appeared.  The  dear  hand 
that  held  the  cup  to  my  parched  lips,  bade  me  freely 
partake  of  this  water  of  Life.  I  drank,  and  was  re- 
freshed. 

As  I  listened  to  the  sublime  teachings  of  Christian 
Science  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy  and  yielded  to  the  quick- 
ening Spirit;  as  I  felt  the  touch  of  infinite  Love  as 
she  revealed  the  Science  of  being,  God's  allness,  and 
the  nothingness  of  mortal  sense  and  its  embodiment, 
— matter, — joy  and  gladness  filled  my  heart,  and  I  left 
forever  the  old  paths,  to  walk  in  the  new,  wherein  was 
the  solution  of  life's  mystery.  I  had  been  in  the 
Adam-dream  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in 
matter ;  and  now,  I  had  awakened  to  the  understanding 
of  Life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  Mind.  The  joy 
of  apprehending  the  possibilities  of  my  birthright, 
dominion  over  all  error,  was  unspeakable;  and  I  deter- 
mined to  strive  to  solve  the  problem,  and  win  the 
crown  of  immortality,  through  the  destruction  of  my 
false  sense  of  sin  and  self. 

The  Christ  discerned,  I  left  my  material  net,  and  cast 
my  lot  with  the  disciples  of  Christ.     Years  have  passed, 


xvi  Introduction 

and  the  light  grows  brighter  as  I  come  into  clearer 
understanding  of  the  Science  of  being.  Though  able 
to  reflect  but  a  feeble  light,  yet  even  that  has  illumined 
many  a  home,  opened  the  doors  to  many  a  sin-bound, 
suffering  captive  who,  to-day,  rejoices  in  immunity 
from  sin,  sickness,  and  suffering. 

The  Bible  and  the  "little  book,"  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  lead  us  to 
the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High,  unveil  the  mysteries 
of  heaven,  and  reveal  the  smile  of  our  Father-Mother 
God.  Unspeakable  gratitude  and  love  to  her  who 
bade  us  "Flee  as  a  bird  to  your  mountain,"  and  un- 
veiled to  us  the  blessed  Truth;  who  reflected  Love 
which  casts  out  fear;  who  taught  us  to  pray,  under- 
standingly,  "Thy  kingdom  come  ...  in  earth,  as  it 
is  in  heaven. " 

A.   E.   S. 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

I.  Reminiscences    ......       i 

II.  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  .         .  41 

III.  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy         .         .         .         .   159 

IV.  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Student..     .   233 
V.  Letters  to  Patients  .         .         .         .         .278 

VI.  Letters  of  Comfort   .....   297 

VII.  Letters  of  Thanks     .....  323 

VIII.  Letters  on  Building  the  Home  .         .         .  368 
IX.  Letters  to  Children  .....   405 

X.  Letters  as  to  Individuality  versus  Person- 
ality       .......  414 

XI.  Letters  on  Church  Problems     .         .         .  463 
XII.  The  Findings  and  Orders  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  The   Mother   Church    Ex- 
plained   .......  531 

XIII.  Letters  to  Church  Officials      .         .         .   573 

XIV.  Letters  to  Friends,  Fellow-workers,   and 

Students         ......  607 

XV.  Letters   of   Instruction    and    Counsel    to 

Students 718 

XVI.  Letters  to  the  Press  ....  832 

XVII.  Fruits  of  Experience  ....  969 

Index  ......         .1189 

%*  The  quotations  from  the  writings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
used  in  this  book,  are  taken  from  the  1910  Library  Edition 
of  her  works.  The  letters  to  students  and  others  included 
in  the  volume  have  been  copied  from  the  originals. 


xvn 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  Central  Park  West  and  Ninety-Sixth 
Street  .....    Frontispiece 

Mary  Baker  Eddy       ....  .2 

This  miniature  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  a  setting  of 
forty  diamonds,  was  presented  by  her  to  Mrs. 
Stetson  in  1898.  The  "crown  of  diamonds"  was 
left  to  Mrs.  Stetson  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  will  in  the 
following  words : 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  .  .  .  to  Mrs.  Augusta 
E.  Stetson,  of  New  York  City,  my  'crown  of 
diamonds'  breast-pin." 

Augusta  E.  Stetson     ......         4 

From  a  photograph  by  Marceau,  taken  in  191 1. 

The  Hall  over  Caswell  &  Massey's  Drug  Store, 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-Seventh  Street, 
New  York  City,  1888    .....       22 

The  First  Services  of  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  were  held  on  the  second  floor  of  this 
building. 

Order  of  Ordination  and  Installation  Service  .       24 

The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston, 

Mass.    ........       26 

The  Mother  Church  of  Christian  Science. 


xx  Illustrations 


PAGE 


Rutgers  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York  City  .      30 
Afterwards   called   Scottish   Rite   Hall,  1894- 
1896 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  143  West  Forty-Eighth  Street,  1896- 

1903  32 

Inscription  on  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

New  York  City,  Central  Park  West    .         .       34 

Letter    placed    in    the    corner-stone   of    this 
Church. 

The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston, 

Mass.    ........       ^8 

The  Mother  Church  and  its  Extension. 

Mrs.  Stetson's  Home 368 


Reminiscences,   Sermons,   and 
Correspondence 


nsbnoqasTioD 


Reminiscences,  Sermons 
and  Correspondence 


CHAPTER  I 
REMINISCENCES 

The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth :  but  the  word  of  our  God  shall 
stand  for  ever. — Isaiah  xl.,  8. 

Mere  historic  incidents  and  personal  events  are  frivolous  and  of  no 
moment,  unless  they  illustrate  the  ethics  of  Truth.  To  this  end,  but 
only  to  this  end,  such  narrations  may  be  admissible  and  advisable;  but 
if  spiritual  conclusions  are  separated  from  their  premises,  the  nexus  is 
lost,  and  the  argument,  with  its  rightful  conclusions,  becomes  corre- 
spondingly obscure.  The  human  history  needs  to  be  revised,  and  the 
material  record  expunged. — Mary  Baker  Eddy  :  Retrospection  and  In- 
trospection, pp.  21,  22. 

DURING  the  spring  of  1884,  I  heard  of  several 
cases  of  Christian  Science  healing  in  Boston  and 
was  invited  to  attend  a  lecture  which  was  to  be  given 
by  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  a  handsome  home  on  Monument  Hill, 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  I  went  to  the  lecture 
weighted  with  care  and  nearly  prostrated  with  the 
effects  of  watching  for  one  year  in  the  room  of  an  in- 
valid husband.  During  this  lecture  I  lost  all  sense  of 
grief,  physical  weakness,  and  prostration.     It  was  long, 


2  Reminiscences 

however,  before  I  understandingly  realized  that  this  was 
due  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  spiritual  influence. 

When  Mrs.  Eddy's  lecture  was  concluded  she  arose 
and  passed  through  the  hall  to  go  upstairs.  Almost 
unconsciously  I  followed  her  to  the  foot  of  the  stairway 
and  as  she  reached  about  the  fourth  step  she  turned 
quickly  and  looked  down  into  my  eyes  with  a  searching, 
penetrating  gaze.  She  asked,  "Will  you  come  to  see 
me? "  and  gave  me  her  card.  I  replied,  "  I  do  not  know 
when  I  can  come,  Mrs.  Eddy;  I  am  so  occupied." 
As  I  thought  it  was  a  matter  of  small  consequence 
whether  I  saw  her  or  not,  I  added,  "Thank  you, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  but  I  cannot  tell  whether  or  not  I  can 
come. ' '  Then  she  said, ' '  I  want  you  to  come  and  see  me. 
You  are  going  to  do  a  great  work  in  Christian  Science. " 
After  she  had  asked  my  name  and  address,  which  I  gave 
her,  I  went  away. 

Three  or  four  months  after  this  meeting  with 
Mrs.  Eddy  I  received  a  note  from  her  asking  me  to  come 
to  see  her.  I  did  so,  and  during  the  conversation  asked 
her  if  she  would  come  to  my  parents'  home  and  give  a 
lecture.  I  was  beginning  to  feel  an  interest  in  what  she 
taught.  She  came,  accompanied  by  several  of  her 
students,  among  whom  was  Miss  Julia  Bartlett  of 
Boston.  Mrs.  Eddy  lectured  to  about  one  hundred  peo- 
ple in  the  parlors  of  the  home  of  my  parents,  with  whom 
I  resided.  Shortly  after  this,  one  of  the  ladies  who 
attended  this  lecture  invited  Mrs.  Eddy  to  address  an 
audience  at  her  house.  Mrs.  Eddy  replied  that  she 
would  do  so  if  the  clergy  were  well  represented.  This 
was  promised. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  lecture  there  was  a  large 
audience  in  the  home  of  Mr.  James  Sanborn,  of  the  firm 
of  Chase  &  Sanborn,  of  Boston.     Mrs.  Eddy  appeared 


c-r^^/8cS2^£^t^ 


Mary  Baker  Eddy 

This  miniature  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  a  setting  of  forty  diamonds, 
was  presented  by  her  to  Mrs.  Stetson  in  1898.  The  "crown  of 
diamonds  "  was  left  to  Mrs.  Stetson  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  will  in  the 
following  words: 

"  I  give  and  bequeath     ...     to  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  of 
New  York  City,  my  '  crown  of  diamonds  '  breast-pin."  ( 


c_^u?/3cSl^  (Zc^t*^ 


Reminiscences  3 

before  the  seated  audience,  looked  about  her,  and  asked 
Mrs.  Sanborn  where  were  the  clergymen,  as  the  only 
men  present  were  those  who  came  with  Mrs.  Eddy. 
Mrs.  Sanborn  told  her  that  she  had  invited  the  clergy 
but  none  were  able  to  come.  Thereupon  Mrs.  Eddy 
quietly  arose,  said  "Good  afternoon"  to  Mrs.  Sanborn, 
and  left  the  house.  I  followed  Mrs.  Eddy  with  her  friends, 
and  then  returned  to  Mrs.  Sanborn  and  explained  to  the 
people  that  Mrs.  Eddy  could  not  speak  to  them  because 
promises  had  not  been  fulfilled.  I  told  them  that 
Mrs.  Eddy  should  not  be  expected  to  give  a  lecture 
under  these  conditions. 

About  the  first  of  November,  1884,  I  received  a  note 
from  Mrs.  Eddy,  telling  me  that  a  class  was  to  convene 
in  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  and  that 
she  wished  me  to  become  a  member  of  it.  I  went  to 
see  her,  and  told  her  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  me 
to  enter  a  class ;  that  I  had  spent  much  money  and  all 
my  time  during  a  year  and  a  half  in  preparing  myself 
to  become  a  public  reader  and  lecturer;  and  that  my 
engagements  were  many  and  immediate.  One  en- 
gagement in  particular  would  come  during  the  class 
term  and,  as  I  was  to  appear  with  Professor  George 
Blish  of  the  Boston  Blish  School  of  Oratory,  I  felt  that 
there  was  too  much  at  issue  for  me  to  devote  my  time 
to  the  study  of  Christian  Science,  which,  I  confessed, 
had  little  interest  for  me. 

Mrs.  Eddy  then  informed  me  that  the  class  lessons 
would  be  from  ten  until  one  o'clock,  and  that  the  en- 
gagements I  had  mentioned  would  come  later  than  the 
class  hours,  so  she  saw  no  reason  why  I  could  not  fill  all 
my  engagements  and  also  take  class  instruction  at  the 
college. 

The  question  of  tuition,  which  was  three  hundred 


4  Reminiscences 

dollars,  then  arose.  I  told  Mrs.  Eddy  that  I  did  not 
feel  that  I  could  pay  three  hundred  dollars  to  study  a 
subject  which  I  might  not  care  to  accept.  She  replied 
that  I  need  not  pay  the  tuition;  that  she  had  many 
students  whom  she  taught  gratuitously;  and  she  felt 
sure  that  after  I  had  gone  through  a  class  I  would  see 
that  Christian  Science  was  the  Science  and  Truth  of 
being. 

Upon  Mrs.  Eddy's  assurance  that  my  engagement 
at  Tremont  Temple  (which  would  come  about  the 
time  of  the  seventh  lesson  of  the  class  term)  would  not 
be  interfered  with,  and  that  there  was  no  tuition  to  be 
paid,  I  agreed  to  enter  her  class,  and  attended  twelve 
lessons.  Mrs.  Eddy  consented  to  come  to  my  reading 
at  Tremont  Temple,  on  the  day  of  the  seventh  lesson, 
and  asked  to  bring  some  of  her  family  with  her.  I  gave 
her  tickets  and  she  attended  with  members  of  her 
family.  She  afterwards  told  me  that  she  had  work  for 
me  to  do;  that  she  had  discovered  in  my  reading 
mental  qualities  which  would  make  a  good  Christian 
Scientist.  She  said,  H I  saw  your  versatility  and  adapta- 
bility and  your  power  of  personification, "  mentioning 
particularly  the  closet  scene  from  Hamlet,  and  the 
garden  scene  from  Mary  Stuart.  She  seemed  most 
interested  in  the  reading  and  for  some  time  afterward 
would  refer  to  little  things  that  pleased  her,  particularly 
the  amusing  characters  which  I  impersonated.  She 
often  referred  to  my  "wonderful  memory,"  as  in  a 
program  of  eight  or  nine  selections  I  had  spoken 
without  notes.  In  conversation  with  me,  she  clapped 
her  hands  together  and  said,  "It  was  so  interesting. 
When  you  took  the  part  of  a  naughty  little  girl,  I 
closed  my  eyes  and  would  have  said  I  was  listening 
to  a  child. ' 


Reminiscences  5 

At  the  close  of  the  class  term  I  thought  I  should  like 
to  test  the  power  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing 
but  feared  to  do  so  among  my  own  people  lest  I  should 
fail  to  demonstrate  it.  Though  confident  that  the 
Science  was  demonstrable,  I  doubted  that  one  so  young 
as  I  in  the  work  would  be  able  to  prove  it.  Just  at 
this  time  a  friend  who  was  becoming  interested  in 
Christian  Science  called  to  see  me.  She  told  me  that 
her  father  and  mother  (seventy-five  and  seventy-six 
years  of  age)  were  both  condemned  by  physicians  to 
hopeless  invalidism,  her  father  requiring  an  attendant 
to  prevent  him  from  falling.  The  mother  was  declared 
by  the  best  specialists  to  be  a  paranoiac,  and  much  of 
the  time  was  crying.  These  were  my  first  patients. 
The  daughter  encouraged  me  to  take  them,  saying 
that  they  were  aged  and  the  physicians  had  given 
them  up  as  hopeless;  that  even  if  I  had  not  the 
understanding  to  heal  them,  it  would  be  different 
from  taking  the  case  of  younger  and  more  useful  per- 
sons. At  the  end  of  four  weeks  the  old  gentleman, 
with  his  wife  beside  him,  drove  his  horses  in  a 
snow  storm  to  the  Sunday  morning  service  at  his 
church.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  city  of  Skow- 
hegan,  Maine.  The  people  of  Skowhegan  had  known 
of  the  condition  of  this  couple  for  a  long  time,  and  their 
sudden  change  from  helplessness  to  health  so  startled 
the  town  that  the  lame,  the  halt,  and  the  blind  rushed 
to  me  for  help,  until  I  was  overwhelmed  with  patients. 
Four  years  afterward  this  dear  old  couple  drove  from 
Skowhegan  to  Portland,  Maine,  during  their  summer 
vacation. 

Another  case  of  healing  was  that  of  a  young  girl  at 
home  from  college.  One  morning,  as  she  attempted  to 
arise,  she  fell,  and  afterwards  was  not  able  to  stand. 


6  Reminiscences 

This  girl  was  helpless  for  two  years  and  was  lifted  from 
bed  to  chair.  The  conditions  were  reported  to  me  by 
her  brother  who  came  for  me  and  asked  me  to  go  to  her. 
The  case  seemed  so  serious  that  I  feared  to  attempt  it 
and  refused  to  go.  The  next  day  the  mother  came  and 
plead  with  me  to  come  to  her  daughter.  The  mother's 
pleading  so  touched  my  heart  that  I  granted  her  wish. 
I  saw  the  daughter  and  gave  her  a  treatment.  The 
next  day  they  came  for  me  again,  saying  that  the  girl 
was  greatly  improved.  This  led  to  another  treatment 
and  in  one  week  my  patient  was  walking  through  the 
icy  streets  of  Skowhegan.  I  heard  from  this  girl  five 
years  afterwards  and  she  had  continued  to  be  perfectly 
healthy,  strong,  and  robust. 

Many  cases  of  so-called  serious  diseases  were  healed 
by  the  application  of  Truth  during  the  four  weeks 
I  was  in  Maine.  Finding  that  I  was  able  to  demon- 
strate the  power  and  presence  of  God  to  heal,  I  returned 
to  Boston.  Later  I  went  back  to  Skowhegan  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Stetson.  We  took  my  father's  horse 
with  us  from  Boston  and  together  drove  daily  to  my 
patients.  One  day  Mr.  Stetson,  while  waiting  for  me 
at  the  house  of  a  patient,  attempted  to  turn  the  sleigh. 
The  horse  ran  away  and  threw  him  to  the  ground, 
breaking  his  shoulder.  This  necessitated  my  immedi- 
ate return  to  Boston.  Mr.  Stetson  was  a  Free  Mason 
and,  when  this  accident  occurred,  representatives  from 
the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Skowhegan  came  at  once  to  him 
and  remained  with  him  for  two  days  and  two  nights 
and  made  every  arrangement  for  our  return  to  Boston. 
One  member  of  the  Lodge  accompanied  us  and  took 
care  of  Mr.  Stetson  until  the  end  of  the  journey.  The 
trip  from  Skowhegan  to  Boston  was  accomplished  in  a 
freight  car,  because  the  stretcher  on  which  Mr.  Stetson 


Reminiscences  7 

was  carried  could  not  be  taken  through  the  door  of  an 
ordinary  coach.  Much  of  the  time  en  route  I  sat 
holding  the  stretcher  to  prevent  its  jolting,  and  treating 
the  patient  to  prevent  pain  and  inflammation.  This 
broken  shoulder  was  healed  by  Christian  Science  in 
six  weeks  without  any  material  application.  There 
was  no  fever  nor  pain  and  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  no 
evidence  that  Mr.  Stetson  had  met  with  an  accident. 
I  mention  this  incident  because  it  was  the  beginning 
of  trials,  the  result  of  that  false  claim  called  malicious 
animal  magnetism,  which  pursues  all  who  strive  to 
demonstrate  Christ,  Truth. 

Some  time  after  my  return  to  Boston,  I  was  asked 
to  go  to  Wolfboro  Junction,  New  Hampshire,  to  a 
family  which  had  heard  of  my  work  in  Maine.  At 
Wolfboro  Junction  I  found  a  young  girl  who  was  in  the 
last  stages  of  consumption,  also  a  spinal  invalid  con- 
fined to  her  bed  and  wearing  a  plaster  cast  which  she 
had  worn  for  a  year.  Just  before  I  arrived  at  her 
bedside  a  new  cast  had  been  adjusted.  It  required 
two  persons  to  hold  the  girl  while  the  physicians  put 
on  the  cast.  This  seemed  a  hopeless  case,  but  I  began 
the  work.  The  response  to  treatment  was  immediate 
and  in  about  four  weeks  my  patient  was  up,  the  jacket 
was  removed,  and  the  girl  went  about  the  house  feeling 
that  she  was  healed.  At  this  point  her  clergyman, 
learning  that  she  was  becoming  a  Christian  Scientist 
in  faith,  remonstrated  with  her,  denounced  Christian 
Science  and  urged  her  to  give  it  up.  This  seemed  to 
put  her  back,  and  she  returned  to  her  bed  but  did  not 
use  the  cast.  I  saw  the  effect  of  the  clergyman's 
influence  upon  the  patient  and  continued  to  treat  her. 
In  a  few  days  she  revived  and  was  restored  to  her 
previous  normal  condition.     She  continued  to  improve 


8  Reminiscences 

steadily,  and  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  she  was  taken 
for  a  sleigh  ride. 

Another  case  was  one  of  dropsy.  A  woman  had 
been  wheeled  about  in  her  chair  for  thirteen  months 
and  had  so  increased  in  size  that  she  was  a  mon- 
strosity. Her  weight  was  so  burdensome  that  she  was 
a  great  sufferer.  Her  husband  with  much  difficulty 
got  her  into  a  sleigh  and  brought  her  to  me,  at  a  farm 
house,  where  I  was  treating  another  case.  I  told 
the  man  that  I  could  not  treat  his  wife,  as  I  was  about 
to  return  to  Boston,  and  that  the  case  might  require 
more  time  than  I  had  to  give.  The  woman  begged 
me  to  give  her  just  one  treatment.  I  did  and  they  went 
away.  On  the  way  home,  driving  through  the  woods, 
she  asked  her  husband,  "What  makes  it  so  light?  "  He 
replied,  "It  is  not  light,"  but  she  exclaimed  again, 
"What  makes  it  so  light?"  He  thought  then  that 
she  was  suffering  from  some  hallucination  and,  as  he 
told  me  afterwards,  he  tried  to  calm  her,  but  once  more 
she  cried,  "What  makes  it  so  light?"  In  relating 
this  experience,  he  told  me  that  he  asked  himself, 
"Why  did  I  take  her  to  that  woman?  I  would  rather 
have  my  wife  in  her  old  condition  than  in  this  state." 
He  said  that  he  reproached  himself  for  having  brought 
this  awful  condition  upon  her,  but  that  he  pacified 
her  and  hurried  home.  When  she  got  out  of  the  sleigh, 
about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  she  exclaimed,  "John, 
I  am  healed!"  and  added,  "I  can  go  into  the  house 
as  fast  as  you!"  She  ran  into  the  house  and  upon 
taking  off  her  gloves  found  that  her  hands  and  her 
body  were  of  normal  size.  The  bloat  had  entirely 
disappeared.  The  husband  and  wife  together  fell 
on  their  knees  and  thanked  God  for  His  wonderful 
power  to  heal.     I  heard  from  the  woman  several  years 


Reminiscences  9 

afterward  that  she  was  perfectly  healthy.  At  the  time 
when  Christian  Science  restored  her  to  health,  she 
dismissed  her  household  help,  did  her  own  work,  and 
"took  in"  sewing,  and  I  learned  that  she  became  a 
good  Christian  Scientist. 

Another  patient  in  that  town  had  been  confined 
to  her  bed  for  seven  months  and  was  obliged  to  lie 
on  her  back  with  her  knees  elevated  above  her  head. 
She  could  be  comfortable  in  no  other  position.  This 
woman  was  suffering  from  an  organic  trouble  which 
during  the  previous  thirteen  months  had  required 
the  frequent  services  of  a  surgeon.  I  was  in  the  home 
with  her  for  three  days.  In  seven  days  she  was  re- 
stored to  her  normal  condition  of  health  and  was  doing 
her  work  in  the  farm  house.  Several  years  afterward 
I  heard  that  she  had  remained  well.  I  recall  with 
pleasure  meeting  the  son  of  this  woman,  who,  as  I  left 
the  train  on  a  cold  winter  night,  took  me  four  miles 
in  a  sleigh  to  their  farm  house.  It  was  snowing,  and 
the  wind  blew  so  furiously  that  the  robes  had  to  be  held 
down.  When  we  arrived  at  the  house  I  was  thoroughly 
chilled.  I  was  ushered  into  an  old-fashioned  sitting- 
room.  A  corn-cob  fire  was  blazing  in  a  large  open 
fire-place.  The  floor  was  painted  yellow  and  shone 
with  neatness.  The  woman  was  lying  on  a  bed  in  the 
same  room.  I  cannot  forget  my  sense  of  gratitude 
to  God  for  the  warmth  and  cheer  that  greeted  me 
after  that  long  cold  ride. 

Leaving,  as  I  had,  a  city  home  for  this  rural  sim- 
plicity, I  realized  as  never  before  that  God  is  ever  with 
us  and  that  when  we  are  doing  His  work,  ministering 
to  His  children,  He  fills  our  hearts  with  joy.  The 
discomfort  of  reaching  this  patient  was  trifling  com- 
pared with  the  joy  of  realizing  that  I  could  restore 


io  Reminiscences 

this  wife  and  mother  to  her  family  in  health  and 
usefulness. 

In  all  these  cases  to  which  I  have  referred  I  taught 
my  patients  the  Science  of  being,  and  put  into  their 
hands  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures 
and  our  Leader's,  Mrs.  Eddy's,  other  writings,  giving 
them  some  explanation  of  how  to  apply  the  Principle 
of  Christian  Science. 

A  woman  whom  I  had  healed,  and  who  had  grasped 
the  meaning  of  Science  as  I  taught  it  to  her,  met  with 
a  serious  accident.  She  fell  from  a  barn  window  upon 
a  pile  of  rocks  and  broke  three  of  her  ribs.  She  healed 
herself  by  reading  Science  and  Health.  Not  being 
sure  whether  her  ribs  had  really  been  broken,  after 
she  felt  that  she  was  healed,  she  called  her  former 
physician,  who  was  driving  past  the  house  and  asked 
him  to  examine  her  side,  which  he  did.  He  said, 
"At  some  time  you  have  broken  three  ribs  but  they 
are  now  perfectly  knit  together."  This  accident 
occurred  about  five  weeks  after  her  first  healing. 

As  in  these  early  days  we  were  permitted  to  speak 
informally  on  Christian  Science,  about  the  year  1885 
I  began  to  talk  to  groups  of  people  wherever  they 
wished  me  to  do  so.  I  sent  to  Mrs.  Eddy  an  account 
of  all  my  cases  of  healing,  as  well  as  of  my  informal 
addresses.  She  wrote  me  to  return  to  Boston  and 
continue  my  work  where  there  was  a  larger  and  more 
important  field.  I  went  to  Mrs.  Eddy  immediately 
upon  my  arrival  in  Boston.  She  then  requested  me 
to  prepare  a  statement  of  these  cases  of  healing  and  to 
ask  the  patients  to  permit  me  to  use  their  initials  for 
publication  in  the  Christian  Science  periodical.  I  did 
this.  When  the  cases  appeared  in  print  {Christian 
Science  Journal,  vol.  iii.,  p.  79),  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 


Reminiscences  n 

students  came  to  me  and  asked  me  why  I  had  published 
instantaneous  cures,  saying  that  it  would  discourage 
every  one  who  was  not  quickly  healed,  and  that  those 
who  could  not  heal  in  one  or  two  treatments  would 
have  few  patients.  I  told  this  student  that  I  had 
acted  upon  Mrs.  Eddy's  request.  The  published 
account  of  these  cases  follows. 

EXTRACT    FROM     "CHRISTIAN    SCIENCE    JOURNAL." 

(vol.  iii.,  p.  79.) 

TO  JOURNAL  READERS: 

I  will  mention  some  of  my  recent  cases  of  healing.  Any 
one  can  communicate  with  them  by  applying  to  me. 

Miss  F.  .  .  B.  .  .  ,  of  Cambridgeport,  cured  in  two  treat- 
ments, of  painful  menstruation  from  which  she  had  suffered 
intensely  for  four  years.  Mrs.  W.  .  .  D.  .  .  ,  of  Portland, 
Me.,  cured  of  two  cancers  in  one  breast,  and  a  tumor  in  the 
other;  was  treated  one  week.  She  rejoices  at  deliverance 
from  the  operation  specialists  had  advised.  Mrs.  H.  . .  B  . . . , 
in  stepping  from  her  carriage,  turned  her  ankle,  spraining 
it  badly.  M.  D.'s  applied  a  rubber  stocking,  and  recom- 
mended her  not  to  walk  for  six  weeks,  and  possibly  not  for 
three  months.  A  few  moments  before  I  called,  her  pain 
was  intense.  Immediately  after  treatment  she  remarked 
to  her  mother  that  she  felt  perfectly  free  from  pain,  and  as 
if  she  could  walk;  then  walked  across  the  floor  several 
times  without  experiencing  any  inconvenience.  The  next 
day  she  was  all  right,  and  has  been  ever  since.  Miss  E.  .  . 
B.  .  .  ,  of  Camden,  Maine,  had  diphtheritic  throat,  high 
fever,  and  pain  in  back  and  neck,  throat  filled  with  white 
patches,  badly  swollen.  One  treatment  was  given  at  night. 
In  the  morning  she  was  perfectly  well.  Miss  H.  .  .  E.  .  . 
L.  .  .  ,  of  Skowhegan,  Maine,  was  pronounced  incurable, 
and  had  been  unable  to  stand  or  walk  for  six  months,  from 
spinal  trouble.  After  one  treatment,  she  walked  several 
times  across  the  room,  and  after  the  third  was  perfectly 


12  Reminiscences 

well.  Mr.  E.  .  .  A.  .  .  B.  .  .  ,  of  Lewiston,  Maine,  was 
cured  in  three  treatments,  of  heart  trouble,  indigestion,  and 
nervous  prostration,  from  which  he  had  suffered  ten  years, 
For  six  months  he  has  been  perfectly  strong  and  well. 
Mr.  J.  .  .  W.  .  .  ,  of  Dedham,  was  induced  to  try  Christian 
Science.  He  was  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and  was 
"awaiting  the  summons,"  having  no  strength  and  no 
ambition  to  live.  The  second  treatment  enabled  him  to 
walk  three  miles,  and  after  the  fourth  he  declared  himself 
"  well  as  he  wanted  to  be. " 

These  are  a  few  of  many  cases  of  healing,  and  I  report 
them  only  for  the  good  of  the  Cause — following  my  Sav- 
iour's command,  "Go  into  the  world,  preach  the  gospel, 
heal  the  sick,  cast  out  devils."  The  promise  is  verified  to 
me,  "All  these  things  shall  ye  do." 

Mrs.  F.  J.  Stetson. 
(Augusta  E.  Stetson.) 

Winter  Hill, 

Somerville,  Mass. 

To  resume  my  reminiscences,  Mrs.  Eddy  called 
me  to  her  home  in  Columbus  Avenue,  Boston,  and 
asked  me  if  I  would  take  the  pulpit  and  preach  at 
Chickering  Hall  on  Sunday.  I  was  startled,  and  told 
her  that  I  did  not  think  I  could  do  it, — that  I  had 
never  preached  a  sermon.  Mrs.  Eddy  said,  "God  will 
give  you  the  words  and  enable  you  to  speak. "  I 
asked,  "What  shall  I  take  for  a  text?"  She  replied, 
"God  will  tell  you— go  to  Him."  I  asked,  "Will  you 
look  over  my  sermon  after  I  have  written  it?"  She 
said,  "You  can  bring  it  to  me."  I  went  home  bur- 
dened with  the  responsibility  that  she  had  imposed 
upon  me.  However,  I  went  to  work  and  selected  my 
text,  which  was  from  2  Timothy  i.,  7.  "For  God  hath 
not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power,  and  of 
love,  and  of  a  sound  mind.  " 


Reminiscences  13 

I  struggled  over  that  sermon  during  the  week. 
Finally,  I  wrote  it  and  took  it  to  Mrs.  Eddy.  She 
glanced  over  it  and  said,  "This  is  all  right;  I  will  be 
with  you  in  the  pulpit  to-morrow. " 

When  I  arrived  at  the  Hall  on  Sunday  morning, 
Mrs.  Eddy  met  me  in  the  dressing-room,  went  upon 
the  platform  with  me,  listened  to  the  sermon,  and 
when  it  was  over,  took  me  in  her  carriage  to  the  street 
car.  She  seemed  greatly  pleased  with  my  work  and 
highly  commended  it.1  After  that  she  appointed  me, 
with  four  others,  to  preach  in  her  pulpit — a  position 
which  I  held  until  she  sent  me  to  New  York  City. 

This  reminds  me  of  an  incident  which  occurred  soon 
after  I  was  graduated  from  the  Massachusetts  Meta- 
physical College.  Mrs.  Eddy  preached  one  Sunday 
morning  in  Hawthorne  Hall  on  Park  Street,  Boston. 
I  attended  this  service,  and  after  leaving  the  hall, 
in  company  with  others,  a  lady  asked  me  if  I  believed 
all  that  Mrs.  Eddy  had  said.  I  replied,  "I  do,  every 
word. "  She  said,  "  Do  you  believe  there  is  no  death?  " 
I  answered,  "Yes,  there  can  be  no  death,  as  God  is 
All  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness. "  She  asked 
me,  "Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  do  not  expect 
to  die?"  I  was  driven  to  defend  my  convictions  of 
Truth,  and  I  emphatically  declared:  "I  am  not  trying 
to  demonstrate  death ;  I  am  trying  to  make  the  demon- 
stration of  eternal  Life.  What  Mrs.  Eddy  says  is 
true.  I  am  immortal,  and  the  mortal  thought  must 
gradually  be  destroyed."  She  exclaimed,  "Well, 
you  are  insane!"  I  replied:  "I  am  not.  I  shall 
continue  to  declare  that  I  am  immortal  and  that  the 
belief  of  a  mortal  mind  must  yield  to  Truth.  There 
is  no  death.     God  is  All." 

1  This  sermon  is  found  in  Chapter  II. 


14  Reminiscences 

I  called  upon  Mrs.  Eddy  one  day  and  was  told  to 
go  to  her  room.  Half  way  up  the  stairs  I  met  her 
coming  down,  and  as  we  stood  for  a  moment,  talking, 
she  said  to  me,  "  I  want  you  to  go  to  New  York  City. " 
Thinking  that  she  desired  me  to  go  to  a  patient,  I 
asked,  "When  do  you  wish  me  to  go?"  She  saw 
that  I  did  not  understand  what  she  meant,  and  said, 
"Well,  some  time  this  autumn."  Then  I  understood 
that  it  was  not  to  a  patient  and  I  said,  "But  I  do  not 
know  any  one  in  New  York.  Do  you  want  me  to  see 
a  patient?"  She  replied,  "No,  I  want  you  to  go  there 
to  help  establish  the  Christianity  of  Christian  Science. 
There  will  be  plenty  of  people  who  will  attempt  to 
work  in  Christian  Science,  but  will  only  pervert  it, 
and  the  result  will  be  mental  relief  on  a  material  basis, 
and  faith  cure.  I  want  the  Christianity  of  Christian 
Science  established."  I  said,  "Mrs.  Eddy,  I  do  not 
know  any  one  there. "  She  asked,  "  Is  not  God  there?  " 
I  replied,  "Oh,  yes,  God  is  there, — He  is  everywhere," 
and  added,  "but  I  have  my  work  to  do  here — my 
husband,  my  patients,  my  classes,  and  my  home.  I  do 
not  know  about  going  to  New  York.  I  know  nothing 
of  it,  although  I  am  familiar  with  foreign  cities.  I  do 
not  know  how  I  can  take  care  of  myself  in  that  great 
expensive  place,  where  I  should  be  required  to  properly 
represent  our  Cause."  Mrs.  Eddy  answered,  "If 
the  Astors  or  the  Vanderbilts  should  send  for  you, 
would  you  be  afraid  that  they  would  not  supply  your 
needs  while  you  were  doing  their  work?"  I  answered, 
"Oh  no!"  Then  she  asked,  "Have  you  not  as  much 
faith  in  God  as  you  have  in  man?"  I  hesitated,  then 
replied,  "  I  will  go. "  I  had  then  been  practising  Chris- 
tian Science  in  Boston  for  two  years,  teaching  classes 
and  preaching  (with  others)  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  pulpit. 


Reminiscences  15 

At  that  time  I  had  many  patients  in  Reading, 
Massachusetts,  and  had  done  some  instantaneous 
healing  there,  of  which  Mrs.  Eddy  knew.  One  day 
when  I  was  calling  upon  her  she  asked  me  if  I  would 
secure  a  hall  or  church  in  Reading  and  get  an  audience 
for  her,  including  as  many  of  the  clergymen  as  I  could. 
She  said  she  would  come  and  address  them. 

I  immediately  went  to  work  and  with  the  help  of 
my  patients  engaged  the  Congregational  Church. 
Four  ministers  were  invited,  and  when  the  evening 
came  the  assembled  audience  occupied  every  seat. 
The  four  clergymen  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  platform,  but 
Mrs.  Eddy  was  not  there.  I  had  gone  to  three  trains 
in  the  afternoon  to  meet  her  and  at  last  in  despair 
I  entered  the  church.  I  was  in  a  dilemma.  I  was 
embarrassed  because  Mrs.  Eddy  did  not  appear  and 
I  felt  that  I  ought  to  apologize  to  the  audience  for 
her  non-appearance.  I  had  made  no  preparation  to 
address  this  large  assembly,  including  four  clergymen, 
and,  as  I  had  never  lectured  on  Christian  Science, 
I  was  desperate.  I  called  on  God  to  give  me  wisdom 
to  know  whether  to  apologize  and  dismiss  the  con- 
gregation or  to  do  the  best  I  could  to  give  them 
some  idea  of  the  Science  of  being.  Finally  I  decided 
that  I  must  speak  the  Word.  I  addressed  them  for 
an  hour  and  a  half,  prefacing  my  remarks  with  the 
statement  that  Mrs.  Eddy  must  have  been  detained, 
but  if  they  desired  to  hear  me  I  would  do  the  best 
I  could  to  impart  to  them  the  little  that  I  had  learned 
during  my  short  experience  in  the  demonstration  of 
Christian  Science. 

The  next  morning  I  went  directly  to  Mrs.  Eddy  and 
told  her  that  I  thought  it  was  most  unkind  for  her 
to  put  me  in  that  position.     There  was  the  audience 


16  Reminiscences 

assembled,  expecting  to  be  addressed  by  a  great  woman, 
and  there  was  I  with  very  little  knowledge  and  no 
preparation.  I  asked  her,  "Why  did  you  not  come?" 
She  answered,  "I  was  there."  I  did  not  know  at 
that  time  what  she  meant  and  thought  that  her  personal 
presence  was  necessary.  She  smiled  at  my  innocence, 
and  ignorance  of  her  methods  of  testing  her  students. 
She  said,  "But  you  stood,  Augusta.  You  stood,  you 
did  not  run."  She  referred  to  this  nearly  every  time 
I  saw  her  after  that  event,  and  in  these  words,  "You 
stood,  did  you  not?  You  did  not  run,"  or  "Do  you 
remember  the  lecture  at  Reading,  and  how  you  stood? 
You  did  not  run — did  you?"  I  saw  later  that  this 
was  one  of  the  tests  that  she  had  given  me  on  the 
journey  from  sense  to  Soul. 

During  December,  1908,  just  before  I  was  called 
for  trial  by  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church, 
I  was  invited  by  Mrs.  Eddy  to  visit  her  at  her  home  in 
Brookline.  She  took  me  in  her  carriage  and  we  drove 
for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  during  which  she  referred 
to  the  lecture  in  Reading  and  asked  the  same  question 
which  she  had  previously  put  to  me  at  nearly  every 
visit.  At  that  time,  I  did  not  understand  why  she 
should  refer  to  that  particular  event.  But  the  experi- 
ences of  the  past  two  years  have  made  it  plain.  Re- 
peatedly during  these  hours,  days,  and  months  of 
severe  test  of  my  faith  and  understanding  of  divine 
metaphysics,  I  have  heard  her  words  as  she  sat  in 
her  carriage  that  day:  "You  did  not  run,  did  you, 
Augusta?"  And  for  the  first  time  she  added  most 
emphatically,  "And  you  never  will." 

I  love  to  recall  that  drive  with  my  Leader  around 
Chestnut  Hill  Reservoir  and  the  many  things  which 
she  said  to  me  which  have  since  strengthened  me  to 


Reminiscences  17 

endure  the  trials  which  emergence  from  material 
organization  necessitated.  I  recall  with  pleasure 
Mr.  Adam  H.  Dickey's  announcement  to  me  that 
Mrs.  Eddy  was  in  the  carriage  awaiting  me  at  the  door. 
It  was  a  cold  day  and  they  had  carefully  wrapped 
a  white  lamb's  wool  robe  around  her,  tucking  her 
snugly  in,  and  over  it  placed  a  warm  carriage  rug. 
When  I  entered,  Mrs.  Eddy  took  both  my  hands  and 
kissed  me  and  expressed  herself  as  greatly  pleased  to 
see  me.  One  of  the  attendants,  after  I  was  seated, 
drew  over  me  the  dark  carriage  rug,  when  Mrs.  Eddy 
said,  "Remove  that  and  put  Augusta  under  the 
white  robe  with  me."  Noticing  that  they  had  so 
carefully  and  lovingly  protected  her  from  the  cold, 
and  fearing  that  she  might  not  be  so  protected  by  this 
change,  I  exclaimed,  "The  carriage  rug  is  sufficient 
for  me;  please  let  the  lamb's  wool  remain."  She 
again  said,  "No,  I  want  you  to  share  this  with  me." 
They  acceded  to  her  request,  and  we  drove  away. 

After  a  drive  of  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour 
we  returned  to  thev  house.  Mrs.  Eddy  went  to  her 
room  and  I  entered  the  drawing-room.  After  removing 
her  wraps  she  sent  for  me  to  come  to  her,  and  as  I 
approached  her  she  remarked,  "How  healthy  and 
strong  you  are!"  and  again  repeated  it  and  added, 
"You  look  years  younger  than  when  I  saw  you  last," 
and  then  added  some  advice  that  she  had  forgotten 
to  give  me  in  the  carriage.  I  bade  her  good-by, 
left  the  room  and  met  Mr.  Dickey,  her  secretary,  who 
was  awaiting  me  to  show  me  Mrs.  Eddy's  private 
reception  room,  where  she  had  placed  some  presents 
which  my  students  and  I  had  sent  to  her. 

I  then  went  downstairs  and  was  about  to  go  out  to 
my  carriage  when  Mr.  Dickey  told  me  that  Mrs.  Eddy 


18  Reminiscences 

wished  to  see  me  again.  I  went  to  her  room.  In  the 
upper  hall  I  met  Mrs.  Laura  E.  Sargent.  Mr.  Dickey- 
opened  the  door  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  room  and  I  thought 
he  closed  it  when  I  entered. 

As  I  approached  my  Leader  I  noticed  the  chair 
that  I  had  occupied  in  front  of  her  had  been  removed, 
and,  as  she  was  sitting  in  a  very  low  chair,  I  stooped 
and  involuntarily  dropped  to  my  knees.  She  took 
both  my  hands  in  hers  and  was  silent  as  if  in  prayer. 
Lifting  her  eyes,  and  in  a  strong  voice  she  said,  "This 
is  the  happiest  day  of  my  life  on  earth,"  and  after  a 
further  pause  added  slowly,  "God  bless  you,  forever, 
and  forever,  and  forever, "  and  waved  her  hand  for 
me  to  go.  I  arose  and  turned  towards  the  door  to  go 
out,  when  I  saw  Mr.  Dickey  and  Mrs.  Sargent  standing 
together  like  sentinels.  Mr.  Dickey  opened  the  door 
and  we  three  walked  out  of  the  room.  I  was  surprised 
when  I  saw  these  students,  as  during  the  many  visits 
I  had  made  to  Mrs.  Eddy  during  the  twenty-four 
years,  I  did  not  remember  ever  having  had  a  personal 
interview  with  my  Leader  and  Teacher  except  alone 
with  her. 

I  remained  a  few  moments  in  the  drawing-room 
waiting  for  my  carriage,  when  Mr.  Dickey  approached 
me  with  a  sealed  letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy  which,  I 
later  learned,  was  an  added  evidence  of  her  faithful 
protection  of  me. 

For  days  I  wondered  why  she  had  said,  "This  is 
the  happiest  day  of  my  life  on  earth, "  and  why  she 
had  said,  "God  bless  you,  forever,  and  forever,  and 
forever,"  and  why  Mr.  Dickey  and  Mrs.  Sargent 
were  witnesses  to  that  last  interview.  But  it  has 
since  been  clearly  revealed  to  me. 

After  the  incident  of  the    lecture   in  Reading  and 


Reminiscences  19 

before  I  started  for  New  York,  I  went  to  the  White 
Mountains,  as  was  my  custom  in  the  summer.  I  stopped 
at  Wentworth  Hall,  Jackson,  New  Hampshire.  Colonel 
Wentworth,  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel,  told  me  that 
he  would  like  to  have  me  speak  to  his  guests  some 
evening  on  the  subject  of  Christian  Science.  I  did  so 
and  became  acquainted  with  a  lady  and  her  daughter 
from  New  York.  The  former  asked  me  if  I  would 
take  the  case  of  her  husband  who  had  been  an  invalid 
for  five  years.  I  agreed  to  do  so.  He  was  my  first 
patient  in  New  York,  and  was  healed  in  five  weeks. 
In  November,  1886,  I  came  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
which  I  had  never  visited,  though  I  had  once  passed 
through  it  on  my  return  from  Europe.  I  had  spent 
nine  years  in  constant  travel  abroad  but  I  always 
sailed  on  the  Cunard  Line  from  Boston.  Except  the 
two  ladies  whom  I  met  in  the  White  Mountains,  I  did 
not  know  a  person  in  New  York  City,  and  when  I  told 
Mrs.  Eddy  of  this  she  asked  if  I  had  met  Mrs.  Lathrop. 
As  I  had  not,  Mrs.  Eddy  gave  me  a  letter  to  her. 
Mrs.  Eddy  also  told  me  that  Mrs.  Leonard,  one  of  her 
students,  lived  in  Brooklyn.  When  I  arrived  in  New 
York  my  first  effort  was  to  find  Mrs.  Lathrop.  I  had 
her  address,  but  there  must  have  been  some  mistake, 
as  I  could  not  find  Mrs.  Lathrop  at  the  street  and 
number  given  me.  I  also  had  obtained  Mrs.  Leonard's 
address  and  went  to  Brooklyn  to  see  her.  She  re- 
ceived me  most  kindly  and  asked  me  to  stay  with  her 
that  night  and  said  that  she  would  go  with  me  to  find 
Mrs.  Lathrop  the  next  day,  which  she  did.  I  pre- 
sented Mrs.  Eddy's  letter  to  Mrs.  Lathrop  and  spent 
some  time  with  her  in  pleasant  conversation,  telling 
her  I  had  come  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request.  I  remained 
in   New   York   all   that   winter,   practising   Christian 


20  Reminiscences 

Science,  and  I  returned  to  Boston  in  May.  During 
one  of  my  visits  to  Mrs.  Eddy  I  asked  her  if  she  wished 
me  to  return  to  New  York.  I  did  not  want  to  go. 
I  wanted  to  return  in  my  home  with  my  family 
and  resume  my  practice  and  teaching  in  Boston. 
Mrs.  Eddy  said,   "Yes,  I  wish  you  to  return." 

The  following  autumn  the  Christian  Scientists  in 
New  York  came  together  and  had  several  meetings,  at 
which  we  discussed  church  organization.  Soon  after- 
wards Dr.  S.  J.  Sawyer,  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request,  came 
from  Boston  and  assisted  in  securing  a  church  charter. 
At  the  meeting  held  at  West  31st  Street,  where  I  was 
then  residing,  Mr.  John  Campbell  and  Mr.  F.  D. 
Snider  came  to  me  and  said  that  I  was  appointed  to 
preach  for  them.  I  asked  if  some  of  the  others  could 
not  take  the  place;  that  I  did  not  see  how  I  could 
practise  and  write  sermons — for  in  Boston  I  was 
obliged  to  use  notes.  I  added,  "Cannot  we  take 
turns  in  speaking?"  meaning  to  preach  with  Dr.  Brown, 
Mrs.  Lathrop,  and  Mr.  Campbell.  Mr.  Campbell 
had  been  the  first  to  bring  Christian  Science  to  New 
York  City. 

These  two  gentlemen  insisted  that  I  should  preach 
on  the  following  Sunday,  and  at  the  opening  of  the 
church  service  I  occupied  the  pulpit.  The  first  service 
was  held  on  December  4,  1887,  at  Columbia  Institute, 
No.  729  Sixth  Avenue,  and  in  the  absence  of  a  pianist 
I  stepped  down  from  the  platform  and  played 
the  hymns.  Mrs.  Susanne  S.  Thomas  and  Mrs. 
Isabelle  C.  Dam,  who  were  among  my  first  patients 
in  New  York  and  whom  I  healed  in  Christian  Science, 
were  present.  Later  these  ladies  became  my  students, 
and  continued  with  me  for  twenty-four  years.  They 
have  been  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  First  Church 


Reminiscences  21 

of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  for  twenty  years. 
Mrs.  Thomas  is  the  only  one  of  the  nine  Trustees 
who  has  not  stood  with  me  in  my  defense  of  Christian 
Science  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  The  Board  of 
Trustees  numbers  nine,  of  which  seven  are  men  who 
are  standing  with  me.  These  seven  men,  together 
with  Mrs.  Dam,  making  the  eight  Trustees,  adhere 
with  me  to  the  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Bible 
and  Science  and  Health,  the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science. 

Mr.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield  was  also  among  my  earliest 
patients  in  this  city,  and  was  quickly  healed  of 
nervous  prostration  which  physicians  had  failed  to 
relieve.  He  shortly  afterwards  became  my  student. 
Mr.  Hatfield  has  been  with  me  in  my  church  work 
for  twenty-four  years,  and  during  these,  until  1909, 
was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

There  was  but  one  service  held  at  Columbia  Institute. 
The  following  week  the  church  was  moved  to  a  hall 
over  Caswell  &  Massey's  drug  store,  which  then 
stood  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-seventh 
Street.  The  services  were  held  there  during  one  winter 
and  were  discontinued  in  May,  when  I  returned  to 
my  home  in  Boston  for  my  summer  vacation.  I 
thought  I  would  not  have  to  return  to  New  York  in 
the  autumn,  as  Mrs.  Eddy's  students  who  lived  in 
New  York  City — eight  in  number — could  carry  on  the 
work,  which  seemed  to  have  been  established.  I  had, 
during  the  winter,  met  with  frequent  unpleasant 
experiences  from  the  students,  who  seemed  to  feel  that 
I  belonged  in  Boston  instead  of  in  New  York.  I  went 
to  Mrs.  Eddy  to  know  whether  she  desired  me  to  • 
return,  for  I  felt  that  I  had  done  all  that  she  had  re- 
quested me  to  do  in  helping  the  students  to  organize 


22  Reminiscences 

and  start  the  church  work.  She  said,  "Wait  until 
the  fall  and  we  will  talk  it  over. " 

As  we  were  to  resume  services  in  September,  I  went 
again  to  Mrs.  Eddy  the  last  of  August  to  ascertain 
her  wishes.  She  said,  "Suppose  you  just  go  back  and 
work  another  season. "  I  was  tempted  to  urge  her 
to  let  me  remain  in  Boston,  but  something  in  her  voice 
and  face  impressed  me  that  she  greatly  desired  me  to 
return  to  New  York,  and  I  consented  to  continue 
another  season  in  that  city;  but  before  leaving  her, 
I  asked  her  if  I  could  not  share  the  preaching  with 
Dr.  Brown,  Mrs.  Lathrop,  and  Mr.  Campbell.  She  said 
"No,  you  must  continue  to  occupy  the  pulpit." 

I  returned  to  New  York  to  find  that  the  hall  over 
Caswell  &  Massey's  drug  store,  which  we  had  occupied 
the  previous  winter,  had  been  rented  to  others.  We 
then  began  to  search  for  another  hall,  and  secured 
Crescent  Hall,  at  138  Fifth  Avenue.  We  worshiped 
there  for  about  four  months.  During  that  time  the 
Sunday-school  was  organized.  We  were  then  again 
obliged  to  change,  as  the  congregation  had  grown  to 
such  proportions  that  Crescent  Hall  was  too  small. 
The  move  was  made  to  Hardman  Hall,  Nineteenth 
Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  This  was  decorated  for  us, 
and  we  had  exclusive  use  of  it  on  Sundays. 

Mrs.  Eddy  came  to  New  York  City  in  February, 
1889,  and  lectured  at  Steinway  Hall  to  a  large  and 
appreciative  audience.  This  lecture  gave  a  great 
impetus  to  the  Christian  Science  movement.  The 
following  account  is  from  the  Christian  Science  Journal, 
of  March,  1889,  vol.  vi.,  p.  633: 

Rev.  Mary  B.  G.  Eddy  lectured  in  New  York  City  at 
Steinway  Hall  the  evening  of  February  15,  to  an  audience 


Reminiscences  23 

of  over  a  thousand  persons  who  came  together  on  a  notice 
of  only  twenty-four  hours.  When  she  came  on  the  stage 
the  audience  greeted  her  by  rising  to  their  feet,  and  standing 
until  she  was  seated. 

Mrs.  Eddy  was  escorted  on  the  stage  and  presented  to 
the  audience  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Ager,  pastor  of  the  New  Jeru- 
salem Church  of  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Ager  said  that,  while  he 
could  not  pretend  to  be  a  student  of  Christian  Science,  he 
had  been  struck  by  its  wide  diffusion,  and  by  the  fact  that 
it  took  hold  of  and  brought  to  the  acknowledgment  of 
Christ  so  many  individuals  that  other  forms  of  religious 
thought  had  failed  to  interest ;  that  the  stream  that  had  its 
origin  from  Mrs.  Eddy  had,  he  believed,  divided  into  many 
branches,  some  of  which,  he  had  been  told,  flowed  through 
very  muddy  channels,  but  that  in  all  its  forms  it  commanded 
the  serious  attention  of  all  thoughtful  observers,  as  the 
most  important  modern  religious  movement. 

The  lecturer  [Mrs.  Eddy],  at  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Ager's 
remarks,  discussed  the  questions: 

Is  God  the  divine  Principle  or  a  person? 

Is  man  personal  and  individual  ? 

Is  matter  substance? 

Is  materia  medica  a  science? 

Does  Christian  Science  tend  to  destroy  the  efficacy  of 
the  atonement?  and  in  conclusion,  Christian  Science  is 
the  stranger  within  our  gates. 

She  was  listened  to  with  deepest  attention,  and  in  the 
most  absolute  silence  to  the  end,  when  a  round  of  hearty 
applause  showed  the  appreciation  of  her  listeners. 

Mrs.  Eddy  then  withdrew  to  the  dressing-room,  where  the 
throng  so  pressed  upon  her  that  she  was  obliged  to  come  out 
on  the  stage,  and  nearly  an  hour  was  passed  in  receiving 
the  congratulations,  thanks,  and  blessings  of  those  who 
passed  in  succession  to  receive  a  grasp  of  the  hand  and  a 
kindly  word. 

About  this  time  Mrs.  Lathrop  went  to  Salt  Lake 


24  Reminiscences 

City.  The  National  Christian  Science  Association 
was  convened,  for  the  second  time  in  New  York,  at 
the  Lenox  Lyceum,  Madison  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth 
Street,  during  May,  1890.  The  first  convention, 
held  before  Mrs.  Lathrop  or  myself  came  to  New  York, 
was  conducted  by  Mr.  John  Campbell  and  his  wife. 
I  was  appointed  by  the  committee  from  Boston  and 
by  our  church  to  take  charge  of  the  fifth  annual 
meeting  of  the  National  Christian  Science  Association 
for  which  arrangements  were  all  made.  Badges  and 
invitations  were  furnished  by  the  church  to  all  the 
Scientists.  My  students  and  I  did  the  work  and 
furnished  the  money  for  all  the  expenses  necessary 
to  the  convention.  Two  days  before  the  convention 
convened  Mrs.  Lathrop  returned  from  Salt  Lake 
City.  When  we  learned  that  she  had  arrived  at  her 
home,  we  sent  a  package  of  badges  and  invitations 
for  her  to  dispose  of  among  her  friends.  We  also 
sent  packages  of  badges  and  invitations  to  each  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  students,  who  all  attended  the  meetings 
of  the  convention,  which  lasted  three  days. 

In  1890  (at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request,  made  in  a  letter 
which  I  now  have  in  my  possession)  I  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  with  the  title  of  Reverend.  This  ordination 
took  place  at  Hardman  Hall  on  the  corner  of  Nineteenth 
Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  Mrs.  Eddy  sent  Rev.  L.  P. 
Norcross,  C.S.D.,  who  was  the  Pastor  of  The  Mother 
Church  in  Boston,  to  officiate  at  the  ceremony.  He 
was  assisted  by  Mr.  F.  E.  Mason,  C.S.D.,  of  the 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Brooklyn. 
Mrs.  Eddy  gave  the  title  of  Reverend  to  but  three 
women,  Mrs.  Ruth  Ewing  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  Mrs. 
Annie  M.  Knott  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  myself. 


CHURCH  OF  CHRIST  [SCIENTIST] 

NEW   YORK  CITY. 


©rdination  ar\d  Installation  §efOi(e, 

At  Hardman  Hall, 
Tuesday  Evening,  October  21,  1890,  at  8  o'clock, 

ORDAINING    AND    INSTALLING 

Mrs.  AUGUSTA  E.  STETSON 

AS 

PASTOR  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST   [SCIENTIST]. 


ORDER    OF    EXERCISES. 

QUARTETTE— "  The  Lord  is  in  His  Holy  Temple."  .  By  the  Choir. 

Mrs.  C.  H.  Thomas.  Mr.  Geo.  W.  De  Lano. 

Mrs.  Geo.  W.  De  Lano.  Mr.  W.  S.  Chapin. 

Mrs.  Louisa  Lawrence,  Accompanist. 

READING  BY  THE  CLERK  OF  THE  MINUTES  of  the  Church  Meeting  calling 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson  to  the  Pastorate  of  the  Church,  and  her  Letter  of 
Acceptance. 

QUARTETTE— Te  Deum. 

READING  OF  SCRIPTURE  AND  "SCIENCE  &  HEALTH." 

By  Rev.  F.  E.  Mason,  Pastor  Church  of  Christ  [Scientist],  Brooklyn. 

SOLO— "Come  unto  Me." 

Mrs.  C.  H.  Thomas. 

ADDRESS,  AND  PRAYER  OF  CONSECRATION. 

Rev.  L.  P.  Norcross,  Pastor  Church  of  Christ  [Scientist],  Boston. 

SOLO—"  But  the  Lord  is  mindful  of  His  Own." 

Mrs.  Geo.  W.  De  Lano. 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME  to  the  Pastor,  and  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 

SOLO — "  Les  Rameaux." 

Mr.  W.  S.  Chapin. 

HYMN By  Congregation. 

BENEDICTION. 

By  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

FACSIMILE    OF    PROGRAMME    OF    THE    INSTALLATION    OF    MRS.    STETSON. 


Reminiscences  25 

For  three  years  I  preached  from  manuscript.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  Mrs.  Eddy  requested  us  to  speak 
without  notes.  I  quote  the  following  from  Miscella- 
neous Writings,  p.  158: 

When  I  requested  you  to  be  ordained,  I  little  thought  of 
the  changes  about  to  be  made.  When  I  insisted  on  your 
speaking  without  notes,  I  little  knew  that  so  soon  another 
change  in  your  pulpit  would  be  demanded.  But  now, 
after  His  messenger  has  obeyed  the  message  of  divine  Love, 
comes  the  interpretation  thereof.  But  you  see  we  both  had 
first  to  obey,  and  to  do  this  through  faith,  not  sight. 

The  meaning  of  it  all,  as  now  shown,  is  this:  when  you 
were  bidden  to  be  ordained,  it  was  in  reward  for  your  faith- 
ful service,  thus  to  honor  it.  The  second  command,  to 
drop  the  use  of  notes,  was  to  rebuke  a  lack  of  faith  in  divine 
help,  and  to  test  your  humility  and  obedience  in  bearing 
this  cross. 

A  copy  of  the  program  used  at  the  Ordination  and 
Installation  Service  faces  page  twenty-four. 

25  West  31ST  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  1,  1887. 

To  George  W.  Delano,  Esq., 

Clerk  of  Church  of  Christ  (Scientist), 
New  York  City,  and  to  the  Church : 
Your  letter  inviting  me  to  become  pastor  of  Church 
of  Christ  (Scientist),  New  York  City,  is  before  me.  I 
have  carefully  considered  it.  Knowing  that  it  is  a  call 
directed  by  divine  Mind,  infinite  Spirit,  through  our  be- 
loved Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  whose  letter  I  have  in 
my  possession,  I  accept  it  in  the  spirit  of  love  and  con- 
secration. I  am  fully  conscious  of  the  grave  responsi- 
bility which  it  imposes  upon  me,  and,  while  feeling  my 
weakness  more  keenly  than  can  another,  I  accept  it  in 


26  Reminiscences 

the  consciousness  of  the  guiding  power  which  comes 
from  God,  the  All-Good. 

Relying  on  your  cooperation  to  assist  me,  and  realiz- 
ing that  words  are  inadequate  to  express  the  love  that 
is  in  my  heart  for  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and 
my  sincere  desire  to  serve  the  church  humbly  and 
prayerfully,  as  we  journey  through  the  wilderness  of 
sense  to  the  heights  of  Soul,  I  am, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

SING  THE  SONG  OF  GLADNESS1 

("  Our  Prayer  in  Stone") 

Children  of  the  Blessed, 

Sing  the  song  of  gladness! 
Ring  the  loud  hosannas!    Christ  to  earth  again  is  come. 

Raise  the  voice  to  praise  him ! 

Bid  the  world  adore  him! 
While  we  follow  listening  to  the  voice  that  calls  us  home. 

Has  the  path  been  thorny? 

Roses,  with  their  fragrance 
Cheered  us,  as  we  followed  in  the  Way  our  Saviour  led. 

When  we,  Israel's  children, 

Hungered  in  the  desert, 
How  the  hand  of  Love  supplied  the  ever-living  bread ! 

When  athirst  and  weary, 

Faint  and  heavy  laden, 
Following  through  the  wilderness  of  sin  and  sense,  our  Guide, 

Then  we  heard  the  summons, 

Falter  not,  but  come  ye! 
Drink  the  ever-living  waters,  which  in  me  abide ! 

Bread  of  Life  to  strengthen: 
Waters  to  refresh  us, 

1  Written  by  the  author  at  the  completion  of  The  Mother  Church, 
The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  Mass.,  1894. 


Reminiscences  27 

Flowing  ever  freely  from  the  ever-living  Fount. 

Mother  love  to  counsel, 

Mother  voice  to  cheer  us, 
Mother  smile  to  beckon,  from  the  valley  to  the  Mount. 

Could  we  fail  or  falter, 

While  the  loving  Saviour 
Every  want  supplied,  and  every  tear  drop  wiped  away ; 

Every  murmur  silenced, 

Every  shadow  lessened 
With  the  power  of  Love  divine,  revealing  God's  bright  day? 

As  we  catch  bright  glimpses 

Of  the  eternal  Real, 
As  we  lose  the  echo  of  sorrow,  sin,  and  care — 

Brighter  gleams  God's  glory. 

Chant  again  the  story ! 
Christ  is  come  to  human  ken,  his  temple  to  prepare. 

Sing  for  joy  ye  ransomed ! 

Prayer  in  stone  appearing 
Bids  us  trim  our  lamps,  and  wait  the  Bridegroom's  mid- 
night call. 

Sing,  for  Christ  is  with  us! 

Israel's  Shepherd  leads  us! 
Love  is  come  to  reign  forever,  crown  Her  Lord  of  all ! 

In  December,  1894,  a  month  before  The  Mother 
Church  in  Boston  was  dedicated,  Mrs.  Eddy  wrote  to 
me  in  regard  to  an  anthem  which  the  musical  director 
of  our  church  had  composed  and  sent  to  her,  offering 
it  as  a  dedicatory  anthem  for  her  church.  The  title 
of  the  anthem  was,  "The  Lord  Is  My  Strength  and 
Song."  In  Mrs.  Eddy's  letter  to  me  she  requested 
that  I  thank  the  composer  of  the  music,  saying  she 
was  very  much  pleased  with  it  and  that  she  desired 
me  to  see  that  the  choir  rehearse  it  thoroughly  and 
sing  it  at  the  dedicatory  services  of  her  church.     She 


28  Reminiscences 

said  she  would  tell  Dr.  F.  .  .-E.  .  .  and  Mr.  W.  .  . 
B.  .  .  J.  .  .  that  this  was  to  be  done  and  charge  them 
that  malicious  animal  magnetism  should  not  prevent 
the  New  York  church  from  presenting  it.  She  also 
directed  me  to  take  it  up  and  handle  the  effort  that 
malicious  animal  magnetism  would  make  to  prevent 
the  anthem  being  rendered.  I  have  Mrs.  Eddy's 
letter  to  this  effect. 

We  complied  with  her  request.  The  anthem  was 
practised  for  eight  weeks  and  on  Saturday  before 
the  dedication  we  presented  ourselves  at  The  Mother 
Church,  where  we  found  the  Directors  and  others 
clearing  away  rubbish  and  getting  ready  for  the  Dedi- 
catory Service.  I  went  to  Mr.  J.  .  .  and  told  him 
that  we  had  come  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request  to  rehearse 
for  the  service.  He  hesitated,  seemed  embarrassed 
and  said,  "Well,  the  program  is  long  now  and  we  do 
not  think  you  will  be  needed."  I  replied:  "But  we 
must  sing,  because  our  Leader  sent  for  us.  We  have 
made  all  preparations,  and  she  told  me  that  we  must 
let  nothing  prevent  us  from  singing  this  anthem." 
Mr.  J.  .  .  replied,  "Well,  you  cannot  rehearse  to- 
night; there  is  too  much  confusion. "  Mr.  E.  .  .  P.  .  . 
B.  .  .  came  up  at  that  moment  and  I  repeated  to  him 
what  I  had  said  to  Mr.  J.  .  .  He  said,  "Well,  if  you 
want  to  rehearse,  you  will  have  to  come  in  the  morn- 
ing, because  you  cannot  sing  in  this  dust."  I  asked 
him,  "What  time  in  the  morning?"  and  he  replied, 
"Well,  be  here  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning."  "I 
do  not  understand  this,"  I  exclaimed.  "I  have 
come  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request.  I  have  her  letter  in 
which  she  tells  me  to  do  this,  and  it  will  be  very  difficult 
to  get  here  at  four  o'clock."  Mr.  B.  .  .  ,  Mr.  K.  .  . .  , 
and  Mr.  J.  .  .  then  agreed  that  the  best  thing  to  do 


Reminiscences  29 

was  for  the  choir  to  sing  a  hymn  on  Sunday  instead 
of  the  dedicatory  anthem.  We  were  forced  to  accede 
to  this. 

When  I  noticed  that  our  singing  was  being  opposed 
I  went  back  to  the  choir,  which  was  waiting  in  a  corner 
of  the  church,  and  told  the  members  to  be  sure  to 
handle  the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  which 
was  working  to  make  discord  at  the  Dedicatory  Service. 
I  asked  them  to  promise  me  that,  no  matter  what  indig- 
nities might  be  offered  them,  they  would  take  no 
offense  and  that  they  would  thereby  receive  a  blessing 
at  that  service.  Every  member  of  the  choir  submitted 
without  a  murmur  to  the  change  in  the  program. 
They  came  Sunday  morning,  took  their  seats  in  the 
choir  gallery,  and  when  the  time  arrived  they  arose 
and  sang  the  hymn  entitled  "Science"  {Christian 
Science  Hymnal,  121).  This  thwarted  the  effort  of 
impersonal  evil  (malicious  animal  magnetism)  to  make 
discord  at  that  Dedicatory  Service  of  The  Mother 
Church,  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

About  a  week  later  I  received  a  letter  from  Mrs. 
Eddy,  saying  that  she  had  supposed  we  had  sung  the 
anthem  as  she  had  directed,  and  had  learned  through 
Dr.  F.  .  .  -E.  .  .  three  days  after  that  we  had  not 
done  so.  She  was  greatly  disturbed  and  again  said 
that  she  had  charged  the  Directors  to  let  nothing 
interfere  with  the  singing  of  that  anthem.  I  told  her 
that  we  had  done  all  we  could,  and  it  seemed  better 
to  submit  than  to  make  any  trouble.  I  have  Mrs. 
Eddy's  letter  in  confirmation  of  this. 

On  the  Saturday  before  Easter  of  the  following  year 
I  received  a  special  letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  asking  me 
to  get  my  choir  together  to  sing  that  anthem  the  next 


30  Reminiscences 

day  in  The  Mother  Church.  The  members  of  the  choir 
were  scattered,  but  I  managed  to  get  them  to  Boston, 
some  going  on  the  midnight,  and  others  on  the  early- 
morning  train.  The  latter  arrived  in  Boston  just  in 
time  to  present  themselves  at  the  church.  They  sang 
the  anthem  at  that  Easter  service.  It  was  rumored,  a 
few  days  before  Easter,  that  Mrs.  Eddy  would  be  at 
the  church  for  the  service,  and  messages  were  sent  to 
different  people  to  attend.  Quite  a  number  went  from 
New  York,  thinking  that  Mrs.  Eddy  would  be  at  the 
service.  She  was  not  present,  however.  At  Mrs. 
Eddy's  request,  The  Mother  Church  sent  a  check  for 
two  hundred  dollars  to  cover  the  expenses  of  our 
New  York  First  Church  choir. 

In  July,  1897,  most  of  the  members  of  First  Church, 
New  York,  including  the  choir,  went  to  the  Communion 
Service  in  Boston.  After  the  service  was  over  and 
some  of  the  singers  had  returned  to  New  York,  word 
came  to  me  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  asking  me  to  bring  them 
to  Pleasant  View  the  next  day  to  sing  for  her.  I  had 
to  gather  them  from  all  parts  of  Boston,  and  also  those 
who  had  returned  to  New  York. 

However,  the  full  choir  was  there  at  the  appointed 
time,  ready  to  comply  with  our  Leader's  request. 
Many  of  the  Scientists  had  gone  to  Pleasant  View, 
and  a  large  body  of  people  were  congregated  in  front 
of  the  house.  Different  ones  in  authority  occupied 
so  much  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  attention  and  time,  by  going 
in  and  out  of  the  house,  that  I  found  it  was  almost 
train  hour  and  no  mention  had  been  made  of  the  choir. 
But  I  kept  the  members  close  to  the  door  and  stood 
sentinel  myself,  to  get  in  as  soon  as  possible.  I  knew 
that  I  must  obey  Mrs.  Eddy  and  get  the  singers  in 
the  house  for  her  to  hear  them.     At  last  I  pushed 


Reminiscences  31 

my  way  in,  regardless  of  opposition,  found  Mrs.  Eddy 
in  the  library  talking  with  some  people,  approached 
her  and  said,  "I  am  here  with  the  choir  awaiting  your 
pleasure."  She  took  my  hand  and  said,  "Come  right 
in. "  She  went  into  the  parlor;  the  choir  followed  and 
took  their  places.  Mrs.  Eddy  had  two  large  armchairs 
brought  in  and  placed  side  by  side.  She  put  me  in 
one  and  seated  herself  in  the  other,  and  as  my  hand 
rested  on  the  arm  of  my  chair,  she  put  her  hand  over 
mine  and  it  remained  in  that  position  during  the  entire 
time.  When  the  words  sung  especially  pleased  her, 
she  would  take  a  long  breath  and  press  my  hand. 
When  the  choir  sang,  "Arise  and  thresh,  O  daughter  of 
Zion, "  she  almost  arose  from  her  chair  and  then  dropped 
back.  After  the  singing  was  over  she  thanked  the 
choir  and  expressed  great  pleasure.  We  then  left 
with  her  blessing. 

At  one  Communion  Service  in  The  Mother  Church 
word  came  from  Mrs.  Eddy  that  the  people  should  omit 
their  annual  pilgrimage  to  Concord.  I  accepted  this, 
of  course,  as  her  final  word  and  I  never  thought 
of  going  to  Concord.  The  next  morning  Miss  M.  .  . 
E.  .  .  of  Boston,  who  was  visiting  at  Pleasant  View, 
called  me  on  the  telephone  at  the  Touraine,  where 
I  was  staying,  and  asked  me  if  I  were  coming  to  Pleas- 
ant View  with  my  students.  I  said,  "Of  course  not, 
after  Mrs.  Eddy  requested  us  to  discontinue  our 
pilgrimage."  Miss  E.  .  .  urged  me  to  consider  it, 
and  said  she  knew  what  she  was  talking  about.  I 
said,  "I  cannot  do  this  unless  I  have  it  from  higher 
authority  than  you."  She  telephoned  me  again  the 
next  day  and  again  requested  that  I  consider  going 
to  Pleasant  View  with  my  students.  I  thought  this 
was  strange,  and  that  I  had  better  go  at  once  myself 


32  Reminiscences 

that  morning  to  Pleasant  View.  Upon  my  arrival  I 
called  for  Mrs.  Sargent  and  asked  her  what  this 
request  from  Miss  E.  .  .  meant.  I  asked,  "Does 
Mrs.  Eddy  want  me  to  come?"  She  replied,  "I  do 
not  know." 

I  asked  again,  "But  who  does  want  me  to  come?" 
and  she  replied,  "I  do  not  know."  I  asked:  "Is  it 
right  for  me  to  come  ?  What  does  this  mean  ? ' '  Again 
she  replied,  "Why,  if  you  want  to  come,  there  is 
nothing  to  hinder  you  from  doing  so."  I  said :  "Well, 
what  about  this  request  of  our  Leader's  not  to  come? 
I  cannot  disobey  that.  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Frye. " 
I  called  for  Mr.  Frye  and  he  came  to  me.  I  put  the 
question  to  him,  and  he  answered  in  the  same  evasive 
way.  By  this  time  I  was  aroused  and  I  said:  "What 
does  all  this  mean?  I  do  not  wish  to  come  unless 
I  know  that  Mrs.  Eddy  desires  me  to  do  so.  Did  she 
tell  you,  Mr.  Frye,  that  she  wanted  me  to  come?" 
He  said,  "No."  I  asked,  "But  does  she  want  me  to 
come?"  He  replied,  "I  should  do  just  as  I  wanted 
to  do."  I  said  a  second  time,  "I  cannot  disobey  that 
request  of  hers."  He  said:  "If  a  mother  told  her 
children  she  did  not  want  to  see  them  for  a  year  or 
so  and  the  children  should  all  agree  without  a  murmur 
to  stay  away,  would  you  not  think  it  looked  as  if 
those  children  felt  glad  that  they  did  not  have  to 
go? 

Then  I  suspected  that  this  had  been  discussed  and 
that  Mrs.  Eddy's  knowledge  of  it  was  to  be  kept  secret. 
I  then  asked,  "Well,  would  you  come?"  He  did 
not  answer.  I  asked:  "  If  I  were  to  come  to  Concord 
where  should  I  assemble  with  my  students?  Should 
I   come  to   Pleasant  View?"     He   replied:    "No.     I 


Reminiscences  33 

should  stand  around  the  church.  When  you  go  back, 
stop  at  the  church  and  talk  with  Mr.  Tomlinson  about 
it."  I  went  and  saw  Mr.  Tomlinson.  He  was  very 
agreeable,  and  advised  me  to  stand  near  the  church. 
He  seemed  to  know  something  about  it.  He  said: 
"Mrs.  Eddy  drives  by  every  day  and  you  will  have 
a  chance  to  see  her.  Be  here  at  two  o'clock."  Then 
it  dawned  upon  me  that  I  had  better  go  back  and 
collect  my  students  who  had  not  returned  to  New 
York. 

The  next  day  we  went  to  Concord  and  stationed 
ourselves  in  front  of  the  church.  In  a  little  while 
Mrs.  Eddy  drove  past.  It  had  been  raining  slightly 
and  we  had  put  up  our  umbrellas.  When  she  drove 
by,  the  rain  ceased,  the  umbrellas  went  down,  and 
we  saw  our  Leader.  She  recognized  us  by  bowing, 
waving  and  kissing  her  hand  to  us.  She  drove 
past  us  three  times.  We  took  our  blessing  and 
went  home.  For  several  years  afterwards  I  suffered 
from  the  condemnation  of  the  whole  Field  for  this. 
They  called  it,  "An  act  of  disobedience  to  our 
Leader."  Mrs.  Eddy  never  made  reference  to  this 
act. 

In  October,  1891,  Mrs.  Lathrop  organized  a  church, 
which  is  Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City.  Five  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  students  went  with  Mrs. 
Lathrop :  Mrs.  Caroline  Frame,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Skinner, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gano,  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Brown,  M.D. 
Later  Mrs.  Carrie  Harvey  Snider  started  Third  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist;  thus  all  Mrs.  Eddy's  New  York 
students  withdrew  their  membership  from  First  Church, 
New  York. 

The  seating  capacity  of  Hardman  Hall  was  now 


34  Reminiscences 

outgrown  and  in  the  spring  of  1894  we  removed  to 
Scottish  Rite  Hall,  where  we  worshiped  for  about 
two  years.  While  worshiping  in  Hardman  Hall  and 
Scottish  Rite  Hall,  our  Reading  Rooms  were  at  96 
Fifth  Avenue,  corner  of  Fifteenth  Street.  We  occupied 
the  Reading  Rooms  and  Scottish  Rite  Hall  until  we 
purchased  the  church  formerly  occupied  by  Rev.  R. 
Heber  Newton,  143  West  48th  Street,  at  a  cost,  to- 
gether with  land  and  improvements  of  upwards  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  was  the  first  church 
property  owned  by  Christian  Scientists  in  New  York 
City.  Our  Reading  Rooms  were  now  removed  to  our 
new  church,  the  basement  of  which  had  been  properly 
fitted  for  practitioners. 

Mrs.  Lathrop  engaged  Scottish  Rite  Hall  when  we 
left  it,  and  removed  her  congregation  there.  She  also 
engaged  our  former  Reading  Rooms  in  Fifteenth 
Street  and  occupied  them.  While  we  were  at  Forty- 
eighth  Street,  our  audience  became  so  large  that  we 
found  we  must  secure  ground  and  build  a  church 
edifice  to  accommodate  our  people.  We  found  a 
plot  of  land  on  Ninety-sixth  Street  and  Central  Park 
West,  secured  it  and  erected  there  our  present  church 
edifice. 

At  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  on  November  30, 
1899,  representatives  of  all  the  Christian  Science 
churches  in  the  city  were  present,  as  well  as  all  of  Mrs. 
Eddy's  New  York  students,  who  by  this  time  had  their 
own  churches — five  of  them — in  the  city.  Mrs. 
Frame  and  Mrs.  Skinner  withdrew  from  Second  Church 
and  formed  Fourth  Church.  Mrs.  Snider  withdrew 
from  First  Church  and  formed  Third  Church,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roberts  had,  during  the  erection  of  Second 


Ha  ST  CHU 


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■"SCTENCElNbHEAL 

•WITH.  MY  TO  THE  ; 

•   SCRIPTURES   • 


Pleasant  View.  Concord.  X.  H. 

To  Mrs.  A.  E.  Stetson: 

Beneath  this  cornerstone,  in  this  silent,  sacred 
sanctuary  of  earth's  sweet  songs,  paeans  of  praise 
and  records  of  Omnipotence,  I  leave  my  name  with 
thine  in  unity  and  love. 

Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 

November  30th.  1899. 


Reminiscences  35 

Church,  withdrawn  their  membership  and  organized 
Fifth  Church. 

When  I  learned  that  Mrs.  Eddy  was  going  to  present 
an  edifice  to  the  Concord  Church,  I  wrote  to  her  and 
asked  if  I  might  have  the  privilege  of  contributing 
one  thousand  dollars.  She  answered  thanking  me 
and  accepting  it.  Then  I  proposed  to  the  Trustees 
of  our  church  that  this  might  be  an  opportunity  for 
them  to  do  something,  and  a  church  meeting  was 
called.  I  presented  the  matter  to  the  church,  and  it 
subscribed  ten  thousand  dollars,  which  was  sent  to 
Mrs.  Eddy  with  the  following  letter.  This  letter  was 
published  in  the  Christian  Science  Journal  for  August, 
1904: 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

May  27,  1904. 

To  The  Reverend  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Beloved  Leader  and  Teacher: — Through  you,  the  win- 
dows of  heaven  have  been  opened  to  us,  and  blessings  have 
been  poured  out  so  that  there  is  not  room  enough  to  receive 
them.     (Malachi,  3,  10.) 

We  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  of  expressing,  in  part,  our 
gratitude,  through  the  gift  of  the  two  stained-glass  windows 
which  this  Church  had  the  privilege  of  ordering  in  February 
last  for  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Concord,  New 
Hampshire,  and  which  are  approaching  completion.  We 
now  have  the  pleasure  of  handing  you  draft  for  their  cost. 

They  typify  your  pure  spiritual  perception,  through  which 
"the  sunshine  of  Truth"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  299)  reveals 
the  real  Church,  the  expression  of  eternal  Life  and  power, 
"the  worship  of  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth, "  the  manifesta- 
tion of  the  Christ  idea. 

It  is  an  honor  to  be  represented  in  the  edifice  so  near  to 
you,  and  so  dear  to  your  heart,  and  to  let  our  offering  speak 


36  Reminiscences 

of  the  love  that  unites  us  indissolubly  to  her  who  has  filled 
our  treasuries  with  priceless  gems  of  immortal  thought. 
Lovingly  and  loyally  yours, 
E.  F.  Hatfield,  Chairman  of  Trustees, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

New  York  City. 


To  this  Mrs.  Eddv  replied  as  follows: 


iuy  rey neu  a 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  II., 
June  i,  1904. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City. 

Beloved  Brethren: — I  beg  to  thank  the  dear  brethren  of 
this  church  for  the  sum  of  $10,000  presented  to  me  for 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Concord,  N.  H.  Good- 
ness never  fails  to  receive  its  reward,  for  it  makes  life  a 
blessing.  As  an  active  portion  of  one  stupendous  whole, 
goodness  identifies  man  with  universal  good.  Thus  may 
each  member  of  this  church  rise  above  the  oft-repeated 
inquiry,  What  am  I?  to  the  scientific  response, — I  am 
able  to  impart  truth,  health,  and  happiness,  and  this  is  my 
Rock  of  salvation  and  my  reason  for  existing. 

Human  reason  gets  tired  and  calls  for  rest,  it  has  a  relapse 
into  the  common  hope.  Goodness  and  benevolence  never 
tire,  they  maintain  themselves  and  others  and  never  stop 
from  pure  exhaustion.  He  who  is  afraid  of  being  too  gener- 
ous has  lost  the  power  of  being  magnanimous.  The  best 
man  or  woman  is  the  most  unselfed.  God  grant  that  this 
church  is  rapidly  nearing  the  maximum  of  might — the 
means  that  builds  to  the  heavens,  that  has  indeed  found  and 
felt  the  infinite  Source  wherein  is  all,  and  wherefrom  to  help 
its  neighbor.  Then  efforts  to  be  great  will  never  end  in 
anarchy  but  continue  with  divine  approbation.  It  is 
insincerity  and  a  half  persuaded  faith  that  fail  to  succeed, 
and  fall  to  the  earth. 

Religions  may  waste  away,  but  the  fittest  survives ;    and 


Reminiscences  37 

so  long  as  we  have  the  right  ideal,  life  is  worth  living  and 
God  takes  care  of  it. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  B.  G.  Eddy. 

HARVEST  SONG1 

Sing  a  psalm  of  victory, 

Children  of  the  King! 
Let  your  harvest  home-song 

Strengthen  upward  wing! 

Sing,  till  mount  and  valley 

Echo  gladsome  strain! 
Till  earth's  weary  wanderers 

Sound  the  grand  refrain! 
I 

Sing  a  sweeter,  stronger 

Hymn,  of  Love's  great  power! 
Ring  out  glad  hosannas 

In  this  triumph  hour! 

Tell  in  song  the  story  — 

Christ  has  come,  to  bring 
Life  to  sin-blind  mortals, 

Health  to  wounded  wing! 

Church  of  Christ  uprising, 

Silent  voice  of  Love, 
Steadfast,  calm,  majestic, 

Type  of  Church  above! 

Sing  ye  true  and  faithful, 

Valiant,  brave,  and  strong! 
Ring  the  chimes  from  tower, 

Hymns  of  praise  prolong! 

- 
1  Written    by   the   Author    during  the  erection   of   First    Church 

of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  1903. 


38  Reminiscences 

Love's  sweet  harvest  home-song 

Vintage  bells  resound ; 
Christ  comes  to  his  temple, 

And  his  own  are  crowned. 

The  first  call  I  made  for  the  building  fund  of  The 
Mother  Church  was  at  Scottish  Rite  Hall,  where  we 
collected,  after  the  Sunday  morning  service,  twenty- 
three  thousand  dollars.  The  baskets  passed  at  this 
meeting  were  frequently  emptied  by  the  ushers  to  make 
room  for  the  overflow  of  money  and  checks.  I  have 
always  collected  money  by  asking  for  it  from  the  plat- 
form at  church  meetings,  for  The  Mother  Church  and 
for  The  Mother  Church  Extension,  for  the  Publishing 
House  and  to  meet  other  demands  of  the  Cause. 

A  former  member  of  The  Mother  Church,  a  disloyal 
student  of  Mrs.  Eddy's,  who  was  very  bitter  against 
me,  many  years  ago  sent  broadcast  the  statement, 
and  continued  for  years  to  circulate  it,  that,  however 
loyal  I  might  be  to  Mrs.  Eddy  at  that  time,  when 
the  final  test  of  my  loyalty  and  obedience  to  the 
teachings  of  Christian  Science  came  I  would  not  stand 
and  remain  faithful  to  Mrs.  Eddy.  This,  of  course, 
I  denied,  and  have  many  times  repeated  the  denial, 
until  at  last  I  have  proved  to  the  world  my  loyalty 
to  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  to 
the  Cause  of  Christian  Science.  I  am  now  awaiting 
the  final  victory  of  Truth  and  Love  over  error  and 
hate.  I  shall  never  be  separated  from  my  Teacher 
and  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  nor  from  my  students 
who  comprehend  divine  metaphysics.  My  church 
will  stand  as  a  "light  set  upon  a  hill,"  known  and 
acknowledged  by  all  men  as  a  demonstration  of  my 
teaching  of  Christian  Science,  as  taught  me  by  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  our  beloved  Leader,   in  her  text-book, 


Reminiscences  39 

Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  her 
other  writings,  and  also  through  twenty-five  years  of 
her  personal  instruction.  The  hour  has  struck.  The 
night  is  past,  the  day  dawns.  Victory  at  last  rests  on 
the  side  of  Christian  Science,  or  demonstrable,  immut- 
able Truth  and  Her  demonstrators. 

LOVE  WATCHES  OVER  ALL 

I  gazed  upon  a  sin-bound  world, 
By  fear  and  care  oppressed, 

Asleep  in  error's  thrall. 
I  asked,  "What  meaneth  this?" 
I  heard,  "God  is  omnipotent; 
This  is  a  dream, — it  is  not  real, 

Love  watches  over  all." 

The  soft  voice  spake  so  tenderly, 
It  seemed  so  near  to  me, 

And  like  an  angel's  call, — 
I  listened,  till  I  heard  again, 
"God  is  omnipotent, — this  is  a  dream, 

Love  watches  over  all. " 

And  then  I  heard  the  brooklet  sing, 
And  birds  in  matin  song 

Chant,  "Ne'er  did  sparrow  fall 
Without  its  Father's  notice,  for 

Love  watches  over  all, 

Love  watches  over  all. " 

I  saw  the  lily  droop  her  head, 
Beneath  the  sultry  heat 

Of  noonday  Sol ; 
A  raindrop  fell  with  cooling  kiss, 
And  whispered,  "Love  hath  sent  you  this, 

Love  watches  over  all. " 


40  Reminiscences 

I  saw  strong  manhood  yield  to  fears, 
And  age  o'ercome  with  many  years, 

And  heard  them  cry,  "I  fall." 
And  then  I  heard  the  voice  again, 
Like  angels,  in  one  grand  amen — 

"Love  watches  over  all." 

Thus  bird  and  lily,  youth  and  age, 
Once  blind  in  error's  thrall , 

Awake  to  Truth,  and  losing  self, 

See  Christ,  and  sing  the  joyous  song — 
"Love  watches  over  all! 

,,  -    Love  watches  over  all!" 


■ 

1 

"  Al&  13 


A.  E.  S. 


CHAPTER  II 
SERMONS  AND  PUBLIC  ADDRESSES 

Whereof  I  am  made  a  minister,  according  to  the  dispensation  of 
God  which  is  given  to  me  for  you,  to  fulfil  the  Word  of  God; 

To  whom  God  would  make  known  what  is  the  riches  of  the  glory  of 
this  mystery  among  the  Gentiles;  which  is  Christ  in  you,  the  hope 
of  glory: 

Whom  we  preach,  warning  every  man,  and  teaching  every  man  in 
all  wisdom;  that  we  may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Colossians  i,  25, 27,  28. 

Let  the  Word  have  free  course  and  be  glorified.  The  people  clamor 
to  leave  cradle  and  swaddling-clothes.  The  spiritual  status  is  urging 
its  highest  demands  on  mortals,  and  material  history  is  drawing  to  a 
close.  Truth  cannot  be  stereotyped;  it  unfoldeth  forever.  "One  on 
God's  side  is  a  majority";  and  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,"  is  the 
pledge  of  the  Master. — No  and  Yes,  p.  45. 

The  following  sermons,  with  the  exception  of  the  first,  which  was 
given  in  Boston,  are  a  few  of  the  many  which  were  delivered  from  the 
pulpit  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  during 
1887-88-89,  in  which  it  was  permissible  for  pastors  to  use  manuscript. 
After  this  period,  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  request,  all  preaching  was  extem- 
poraneous. 

LOVE  THE  FULFILLING  OF  THE  LAW 

For  God  hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power,  and  of 
love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. — 2  Timothy  i..  7. 

1  This,  my  first  Christian  Science  sermon,  was  preached  at  Chickering 
Hall  in  Boston,  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Eddy.  Our  Leader  sat  beside 
me  on  the  platform  and  afterwards  took  me  to  the  car  in  her  carriage. 

41 


42  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

When  man  is  governed  by  God,  the  ever-present  Mind  who  under- 
stands all  things,  man  knows  that  with  God  all  things  are  possible. 

Science  and  Health,  p.  180. 

THE  sacred  word  is  fraught  with  precious  promises, 
and  among  the  many  rich  legacies  which  have 
descended  to  us,  and  which  we  as  Christian  Scientists 
have  demonstrated  beyond  cavil,  are  these  words 
of  Paul,  "For  God  hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of 
fear;  but  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound 
mind."  Mortals,  governed  by  belief  and  trusting  to 
the  evidence  of  material  sense,  are  filled  with  fear 
from  the  hour  they  enter  upon  the  stage  of  mortal 
existence  to  the  moment  when  they  yield  to  the 
"king  of  terrors"  and  friends  say  of  them,  "They  are 
dead." 

To  mortal  man  the  way  is  uncertain.  Ghosts  of 
doubt  and  disappointment  confront  him  as  he  pursues 
his  way.  Malice,  envy,  jealousy,  self-love,  personal 
aggrandizement,  all  unite  to  embitter  existence,  and 
promised  joy  proves  a  poisoned  cup  when  raised  to 
his  lips.  As  he  quaffs  it  to  its  dregs,  he  cries  out  in 
anguish,  "all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit"  (Eccl. 
i.,  14).  Weary  with  the  struggle,  and  faint  with  weak- 
ness and  fear,  he  turns  from  the  unreal  and  illusive  to 
the  real  and  eternal  and  finds  a  refuge  from  the  storms  of 
error  in  the  calm  haven  of  eternal  Truth.  "For  God 
hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power,  and 
of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. " 

The  Father,  infinite  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  the 
God  whom  we  worship  "in  spirit  and  in  truth"  (John 
iv.,  23),  and  beside  whom  there  is  no  other,  is  Love. 
The  understanding  of  this  bursts  the  prison  doors  of 
sin,  sickness,  and  death,  and  sets  us  free  from  their 
bondage.     Mortals  to-day  are  turning  from  the  false 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  43 

to  the  true,  and  are  faintly  comprehending  that  there 
is  but  one  power,  God,  omnipotent,  omniscient  and 
omnipresent  Spirit,  Mind,  Soul: 

Oh !  Thou  Eternal  One !  whose  presence  bright 
All  space  doth  occupy — all  motion  guide; 

Unchanged  through  time's  devastating  flight, 
Thou,  only,  God!     There  is  no  God  beside. 

Being  above  all  beings!     Mighty  One. 


Being  whom  we  call  God1 

The  light  of  Truth  is  dawning  upon  a  darkened 
world  and  is  fast  dispelling  the  mists  of  error.  As  we 
have  with  delight  beheld  the  sundering  of  the  black 
and  angry  clouds  and  the  glorious  bursting  forth  of 
the  sun,  filling  the  world  with  light  and  cheer  where 
gloom  and  shadow  had  been,  so  to-day,  with  our 
minds  ever  thinking  upward  to  that  firmament  of 
infinite  Love  and  Life,  we  are  witnessing  the  dis- 
solving of  the  clouds  of  mortal  fear.  The  thunders 
of  finite  sense  grow  fainter  and  fainter  and  we  shall 
yet  lose  their  last  echo  in  the  paean  of  victory. 

Christian  Science  is  filling  the  earth  with  brightness 
where  dwelt  despair  and  gloom.  Mortal  mind  with 
its  illusions  of  sin  and  sickness  is  receding  before  the 
march  of  Science,  and  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at 
hand.  As  our  Master  prayed,  "  Thy  kingdom  come.  .  . 
in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven,"  so  let  us  pray  without 
ceasing,  that  we  may  establish  His  kingdom  on  earth — 
the  kingdom  of  Spirit — the  power  of  divine  Mind 
to  overcome  a  false  claim  of  life  and  intelligence  in 
matter.  The  Light  shining  in  darkness,  and  which 
the   darkness  comprehendeth  not,   is  now  visible  to 

1  Gavnil  Romanovitch  Dershaven. 


44         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

man ;  and  they  who  having  eyes  saw  not,  are  no  longer 
blind,  but  are  awakened  to  a  new  realization.  And 
yet  to  human  belief  there  are  blind  eyes,  deaf  ears, 
and  dull  understanding. 

Thank  God  the  tocsin  has  sounded,  and  in  the 
glorious  future,  towards  which  we  are  all  hastening, 
every  knee  shall  bow,  every  tongue  shall  confess  Him 
the  only  power.  God  has  given  us  the  spirit  of  love. 
Glorious  word !  what  a  wealth  of  joy  it  conveys !  Love — - 
God  is  Love,  and  God  is  All,  and  All  is  Love.  We  are 
in  an  ocean  of  limitless  Love.  No  shore  bounds  it. 
No  rocks  of  fear  or  hate  arise  to  wreck  us,  as  we  sail 
on  its  quiet  waters.  In  the  understanding  that  all 
is  God  there  is  no  place  for  fear,  for  Love  casts  it  out. 
God  is  All  and  God  is  Love.  Ring  it  out  strong  and 
clear  to  a  world  hungering  and  thirsting  for  a  touch 
of  Truth  to  awaken  it  to  its  inheritance.  Cry  aloud 
to  the  prodigal,  come  home  to  your  Father's  house, 
where  there  is  bread  enough  and  to  spare;  feed  no 
longer  on  the  husks  of  materiality,  but  arise  and 
possess  the  goodly  land.  Speak  it  from  a  life  con- 
secrated to  Truth  and  its  establishment,  from  a  heart 
throbbing  in  unison  with  the  great  spirit  of  love,  that 
shall  touch  with  healing  your  brother  and  sister,  who 
tremble  under  the  thraldom  of  mortal  error,  till  the 
law  of  Spirit  shall  set  them  free  from  the  bondage  of 
sin  and  death. 

God  is  the  only  power,  the  only  source  of  being — 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  God  is  Spirit  and  God  is  good. 
Good  is  the  real,  evil  is  the  unreal.  Good  is  Truth, 
evil  is  a  lie  from  the  beginning.  Good  overcomes 
evil.  Good  is  all  power,  therefore  let  us  abide  in  it. 
Realizing  this,  can  we  fear?  Does  the  infant  fear 
while  resting  on  its  mother's  breast  with  its  mother's 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         45 

loving  arms  tenderly  encircling  it?  Does  the  child 
of  God  serving  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  abiding  in 
Him  who  is  perfect  Love — realizing  that  he  lives  and 
moves  and  has  his  being  in  a  loving  Father  who  is  good — 
does  such  a  child  of  God  tremble  at  the  shadows  that 
sometimes  cloud  his  sky?     Ah !  no,  he  says : 

I  know  not  where  His  islands  lift 

Their  fronded  palms  in  air; 
I  only  know  I  cannot  drift 

Beyond  His  love  and  care. x 

The  shadow,  or  belief  of  life  in  matter,  is  no  longer 
feared,  and  "the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"  is  now 
known  to  be  a  shadow — the  shadow — fear.  Christ- 
ian Scientists,  knowing  this,  are  going  into  the  world 
preaching  the  gospel  that  heals  the  sick,  that  casts 
out  evils  and  raises  a  dead  faith  to  a  living  understand- 
ing. Through  the  power  of  Truth,  the  harp  of  a 
thousand  strings  is  being  attuned  to  the  melody  of 
heaven  and  we  are  learning  the  import  of  the  Master's 
words,  "the  kingdom  of  God  is  within  you."  Putting 
off  the  old  mind,  man  is  putting  on  the  new — the  Mind 
that  was  in  Christ  Jesus — and  is  gradually  rising  to 
his  true  estate  as  a  son  of  God  and  an  heir  of  His 
power.  The  sting  of  the  serpent  is  no  longer  dreaded, 
for  the  serpent  is  a  myth  and  his  sting  a  delusion. 
Man  is  slowly  comprehending  his  relation  to  the 
Father,  who  made  him  in  His  own  image  and  likeness, 
and  gave  him  " dominion "  over  all  things.  "For  God 
hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power,  and 
of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. " 

Hear  the  word:  "But  as  many  as  received  him, 
to  them  gave  he  power"   (John  i.,  12);    "He  giveth 

1  Whittier. 


46         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

power  to  the  faint;  and  to  them  that  have  no  might 
he  increaseth  strength"  (Isa.  xl.,  29);  "For  what- 
soever is  born  of  God  overcometh  the  world:  and  this 
is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our 
faith  "  (1  John  v.,  4),  To  your  faith  add  understanding. 
"Through  God  we  shall  do  valiantly"  (Psa.  lx.,  12). 
"Thou  has  thrust  sore  at  me  that  I  might  fall:  but 
the  Lord  helped  me"   (Psa.  cxviii.,  13). 

Eighteen  centuries  ago  Jesus  and  his  disciples  proved 
to  the  world  the  power  of  Truth  over  error,  of  Mind 
over  the  evidence  of  material  sense,  of  Life  over  death, 
by  destroying  the  illusions  of  sin  and  sickness,  and  by 
overcoming  the  "last  enemy" — the  belief  of  life  in 
matter.  The  world  then  rejected  Truth.  To-day  it 
refuses  to  accept  it,  and  wraps  about  it  more  closely 
the  cloak  of  materialism.    Rightly  has  it  been  expressed : 

Truth  forever  on  the  scaffold,  Wrong  forever  on  the  throne. 
Yet  that  scaffold  sways  the  future,  and,  behind  the  dim 

unknown, 
Standeth  God  within  the  shadow,  keeping  watch  above 

His  own.  * 

Hear  the  word  of  God  to  Joshua: 

Have  not  I  commanded  thee?  Be  strong  and  of  a  good 
courage;  be  not  afraid,  neither  be  thou  dismayed:  for  the 
Lord  thy  God  is  with  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest 
(Josh.  L,  9).  Be  not  afraid  nor  dismayed  for  the  king  of 
Assyria,  nor  for  all  the  multitude  that  is  with  him:  for 
there  be  more  with  us  than  with  him.  .  .  .  With  him  is  an 
arm  of  flesh ;  but  with  us  is  the  Lord  our  God  to  help  us, 
and  to  fight  our  battles  (2  Chron.  xxxii.,  7,  8). 

Through  the  mists  of  material  sense  we  discern 
Truth. 

1  Lowell. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         47 

Lo,  before  us  gleam  her  camp-fires;  we  ourselves  must 
Pilgrims  be, 

Launch  our  Mayflower,  and  steer  boldly  through  the 
desperate  winter  sea, 

Nor  attempt  the  Future's  portal  with  the  Past's  blood- 
rusted  key.1 

We  are  but  touching  the  hem  of  the  garment  of  Truth, 
but  that  touch  opens  our  darkened  minds  to  Truth's 
glorious  possibilities  and  our  dominion  over  sin  and 
sickness,  through  the  understanding  that  all  is  Life, 
Love,  and  Truth. 

May  we,  as  Christian  Scientists,  endeavor  to  cast 
from  us  the  mantle  of  error  which  hides  the  glory 
that  surrounds  us!  May  we  become  better  trans- 
parencies through  which  God  can  radiate  His  light, 
flashing  realization  of  health  and  joy  upon  the  sufferer, 
and  awakening  all  who  are  ready  to  catch  this  reflection 
of  Principle.  Oh!  if  we  could  but  grasp  the  meaning 
of  it  all.  If  we  could  but  read  aright  what  we  now 
can  scarcely  spell,  what  a  heaven  would  we  find  within 
us.  Truth  leads  us  on,  unfolding  more  and  more 
of  Her  treasures. 

"From  glory  unto  glory!"  Thank  God,  that  even  here 
The  starry  words  are  shining  out,  our  heavenward  way 

to  cheer! 
That  e'en  among  the  shadows  the  conquering  brightness 

glows, 
As  ever  from  the  nearing  Light  intenser  radiance  flows. 

f<  From  glory  unto  glory,"  with  no  limit  and  no  veil, 
With  wings  that  cannot  weary  and  hearts  that  cannot 
fail; 

1  Lowell. 


48         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Within,   without,   no  hindrance,   no  barrier  as  we  soar 
And  never  interruption  to  the  endless  "more  and  more!"1 

What  an  exceeding  weight  of  glory  is  ours  if  we  but 
come  forth  from  the  grave  of  materiality  and  awaken 
to   our   real — our   true   relation    to   the    Father. 

But  a  little  time  ago  we  were  oppressed  with  many 
a  conflict,  many  a  doubt.  The  angry  waves  of  false 
sense  tossed  us  with  fears  and  uncertainty,  till  the 
trumpet  voice  of  Truth,  sounding  above  time's  surging 
sense  was  heard,  and  obeying  its  call,  we  found  the 
port  of  peace,  and  anchored  in  the  calm  haven  of 
Love.  Storm-tossed  mortals  on  the  sea  of  materiality 
to-day  are  looking  for  a  beacon  light.  They  see 
breakers  ahead.  Waves  of  fear  and  uncertainty 
lash  them  on  every  side.  The  helmsman,  bewildered 
and  deafened  by  their  roaring,  is  rushing  on  to  destruc- 
tion. Is  there  no  light  in  the  tower?  Have  the  lamps 
gone  out  for  want  of  oil?  Ah!  no.  High  up  in  the 
tower  the  faithful  watcher  has  trimmed  her  lamp, 
and  the  white  flame  of  Love  flashes  across  the  darkness 
of  the  billows  of  materiality;  the  weary  mariner, 
catching  the  gleam,  is  soon  safely  moored  in  the  quiet 
harbor  of  Truth  and  finds  in  infinite  Love  a  refuge 
from  the  storm.  Christian  Scientists,  standing  at 
the  post  of  duty  to-day,  rally  around  your  faithful 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  whose  weary  watch  knows 
no  sleeping,  whose  light  is  never  dimmed,  but  sheds 
its  bright  beams  into  the  night  of  mortal  darkness, 
and  casts  its  radiance  upon  a  world  of  dreamers. 
For  years  her  voice  has  been  heard,  rising  above  the 
clamor  of  error,  "Awake  thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise 
from  the  dead  "  (Eph.  v.,  14).     "Awake,  awake;  put 

1  Frances  Ridley  Havergal. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  49 

on  thy  strength  "  (Isa.  Hi.,  1).  Those  who  have  heard 
the  call  are  gaining,  day  by  day,  the  understanding 
of  the  omnipotence  of  good,  or  God,  and  their  "dominion 
over  all  things,"  and  they  are  comprehending  the 
words  of  the  Master  to  his  disciples:  "And  these 
signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe  "  (Mark  xvi.,  17); 
and  "the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do  "  (John  xiv.,  12). 

Christian  Scientists,  inscribe  on  your  banners  in 
luminous  letters,  that  he  who  runs  may  read:  "For 
God  hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power, 
and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. " 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME  TO  THE  NATIONAL 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  ASSOCIATION, 

JUNE  27,  1880.* 

I  would  I  could  utter  the  thoughts  that  come  surging 
up  for  expression  this  morning  as  I  look  into  the  faces 
of  the  disciples  of  Christ  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
who  have  come  from  the  East,  the  West,  the  North 
and  the  South,  to  unite  with  us  in  establishing  His 
kingdom  "in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven. " 

Language  is  weak  to  convey  our  message,  but  the 
power  of  thought,  laden  with  realization  of  Life,  Truth, 
and  Love,  must  sweep  through  each  consciousness  as 
I  voice  the  welcome  the  Christian  Scientists  of  New 
York  City  extend  to  you,  our  brothers  and  sisters 
in  Christ.  We  put  out  both  hands,  and  clasp  them 
over  hands  that  with  us,  through  sunshine  and  tem- 
pest have  held  aloft  the  banner  of  Christian  Science, 
upon  which  is  inscribed,  in  letters  luminous  with 
Truth,  "All  is  Mind;  there  is  no  matter."     "Spirit 

'  This  was  the  original  address  delivered  at  the  National  Christian 
Science  Convention.     When  published  it  appeared  in  the   Christian 
Science  Journal  in  a  cut  and  changed  form. 
4 


50         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

is  God,  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  468). 

Since  we  last  met,  many  a  worn  pilgrim  has  been 
led  to  the  fountain  of  Life.  Many  a  wanderer  has 
turned  from  the  husks  of  creed  (the  Adam-thought 
in  which  all  die)  to  the  understanding  of  the  power 
of  the  Christ-mind,  in  which  all  are  made  alive. 
The  understanding  of  Christian  Science  lifts  the  veil 
of  sense,  which  hides  from  mortals  the  real  and  eternal, 
and  Love  discloses  the  Principle  of  being,  the  spiritual 
law  of  Life.  Thus  the  sense  of  life  as  physical  dis- 
appears, and  that  of  harmony  with  the  one  Mind  takes 
its  place. 

In  this  spiritual  atmosphere  divine  Love  envelops 
and  infinite  light  illumines  us,  till  material  sense  fades 
and  we  are  conscious  of  the  spiritual  and  real  and  of 
our  "oneness  with  the  Father."  In  this  state  of 
mental  unfoldment,  the  human  reaches  out  for  the 
divine.  Our  yearnings  for  the  spiritual  and  eternal 
must  be  met  and  answered.  The  age  of  passive 
acquiescence  in  time-honored  creed  and  dogmas  has 
passed.  The  thinker  of  to-day  denies  theological 
assumptions  and  ecclesiastical  pretensions.  The  false 
theories  of  scholastic  theology  and  materia  medica  are 
revealed  through  the  light  of  Christian  Science,  and 
to-day  we  see  traditional  religion  reeling.  Its  material 
strongholds  are  being  shaken  as  by  an  internal  volcano, 
and  the  demand  of  the  people  is  for  a  demonstrable 
Christianity,  a  verification  of  the  promises  of  Jesus 
the  Christ. 

We  are  ambassadors  and  disciples  of  Christ.  We 
have  accepted  the  commission  to  go  into  all  the  world, 
preach  the  gospel,  heal  the  sick,  cast  out  evils,  and  raise 
the  dead.     The  Word   which  Jesus  proved  effectual 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  51 

in  healing  the  sick  has  not  lost  its  power.  "In  the 
beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God, 
and  the  Word  was  God  "  (John  i.,  1). 

The  Word,  eternal  Life,  Love  and  Truth,  Mind,  is 
becoming  to  us  sacred  and  divine.  Through  Christian 
Science  we  have  found  the  key  that  unlocks  the  hidden 
mystery  of  God.  Science  and  Health  opens  the  door 
of  understanding  to  all  who  are  groping  in  sense, 
striving  to  find  what  the  hieroglyphics  mean,  of  the 
unseen  in  the  seen.  We  have  found  the  garment  hem 
of  cause,  the  power  of  the  Mind  of  God,  the  potency 
of  the  Word.  We  are  beginning  to  realize  the  Mind 
that  was  in  Christ  Jesus. 

God's  command  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be,  "Let  there 
be  light."  Christian  Science,  the  power  of  God,  is 
working  the  destruction  of  doubt,  material  creeds,  and 
ritual.  It  meets  with  the  same  resistance  that  opposed 
itself  to  Jesus  and  his  early  disciples.  But  it  speaks  the 
"Peace,  be  still"  to  the  seeming  tumult  of  error  and 
declares:  "Now  is  come  salvation,  and  strength,  and 
the  kingdom  of  our  God,  and  the  power  of  His  Christ. " 

Materia  medica  must  investigate  this  method  of 
healing  established  by  Jesus  the  Christ  and  which  he 
proved  effectual  in  opening  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  the 
ears  of  the  deaf,  and  in  raising  the  dead.  Christian 
Science,  or  demonstrable  Truth,  dissolves  clouds  of 
doubt,  material  creed,  and  ritual.  It  is  meeting  with 
the  same  opposition  it  encountered  when  Jesus  and 
his  disciples  preached  God's  omnipotence.  The  gospel 
is  again  preached  in  this  century,  speaking  its  "Peace, 
be  still"  to  suffering  humanity.  It  is  now  calling  to 
mankind  in  thunder  tones  of  Sinai,  "Awake  thou  that 
sleepest,  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  [Truth] 
shall  give  thee  light. " 


52         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

God  is  sounding  forth  His  eternal  truth,  "I  am  the 
first,  and  I  am  the  last ;  and  beside  Me  there  is  no  God. " 
The  battle  between  Truth  and  error— the  Christ-mind 
and  carnal  sense — or  belief  of  life,  substance  and  intelli- 
gence in  matter  has  begun ;  and  it  will  not  cease  until 
Mind  is  acknowledged  supreme  and  matter  is  revealed 
as  illusion,  "that  which  seemeth  to  be  and  is  not."1 
Jesus  the  Christ  worked  out  the  problem  of  belief  in 
a  power  opposed  to  God,  and  left  the  way  for  all  who 
would  follow  him.  In  this  age  a  woman,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  our  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  has  discerned 
the  truth  of  being.  She  has  seen  her  risen  Lord — has 
heard  the  voice  of  the  Christ,  "go  to  my  brethren,  and 
say  unto  them,  I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your 
Father;  and  to  my  God,  and  your  God."  She,  as  God's 
interpreter,  has  heralded  the  power  of  omnipotent  Mind. 
She  has  listened  to  the  voice  of  Spirit  that  leads  into 
all  Truth — that  introduces  into  the  sanctuary  of  Soul. 

She  is  catching  gleams  of  temple  spires, 
Hearing  notes  of  angel  choirs, 
Where,  as  yet,  unseen  of  them, 
Comes  the  new  Jerusalem. 2 

The  God-anointed  Leader  of  Christian  Science  is 
groping  for  the  keys  of  the  heavenly  harmonies;  she 
is  attuning  the  harp  of  a  thousand  strings  to  the 
anthem  of  immortality,  but  not  yet  does  she  hear  the 
sound  of  the  great  Amen. 

The  discordant  strings  of  our  harps  hold  her  in  toil, 
as  she  endeavors  the  gulf  to  span 

In  the  dual  heart  of  man, 
And  between  the  soul  and  sense, 
Reconcile  all  difference.3 
•  Science  and  Health,  p.  472.  2  Whittier.  » Ibid. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         53 

As  she  struggles  to  change  the  dream  of  me  and 
mine,  to  the  truth  of  Thee  and  Thine,  let  us,  her  faith- 
ful students,  follow  her  teachings  and  example.  Let 
us  dare  to  face  the  beasts  of  carnal  sense,  which  she 
has  uncovered  as  the  serpent,  Satan,  the  lie,  which  has 
deceived  the  whole  world  with  its  testimony  of  life, 
substance  and  intelligence  as  existent  in  matter,  and, 
knowing  its  illusion,  let  us  destroy  its  seeming.  Life, 
Love,  and  Truth — God  is  the  real  and  eternal  verity 
of  being.  Sin,  sickness,  and  death  are  the  unreal,  the 
opposite  of  Truth,  "a  lie  from  the  beginning.1"  A 
lie  seems  real  while  it  is  believed.  Evil  has  deceived 
the  whole  world.  Let  us  wrestle  with  this  false  sense. 
Let  us  dissolve,  with  the  solvent  of  Truth  and  Love, 
this  clod  of  clay  till  it  vanishes  away. 

And  the  solid  [seeming]  shores  of  sense 
Melt  into  the  vague  immense.2 

Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law.  Divine  love  will 
conquer  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  evil.  It  is  the  invisible 
link  that  binds  us  to  the  infinite.  Love  is  God,  and 
He  will  manifest  His  mighty  power  when  man  reflects 
His  love  and  truth.  Love  will  dispel  fear  and  evil, 
and  will  leave  us  in  His  likeness,  spiritual  and  eternal 
ideas  of  infinite  Principle,  the  Father — Life,  Love, 
and  Truth.  H.  Bernard  Carpenter  anticipated  this 
hour  when  he  wrote : 

Oh,  tarry  a  moment  till  I  take  from  thee 
A  prophesying  symbol  of  the  day, 
Whose  dawn  already  whitens  through  yon  East ! 
The  Hour  is  coming — hear  ye  not  her  feet 
Falling  in  sweet  sphere-thunder  down  the  stairs 
»  Science  and  Health,  p.  567.  •  Whittier. 


54         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Of  Love's  warm  sky? — when  this  our  holy  Church 

Shall  melt  away  in  ever-widening  walls, 

And  be  for  all  mankind,  and  in  its  place 

A  mightier  church  shall  come,  whose  covenant  word 

Shall  be  the  deeds  of  love.     Not  Credo  then, — 

Amo  shall  be  the  password  through  the  gates. 

Man  shall  not  ask  his  brother  any  more, 

"Believest  thou?"  but,  "Lovestthou?"  till  all 

Shall  answer  at  God's  altar,  "Lord,  I  love." 

For  Hope  may  anchor,  Faith  may  steer,  but  Love, 

Great  Love  alone,  is  captain  of  the  soul. 

COMMUNION1 

'T  was  Sabbath  morn.     The  city  lay 
In  the  embrace  of  dawn,  which, 
As  it  blended  with  approaching  day, 
Revealed  cathedral  dome,  and  lofty  spire 

Of  many  a  church,  where  people  congregate 
To  worship  God.     At  length, 

Its  radiance  rested  on  a  temple  made 

Of  stone,  symmetrical  and  white, 

Which  towered  in  silent  speech  and 

Voiceless  prayer,  piercing  the  sky ;  as  if 

To  point  beyond  the  finite  view, 

And  lead  the  worn  and  weary  unto  Christ. 
The  joyous  birds  joined  in  the  silent  anthem, 

"God  is  good"; 

And  whispering  leaves  were  hushed 

As  if  in  prayer, 

And  as  the  dewdrop 

Glistened  on  the  lily's  breast 

And  flashed  its  varied  hues,  it  voiced  the  message 

"God  is  good." 

1  Communion  service  at  The  Mother  Church,  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,    Scientist,    Boston,    Mass.,    June    17th,    1895. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         55 

The  crystal  waters, 
Touched  by  hand  unseen,  sparkled 
From  lake  and  fount,  and 
Pure  and  smiling,  turned  their  faces  fair 
For  Love's  impress,  and  murmured, 
"God  is  Love." 

Eternity's  great  organ  seemed  to  wake 
The  world  to  prayer  and  praise. 
Anon,  upon  the  breath  of  morn,  were  borne 
Sweet  silvery  chimes,  floating  on 
Pulseless  air,  like  voice  from 
Mother'  heart,  calling  to  children  dear, 
And,  tremulous  with  love  and  blessings, 
Prayed  the  Shepherd-Christ  to  show 
Her  how  to  go  across  the  hillside's 

Steep  and  rugged  way, 
And  safely  lead  his  sheep. 

Well  the  disciples  knew  the 

Voice,  calling  to  feast  of 

Love,  and  thronged  the  temple  door, 

Eager  for  Word  of  God,  and  Christ, — the  bread 

The  thirsty  pressed  for  drink 
From  "Little  Book,"  the  key  to 
Heavenly  wealth, — God's  Holy  Word, 
Revealing  Truth  and  Love, — hid  since 
The  world  began,  but  now  illumed 
Through  Science  and  Health. 
As  deep  within  the  heart  was  heard 
The  promise,  "Whoso  eateth  of  this 
Bread,  shall  hunger  not,  nor  shall 
They  thirst  again  who  drink 
My  .blood,"  a  peace  descended,  and  the 
Singers  rose  and  gave  to  listening  worshippers 
The  chant, — "The  righteous  shall  go  in." 
A  holy  hush  bade  human  sense 


56         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

"Be  still, "  and  Christ  was  felt, 
Sweeping  with  touch  divine  across  the 
Harp  of  thousand  strings,  attuning 
To  Life  and  Love. 

Then  rose  the  Readers,  calm  and  strong 
In  Christ,  and  prayerful,  trusting 
God  to  feed  His  people  in  green 
Pastures,  and  to  lead  beside  still 
Waters,  through  the  Comforter  and  Word. 

To  hearts  attuned  to  Love,  this 
Holy  hour  seemed  like  the  gate  of 
Heaven,  which,  ajar,  disclosed 
The  smile  of  Christ,  calling  in 
Tender  accents,  "  Come  to  me." 

Bowed  in  humble  prayer,  prostrate 
Before  the  Christ,  and  listening 
For  his  voice,  a  heavenly  benediction 
Fell  upon  the  heart,  and  tearful 
Gratitude  went  up  to  God  for 
Her  who  gave  to  all  the  Guide 
To  Life  divine, — who  clasps  again 
The  sinner's  hand — who  turns 
The  straying  footsteps  to  the 
Light,  and  leads  once  more  the 

Way  to  God,  as  did  the  Christ  of  yore. 
Communing  thus,  a  sacred 
Presence  filled  the  place,  and 
Heavenly  messengers  brought 
Peace  and  hope  to  struggling  pilgrims, 
Kneeling  there  for  bread, 
And  waters  pure,  from  Spirit-fount. 

Love  rose  to  temple  dome, 
And  filled  each  humble  heart 
With  incense  from  God's  altar. 
And  the  song  was  heard  again, 
"Peace on  earth,  good  will  to  men," 
Sung  by  unseen  choirs  there, 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  57 

As  they  knelt  in  silent  prayer. 
'T  was  as  if  the  chord  of  love, 
Swept  by  Master-hand  above, 
Thrilled  the  meek  and  lowly  heart, 
Bidding  care  and  fear  depart. 
Then  was  caught  the  low  refrain, 
"  I  am  with  you  once  again, " 
I  have  given  the  bread  and  wine, 
I  am  Christ,  and  ye  are  mine. 
Hush!  within  this  holy  place, 
Love  false  concepts  will  efface; 
Turn  ye  all  from  gold  and  dross, 
Gaze  upon  the  radiant  cross ! 
Holy  Spirit,  break  the  bread, 
Till  each  hungry  heart  be  fed ! 
Drink  the  wine,  so  freely  poured 
By  the  "Comforter,"  adored! 
Then,  with  power  of  love,  reveal, 
How  the  Christ  the  sick  doth  heal! 
Hear  the  Saviour  bid  you  go 
Out  into  a  world  of  woe, 
Loving  all,  as  I  love  you, 
Each  the  healing  work  will  do; 
And,  forgetting  harsh  offense, 
Yield  to  Love  in  penitence. 
Then  will  love  for  God  and  man, 
Light  the  earth  with  rainbow  span.     .     .     , 
■ 

The  faithful  rose  to  follow  Christ's 

i 

Command,  to  heal  the  sick  and  sinful,  and 
To  overcome  the  sense  of  self  and  sin. 

A.  E.  S. 

DIVINE  WISDOM  BRINGS  TRUE  RICHES  AND 
POWER 

In  Gibeon  the  Lord  appeared  to  Solomon.  .  .  and  God  said,  Ask 
what  I  shall  give  thee.  And  Solomon  said.  .  .  Thou  hast  made  Thy 
servant  king  instead  of  David  my  father:  and  I  am  but  a  little  child: 


58         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

I  know  not  how  to  go  out  or  come  in.  .  .  Give  therefore  Thy  servant 
an  understanding  heart  to  judge  Thy  people,  that  I  may  discern  between 
good  and  bad:  for  who  is  able  to  judge  this  Thy  so  great  a  people?  .  .  . 
And  God  said  unto  him,  Because  thou  hast  asked  this  thing,  and  hast 
not  asked  for  thyself  long  life;  neither  hast  asked  riches  for  thyself, 
nor  hast  asked  the  life  of  thine  enemies;  .  .  Behold,  I  have  done 
according  to  thy  words:  lo,  I  have  given  thee  a  wise  and  an  under- 
standing heart;  .  .  .  And  I  have  also  given  thee  that  which  thou  hast 
not  asked  both  riches,  and  honor:  so  that  there  shall  not  be  any  .  .  . 
like  unto  thee. — i  Kings  iii.,  5-13. 

God  is  not  separate  from  the  wisdom  He  bestows. 

Science  and  Health,  p.  6. 

The  history  of  Solomon  and  his  wonderful  achieve- 
ments, his  wealth  and  power,  his  marvelous  temple, 
and  his  unparalleled  wisdom  and  understanding — all 
his  glory — has  been  for  ages  accepted  by  humanity 
as  a  veritable  historic  fact.  In  all  epochs  mortals 
have  commented  upon  Solomon's  limitless  power 
and  resources  in  bringing  together  from  all  the  earth 
her  stores  of  gold,  silver  and  precious  stones,  horses 
and  chariots,  and  thousands  of  men  to  do  his  bidding. 
Solomon's  temple  has  been  the  wonder  of  the  world. 
Mortals  have  vainly  aspired  to  Solomon's  wealth, 
only  to  fall  far  short  of  its  realization. 

Sacred  history  has  given  to  the  world  the  secret  with 
which  Solomon  unlocked  the  hidden  treasures  of  the 
universe  and  brought  out  from  her  inexhaustible  store- 
house the  beauty,  wealth,  and  power  which  he  utilized. 
Yet  generations  have  passed  through  this  human  exist- 
ence, working,  toiling,  sacrificing  liberty  and  human  life 
in  the  acquisition  of  wealth  or  fame,  utterly  refusing 
to  use  the  wisdom  which  Solomon  exercised,  and  which 
he  left  as  a  legacy  to  humanity.  He  attributed  all 
his  power,  peace,  and  plenty  to  God,  and  bequeathed 
to    us    these    words,  the  key  to  his    knowledge,   "O 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         59 

Lord.  .  .  I  am  but  a  little  child:  I  know  not  how  to 
go  out  or  come  in.  .  .  Give  therefore  Thy  servant  an 
understanding  heart. " 

Solomon  realized  the  demand  that  would  be  made 
to  maintain  the  regal  splendor  of  the  king — the  retinue 
of  servants,  the  horses  and  chariots  that  should  herald 
him  as  a  mighty  ruler.  His  first  thought  was  for  the 
good  of  the  people,  and  he  asked  for  wisdom,  justice, 
and  equity  with  which  to  govern  them.  The  weakness 
of  his  own  knowledge  appeared  to  him,  hence  his  call 
upon  God  to  direct  him  and  to  give  him  an  under- 
standing heart.  Personal  self  was  set  aside.  Solomon 
took  his  human  knowledge  and  opinions  out  of  God's 
way,  and  the  light  of  divine  wisdom  illuminated  his 
consciousness  and  revealed  all  things  to  his  understand- 
ing. He  loved  God,  and  in  Gibeon — the  hill  or  ele- 
vation of  holy  aspirations,  the  desire  for  the  good  and 
pure — the  Principle  of  being  appeared  to  him.  The 
voice  of  God  was  heard,  saying:  "Ask  what  I  shall 
give  thee,"  and  Solomon  said,  "Give  therefore  Thy 
servant  an  understanding  heart  to  judge  Thy  people, 
that  I  may  discern  between  good  and  bad:  for  who 
is  able  to  judge  this  Thy  so  great  a  people?" 

Solomon  was  conscious  of  his  weak  human  knowl- 
edge and  fallible  judgment,  which  was  apparent  in  his 
childlike  humility.  But  a  boy,  of  perhaps  fourteen 
years,  he  had  not  learned  the  ways  of  the  material 
world,  nor  filled  his  thought  with  self-knowledge, 
personal  ambition,  personal  pride  and  arrogance,  and 
he  turned  to  God,  as  the  sunflower  turns  to  the  sun  to 
glow  into  bloom  and  beauty  beneath  its  warmth  and 
radiance. 

Solomon's  first  step  was  a  lesson  to  humanity,  but 
humanity  has  not  heeded  it.     Our  Saviour  taught  the 


60         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

same  lesson.  He  said:  "Except  ye  .  .  .  become  as 
little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  A  little  child  does  not  argue.  He  has  no 
foresight,  no  calculating  prudence,  no  malice.  He 
knows  no  disguise.  A  child  expresses  love  without 
restraint  or  pretense  and  is  not  conscious  of  self. 
Innocence,  peace,  and  trusting  confidence  in  the  parents 
who  love  and  protect  them  are  the  portion  of  happy 
children,  and  they  leave  all  care  to  those  who  love  them. 
Even  so  in  spiritual  childhood ;  no  one  truly  enters  into 
the  things  of  God— into  His  intelligence,  His  wisdom, 
His  love,  joy,  and  peace — save  through  a  childlike 
spirit — a  feeling  of  God's  great  all-presence,  all-power, 
all-might,  and  all-love.  Realizing  the  weakness  of 
mortal  conception,  Solomon  said,  "I  am  but  a  little 
child:  I  know  not  how  to  go  out  or  come  in."  The 
Christian  Scientist  voices  the  same  plea,  I  cannot  go 
alone. 

"Keep  Thou  my  feet!     I  do  not  ask  to  see 
The   distant   scene, — one   step   enough   for   me." 

Ceasing  to  depend  upon  personal  self,  and  depending 
entirely  upon  the  divine  Mind,  God's  wisdom  and 
intelligence  stills  the  activity  of  human  thought — 
that  ceaseless  whirl  of  false  reasoning  and  false  arguing 
with  which  mortals  become  confounded  and  bewildered 
— and  God  fills  the  thought  with  the  one  Mind — 
Himself,  Life,  Love  and  Truth. 

Solomon  leaned  upon  God.  Let  us  learn  whence 
came  his  marvelous  dominion  over  man  and  the  treas- 
ures of  the  earth.  His  fabulous  wealth  and  seeming 
material  prosperity  would  hardly  appear  consistent 
with  Jesus'  injunction,  "Take  no  thought  for  your 
life,  what  ye  shall  eat,  or'  what  ye  shall  drink ;  nor  yet 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         61 

for  your  body,  what  ye  shall  put  on."  Yet  God  pro- 
vided all  these  seeming  material  things;  and  as  He 
clothes  the  lilies  of  the  field,  who  neither  toil  nor 
spin,  so  He  clothed  Solomon,  who  in  all  his  glory  was 
not  arrayed  like  them. 

Did  Solomon  take  thought  for  his  body  or  his 
resources  in  order  to  provide  for  regal  splendor — 
purple  and  fine  linen,  a  retinue  of  attaches,  servants, 
horses  and  chariots — which  should  herald  him  as  a 
king?  Where  was  the  wealth  which  must  be  produced 
to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord,  which  David,  his 
father,  had  conceived  but  could  not  erect,  and  left 
for  his  son  to  bring  forth?  Solomon  did  not  hesitate 
when  God  said  to  him,  "Ask  what  I  shall  give  thee" 
but  answered,  "Give  me  an  understanding  heart," 
and  God  granted  it  and  added  riches  and  honor  and 
long  life.  Was  there  any  material  wisdom  and  under- 
standing out  of  which  he  could  build  the  house  of  God? 
Was  understanding  equivalent  to  capital,  to  bonds 
and  stocks,  to  bills  of  exchange,  to  gold  and  silver, 
which  he  would  require  to  build  the  temple  or  house 
of  the  Lord?  Was  it  understanding  which  Peter  used 
as  a  power  to  raise  the  helpless  paralytic,  when  he  said, 
"Silver  and  gold  have  I  none;  but  such  as  I  have  give 
I  thee"?  He  gave  the  paralytic  strength  to  run  and 
leap  for  joy,  and  this  was  accomplished  through 
understanding,  spiritual  thought.  Solomon  and  Peter 
both  had  learned  the  hidden  mystery  of  God,  and  both 
used  their  "dominion"  (spiritual  thought — understand- 
ing) over  the  world  and  its  resources. 

What  is  understanding?  Are  the  treasures  of  the 
universe  therein?  How  can  we  gain  it,  and  is  it 
available  at  all  times  and  in  all  places  and  equal  to  all 
emergencies?     Since    Solomon    proved    the   power   of 


62         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

wisdom  and  understanding,  why  have  not  the  people 
followed  his  example,  and  instead  of  unremitting  toil 
and  ceaseless  anxiety  for  what  they  shall  eat,  and 
what  they  shall  drink,  and  wherewithal  they  shall  be 
clothed,  why  have  they  not,  like  Solomon,  asked  for 
understanding  and  wisdom?  God  is  no  respecter 
of  persons,   and  will  give  to  all  fully  of  His  riches. 

Solomon  and  Jesus  have  left  to  the  world  this  legacy — 
the  riches  of  understanding — by  which  they  accom- 
plished their  mighty  works.  Jesus  the  Christ  illumined 
the  world  with  the  transcendent  power  of  Mind,  and 
utilized  it  to  prove  the  utter  nothingness  of  disease 
and  death.  He  declared  that  death  was  "the  wages 
of  sin";  that  it  was  the  effect  of  erroneous  thought, 
the  lie,  or  false  mentality,  the  illusion  of  material 
sense,  a  dream,  that  which  seemeth  to  be,  but  is  not 
real. 

The  world  has  refused  to  accept  the  directions  our 
Master  gave  to  humanity,  which  he  declared  showed 
the  "Way"  to  eternal  Life  and  the  power  of  God. 
Mortals  have  turned  their  faces  toward  darkness. 
They  have  walked  in  the  valley  and  shadow  of  sin, 
sickness,  and  death.  They  have  been  sailing  on  the 
ever-agitated  sea  of  mortal  thought,  without  chart 
or  compass,  drifting  on  its  hidden  reefs  and  tossed  by 
its  tempests  of  fear  and  disease.  They  have  been 
haunted  by  the  mirages  of  "hope  deferred."  They 
are  weary  of  its  illusive  pleasures,  which  they  chase 
as  a  child  chases  a  butterfly,  only  to  see  it  far  beyond, 
or,  if  haply  he  seizes  it,  in  his  joy  of  capture  he  opens 
his  hand  to  find  the  beautiful  wings  crushed,  the  life 
fluttering,  and  the  creature  which  was  a  thing  of  beauty 
becomes  a  lifeless  mockery  of  his  pursuit. 

Over  this  tempestuous  sea  of  mortal  thought,  birds 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         63 

of  false  hope  are  ever  singing  of  a  haven  of  rest  which 
is  never  reached,  and  the  song  misleads  till  mortals 
drift  into  the  quicksands  of  disease.  Wrecked  and 
helpless  they  are  swept  away,  lost  in  the  maelstrom 
of  belief.  We  have  dreamed  in  the  darkness  of 
material  sense,  and  only  now  are  awaking  to  our 
reality,  and  are  apprehending  that  this  matter-dream 
is  but  an  illusion  which  avails  nothing.  We  have 
bowed  to  a  strange  god.  Mortal  thought,  or  belief, 
with  its  testimony  of  life,  substance  and  intelligence 
in  matter,  has  been  believed,  and  mortals  have  not 
exercised  the  dominion  of  Mind,  the  Christ-mind 
power  over  the  carnal  senses,  truth  over  error,  good 
over  evil,  life  over  death  and  love  over  fear. 
The  Quaker  poet  says: 

"  The  riddle  of  the  world  is  understood 
Only  by  him  who  feels  that  God  is  good, 
As  only  he  can  feel  who  makes  his  love 
The  ladder  of  his  faith,  and  climbs 
From  sense  to  soul,  and  draws  no  line 
Between  mere  human  goodness  and  divine, 
And  judging  God  by  what  in  man  is  best, 
With  a  child's  trust,  leans  on  a  father's  breast." 

Solomon,  with  childlike  trust,  asked  God  for  wisdom 
and  understanding.  The  divine  Mind  is  understanding, 
intelligence,  wisdom,  the  creator,  Principle,  in  which 
are  all  conceptions  of  beauty  and  utility. 

In  the  beginning  was  the  "Word, "  the  divine  Mind, 
supreme  intelligence,  or  creative  force,  God,  good, 
who  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth.  He  spoke 
all  things  into  existence.  He  said,  "Let  there  be 
light;  and  there  was  light."  He  commanded,  Let 
there  be  beasts,   birds,  fish,  and  fowl,   and  they  ap- 


64         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

peared.  He  said,  "Let  the  earth  bring  forth  grass, 
the  herb  yielding  seed,  .  .  .  whose  seed  is  in  itself," 
and  it  was  expressed.  The  seed  is  the  creative  power 
of  Mind.  "The  tree  and  herb  do  not  yield  fruit  because 
of  any  propagating  power  of  their  own,"  says  Mrs. 
Eddy,  in  Science  and  Health,  p.  507,  "but  because  they 
reflect  the  Mind  which  includes  all."  Infinite  Mind 
expresses  and  controls  all  ideas  composing  the  universe. 
From  the  limitless,  inexhaustible  resources  of  Mind  or 
understanding,  all  phenomena  of  earth  and  heaven  pro- 
ceed and  are  manifest.  Mind's  ideas  see,  feel,  hear, 
taste,  and  smell.  The  Psalmist  says,  "O  taste  and  see 
that  the  Lord  [Mind,  God]  is  good."  Trust  in  Mind, 
not  in  matter.  Be  led  by  God,  Mind,  and  lean  not  to 
belief  in  a  mortal  mind. 
Solomon  said  to  his  son: 

In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him,  [God]  and  He  shall 
direct  thy  paths.  So  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty 
and  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine.  .  .  .  Happy 
is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom,  and  the  man  that  getteth 
understanding.  .  .  .  She  is  more  precious  than  rubies :  and 
all  the  things  thou  canst  desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto 
her.  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand,  and  in  her  left 
hand  riches  and  honor.  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 
and  all  her  paths  are  peace.  She  is  a  tree  of  life  to  them 
that  lay  hold  upon  her :  and  happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth 
her.  .  .  .  keep  sound  wisdom  and  discretion.  .  .  .  Then 
shalt  thou  walk  in  thy  way  safely,  and  thy  foot  shall  not 
stumble. 

. 

"Thy  foot  shall  not  stumble."  What  a  promise! 
It  is  equivalent  to  saying,  All  that  thou  dost  under- 
take thou  shalt  accomplish.  In  the  understanding 
of   the  power  of  the  Christ-mind,  governed   by    Life, 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         65 

Love,  and  Truth,  our  ways  are  pleasant  and  our  paths 
are  peace.  There  is  length  of  days  in  the  Life- thought 
and  longevity  is  increased  by  the  reflection  of  Truth 
and  Love.  From  the  real,  the  divine  Principle,  Life, 
Love,  and  Truth,  the  Christ-mind,  Solomon  brought 
forth  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  understanding. 
The  expression  of  harmonious,  creative  intelligence 
and  its  creations  were  variously  manifested  in  silver 
and  gold,  wood  and  stone,  brass  and  iron.  His  barns 
were  indeed  filled  with  plenty  and  his  presses  with 
new  wine. 

He  proved  that  no  good  thing  does  God  withhold 
from  them  that  walk  uprightly,  love  Him.  David, 
his  father,  had  prepared  much  of  the  way  for  his  son, 
but  it  required  peace  and  not  conflict  to  build  for  God. 
During  the  war  of  the  material  senses,  David  had 
conquered  many  enemies,  doubts  and  fears,  self-love, 
self-will  and  self-righteousness.  He  had  not  realized 
his  pride  of  human  knowledge  and  limited  human 
resources  till  God's  wisdom  and  power  shone  into  his 
consciousness  and  he  perceived  the  inexhaustible 
wealth  of  divine  Mind.  Visions  of  the  universe  and 
its  treasures,  which  in  the  tumult  of  victory  over  the 
material  senses  he  had  not  been  able  to  utilize,  dawned 
upon  him  and  he  left  the  work  to  Solomon  upon  condi- 
tion that  he  should  walk  in  the  statutes  of  God.  While 
Solomon  obeyed  the  spiritual  divine  leadings,  he 
continued  to  increase  in  wisdom  and  riches,  peace, 
plenty,  honor,  and  power. 

Infinite  Mind  governs  all  ideas  which  compose  the 
spiritual  universe.  Jesus  said,  "  The  kingdom  of 
God  is  within  you."  Mind  evolves  mental  pictures, 
from  the  landscape  of  living  green  to  the  mountains 
towering  against  the  sky  of  purest  blue,  over   which 


66         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

float  pearly  clouds.  Thought  evolves  the  tint  of  pink, 
purple,  silver,  pearl,  etc.,  together  with  the  setting 
of  the  sun  in  red  and  amber.  Thought  is  expressed 
in  flowers — in  their  multitudinous  form,  color  and 
perfume.  All  that  we  have  called  nature  is  but  Mind 
manifest  in  objects,  from  the  infinite  to  the  infinitesi- 
mal. "The  seed  is  in  itself,  only  as  the  divine  Mind  is 
All"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  508),  and  produces  all 
phenomena.     Human  belief  reverses  all  things. 

Science  and  Health  declares,  "Mind  is  the  mul- 
tiplier, and  Mind's  infinite  idea,  man  and  the  universe, 
is  the  product.  The  only  intelligence  or  substance 
of  a  thought,  a  seed,  or  a  flower  is  God,  the  creator  of 
it"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  508).  Mind  had  brought 
to  Solomon  all  his  eye  witnessed.  At  times  he  had 
risen  to  the  pinnacle  of  his  human  receptivity  of  Truth. 
Another  step  had  to  be  taken  which  required  more 
humility.  Personal  sense,  pride  of  acquisition,  and 
vanity  of  his  marvelous  possessions  had  dazzled 
him,  and  he  turned  from  his  reliance  upon  God  to 
material  sense,  which  prevented  the  greater  illumina- 
tion of  Mind  and  its  possibilities.  Divine  Love  came 
to  his  consciousness  with  riches  and  power  beyond 
all  that  Solomon  had  conceived.  But,  weighed  in 
the  balance,  Solomon  was  found  wanting  and  She 
vanished  from  his  presence.  He  had  chosen  the  mate- 
rial world,  and  divine  wisdom  fled,  leaving  him  with 
his  material  sense  to  create  its  false  illusive  phenom- 
ena which  should  turn  to  dust  and  ashes  at  his 
touch.  The  carnal  mind  is  composed  of  fears,  a 
spectral  band, — of  doubts,  anxiety,  sickness  and  sor- 
row. All  its  conceptions  are  phantoms,  unreal  and 
fleeting.  Humanity  must  turn  from  the  mortal  sense 
of    life    in    matter,  to    the    understanding    of  life  in 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  67 

Mind  and  there  abide,  if  it  would  continue  to  receive 
God's  blessings.  If  cause  is  right  the  right  effect  will 
follow.  Mortals  must  discontinue  false  thinking 
which  evolves  discord  and  death.  These  are  dreams, 
which,  as  mortals  awake  to  Truth,  wisdom  and  under- 
standing destroy. 

At  first  Solomon  asked  for  wisdom  to  judge  between 
good  and  bad,  and  God  governed  his  thought.  A 
harmonious  cause  produces  a  harmonious  effect. 
Thought  is  force.  Mind  is  the  creative  Principle,  the 
supreme,  divine  intelligence.  There  is  but  one  Mind, 
or  cause,  God.     This  is  the  fountain  of  eternal  Life. 

Wisdom  and  understanding  proceed  from  the  Christ- 
mind,  and  spiritual  man  is  a  reflection  of  God,  made 
in  His  own  image  and  likeness,  with  dominion  over 
all  things.  Jesus  the  Christ  realized  his  oneness  with 
the  Father,  and  said  to  his  disciples  that  "they  may 
be  one,  [with  the  Father]  as  we  are."  He  exercised 
his  God-thought  and  knew  that  there  was  no  intelli- 
gence, life,  or  power  in  matter.  He  took  dominion 
over  the  lie,  and  destroyed  the  works  of  error — sin, 
sickness,  and  death. 

As  wisdom  or  spiritual  thought,  appeared  to  Solo- 
mon with  her  riches  of  infinite  beauty,  power,  and 
glory,  diviner  conceptions  than  had  yet  been  revealed 
to  him,  so  she  appeared  to  Jesus,  and  he  testified, 
' '  The  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up  in  the  judgment 
with  this  generation,  and  shall  condemn  it"  (Matt. 
xii.,  42).  Paul  wrote:  "For  it  is  written,  I  will 
destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to 
nothing  the  understanding  of  the  prudent  .  .  .  hath  not 
God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world?"  Divine 
wisdom,  Christian  Science,  has  revealed  to  the  nine- 
teenth century  her  riches  of  Life,  Love,  and  Truth — 


68         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

her  treasures  of  beauty,  joy,  and  peace — and  is  con- 
demning material  knowledge,  mortal  conceptions,  and 
the  material  universe  as  the  creations  of  false  sense, 
altogether  unreliable  and  fallacious.  They  are  without 
life,  substance  or  intelligence,  and  are  such  substance 
only  as  dreams  create. 

Science  reverses  the  testimony  of  the  material 
senses  and  declares  that  man  is  spiritual,  not  material. 
In  spiritual  thought  all  is  harmony.  "Chaos  and  old 
night,"  discord  and  disease,  sorrow  and  death,  are 
produced  by  the  carnal  mind,  belief  of  life  in  matter. 
Let  us  refuse  longer  to  believe  the  suggestions  of 
mortal  mind.  God  reigns  and  there  is  none  beside 
Him.  All  is  Life.  All  is  Love  and  Truth.  Adam 
is  a  myth.  In  the  Adam-thought  all  die.  In  the 
Christ-mind   all   are   made   alive. 

Knowing  the  true  from  the  false,  shall  we  continue 
creating  hallucinations?  Wisdom  condemns  mortal 
sense  and  declares  of  matter,  "It  is  illusion,  loss  but 
seems,  pleasure  and  pain  are  only  dreams."  Wisdom 
cries  in  the  streets  to-day,  "Awake  thou  that  sleepest, 
and  arise  from  the  dead. "  She  comes  to  us  with  her 
train  of  camels,  strong,  enduring  thoughts  of  life  in 
the  infinite  Life.  They  carry  us  through  the  desert 
of  personal  sense,  where  mirages  of  fear  and  disease — 
ghosts  of  old  beliefs — arise  to  terrify  us,  as  we  journey 
from  sense  to  Soul,  from  the  unreal  and  temporal, 
to  the  real  and  eternal.  The  ancients  worshiped 
gods  of  wood  and  stone.  Moderns  worship  matter. 
Scholastic  theology  has  taught  for  centuries  that 
Adam  is  the  real  man,  with  life  and  intelligence. 
Materia  medica  has  vainly  striven  to  preserve  that 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  to  treat  non-intelligent 
matter,  only  to  yield  to  inevitable  defeat  and  death. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         69 

Since  time  began,  mortals  have  been  experimenting 
with  Adam,  and  the  world  has  lavished  its  resources 
upon  material  theology  and  materia  medica,  to  aid 
them  in  solving  the  problem  of  life  in  matter.  Adam 
has  been  studied  under  the  keenest  microscope  of 
mental  and  physical  analysis  and  the  verdict  is  the 
same  as  in  the  days  of  prophets  and  apostles.  "In 
Adam  all  die."  Illusions  are  not  permanent.  They 
come  and  go  like  the  wind  which  "bloweth  where  it 
listeth,  and  thou  .  .  .  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh, 
and  whither  it  goeth. "  So  are  the  creations  of  the 
Adam-dream. 

There  is  no  life  in  the  shadow  which  vanishes  in 
the  light.  It  is  now  that  we  are  listening  to  the  voice 
of  wisdom.  "A  crown  of  glory  shall  she  deliver  to 
thee.  .  .  .  Take  fast  hold  of  instruction  .  .  .  for  she 
is  thy  life  "  (Prov.  iv.,  9,  13).  We  are  now  learning 
the  power  of  Mind  and  that  thoughts  are  things  and 
things  are  thoughts.  Now  we  are  learning  the  cause 
of  sickness,  discord,  and  death.  The  Christ-mind  is 
wisdom  and  understanding — it  is  health  and  harmony. 
The  carnal  mind  is  the  lie,  and  from  it  proceeds  envy, 
jealousy,  pride,  ambition,  lust,  hatred,  deception,  and 
fear,  which  cause  disease  and  death,  all  of  which  are 
beliefs — nothingness.  These  forces,  if  believed  and 
yielded  to,  evolve  a  discordant  body  and  a  discordant 
universe. 

At  first  Solomon  asked  to  be  controlled  by  the 
Christ-mind,  and  the  result  was  harmony  in  all  his 
undertakings.  When  building  his  house  upon  Mount 
Zion,  and  the  house  of  the  Lord  upon  Mount  Moriah, 
the  way  was  covered  through  which  he  walked  in 
going  from  one  to  the  other.  Under  the  protection 
of  wisdom   or  leaning   upon   the  strong  arm   of   the 


70         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Infinite,  divine  Love  covers  us  with  Her  feathers. 
Spiritual  sense  is  a  repelling  force  to  the  fleshly  mind. 
Enveloped  in  a  halo  of  light  and  love,  evil  cannot  reach 
us.  As  the  light  of  the  sun  dispels  the  darkness, 
so  does  the  God- thought,  life,  love,  and  truth  destroy 
sin,  sickness,  and  death,  the  illusions  of  corporeal 
sense. 

Through  the  understanding  that  Mind  is  the  creative 
power,  and  that  God  is  our  life,  we  are  uncovering  the 
false  belief  of  life  in  matter  which  has  so  long  deceived 
us.  It  is  now  that  we  pray  to  be  governed  by  divine 
Mind  or  wisdom,  and  we  are  demonstrating  the  power 
of  spiritual  thought-force  over  the  belief  of  evil.  We 
now  understand  the  cause  of  disease  in  the  body, 
discord  in  the  home,  chaos  in  business,  tidal  waves 
and  fires  in  the  universe,  and  all  the  phenomena  which 
are  caused  by  the  mortal  belief  in  two  powers,  good 
and  evil. 

Evil  thoughts  are  destructive  forces.  They  have 
been  hidden  till  wisdom  threw  the  light  of  Truth  upon 
the  lie.  We  now  know  that  spiritual  love  nullifies 
their  claim  to  power — "Hear,  O  Israel;  The  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord" — good. 

Edison,  in  a  recent  article  upon  the  danger  of 
electricity,  says:  "Insulated  wires  are  not  safe  if  put 
underground,  they  are  more  dangerous  on  account  of 
the  gases  which  will  force  themselves  into  houses 
through  any  opening,  and  they  are  only  safe  when  ex- 
posed. Then  they  lose  their  death-dealing  power." 
How  true  of  evil !  Christian  Science,  the  understanding 
of  the  supremacy  of  the  Christ-mind,  has  exposed  the 
cause  of  sickness  and  death,  and  found  it  to  be  carnal 
mind,  the  lie  which  has  deceived  the  whole  world. 
Truth  uncovers  error  in  this  age  and  the  lie  exposed 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         71 

has  lost  its  destructive  power.  "There  is  nothing 
covered  that  shall  not  be  revealed." 

When  man  learns  his  mental  spiritual  dominion, 
how  buoyant  will  become  his  step!  When  he  realizes 
that  he  has  been  holding  in  his  thought  vipers  which 
have  stung  him  and  has  borne  the  burden  of  disease 
and  discord  in  his  body,  in  his  business,  in  the  universe, 
working  out  the  problems  of  fear  and  uncertainty, 
only  to  terminate  in  death — when,  I  say,  he  awakes 
from  his  Adam-dream  and  learns  that  the  cause  of  all 
his  suffering  was  a  false  sense,  he  will  turn  to  his 
Christ-mind,  and  redeem  his  health,  joy,  and  peace, 
a  harmonious  body  and  a  harmonious  universe.  We 
have  been  taught  to  submit  to  all  things  good  or  bad 
as  sent  from  God,  as  reward  or  discipline.  To-day 
the  fettered  mind  is  freeing  itself  and  the  Te  Deum 
ascends  from  the  emancipated.  We  shall  no  longer 
live  as  slaves.     We  were  free-born. 

Let  us  stand  guard  at  the  portal  of  thought.  To 
the  approaching  messenger  let  us  demand,  "Who 
comes  there?"  If  it  is  Christ,  Truth,  we  will  open 
the  door  to  the  angel  visitant,  Life  and  Love.  If 
it  be  the  belief  of  sensation  in  matter,  with  its  various 
illusions  of  pain  or  pleasure,  its  falsities  and  evil 
thoughts,  fears,  malice,  and  the  carnal  forces  that 
create  discord  and  disease,  we  will  bid  them  depart. 
Beloved,  assert  your  freedom,  your  Christ-mind  power, 
and  prove  the  supremacy  of  your  God-thought. 

Why  should  we  yield  to  sickness  more  than  to  sin? 
Why  should  death  be  the  "king  of  terrors"  when  it 
is  admitted  to  be  "the  wages  of  sin"?  If  one  does 
not  take  poison  one  does  not  suffer  from  its  effects. 
If  one  does  not  commit  a  crime  one  need  not  fear  the 
prison.     If  one  ceases  to  sin,  one  does  not  meet  sin's 


72         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

penalty.  When  will  humanity  cease  sinning,  or 
believing  that  there  is  life  in  matter?  When  will 
humanity  understand  that  life  is  in  the  Christ-mind? 
Finally,  God  will  be  understood  as  governing  man, 
and  from  wisdom  we  shall  evolve  health,  harmony, 
riches,  honor,  for  "the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the 
fulness  thereof. "  We  must  realize  that  now  we  are 
spiritual,  that  now  we  are  in  eternity  and  that  now  God 
will  reveal  His  life,  His  love,  His  truth,  His  wisdom, 
His  marvelous  riches,  His  ever-presence  and  power. 

Like  light  illuminating  a  room  rilled  with  costly 
treasures,  which,  in  the  darkness,  we  had  not  seen, 
so  the  light  of  understanding,  God's  intelligence, 
will  work  through  human  consciousness  revealing  the 
treasures  of  earth,  air,  and  sea.  Mind  creates.  Wisdom 
and  understanding  brought  forth  Solomon's  riches, 
honor,  and  glory.  Turning  from  Mind,  or  God,  to  mat- 
ter, or  sin,  he  brought  forth  sorrow,  discord,  disease, 
and  death — the  effects  of  mortal  belief  of  life  in  matter. 

Wisdom  puts  forth  her  voice  to-day:     "Unto  you, 

0  men,  I  call;  .  .  .  O  ye  simple,  understand  wisdom. " 

1  am  Truth,  I  am  Mind.  "For  wisdom  is  better 
than  rubies ;  .  .  .  By  me  kings  reign,  .  .  .  Riches  and 
honor  are  with  me ;  yea,  durable  riches  and  righteousness 
....  That  I  may  cause  those  that  love  me  to  inherit 
substance;  and  I  will  fill  their  treasures. "  (Prov.  viii.) 
The  understanding  of  the  supremacy  of  Mind  and  the 
allness  of  God  is  wisdom.  It  is  understanding  to  know 
and  realize  that  matter  has  no  life,  substance,  nor 
intelligence  and  that  a  false  sense  which  is  expressed 
in  seeming  sin,  is  illusion,  sickness,  and  death.  Let 
us  choose  Mind,  and  permit  God  to  govern  our  thought. 
Let  us  accept  the  riches  of  His  universe  as  a  sequence, 
thanking  Him  for  His  loving  protection  and  manifold 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         73 

blessings.  Let  us  praise  Him  as  the  lilies  of  the  field 
praise  Him,  and  as  the  heavens  and  the  earth  declare 
His  goodness. 

Let  us  guard  the  portal  of  our  thought  as  we  guard 
our  material  treasures.  Bolts,  bars,  and  watchmen 
protect  the  bank  and  the  warehouse.  Gold  and  silver, 
stocks  and  bonds  find  a  receptacle  behind  the  massive 
iron  door  of  the  safe,  whose  intricate  combination 
lock  resists  the  midnight  robber.  The  mansion  in 
which  are  man's  dearest  treasures  is  made  impervious 
to  thieves  and  supplied  with  electric  burglar  alarms. 
The  greater  the  riches,  the  more  uneasy  lies  the  head. 
Ah !  mankind  has  sought  out  many  inventions  to  protect 
the  mortal  body  and  material  possessions,  but  has  left 
the  portal  of  thought  wide  open  for  error  to  enter  and 
govern  his  house. 

A  man's  "foes  shall  be  they  of  his  own  household." 
Fear,  doubt,  envy,  jealousy,  pride,  licentiousness, 
self-love,  and  personal  ambition  are  the  false  forces 
that  are  included  in  the  belief  of  life  in  matter.  They 
pursue  him  till  they  bind  the  strong  man  and  cast  him 
into  prison,  or  the  helplessness  of  disease,  until  he  has 
paid  the  uttermost  farthing.  Evil  thoughts  are  held 
in  consciousness  which  are  as  fatal  as  the  dagger,  the 
midnight  assassin,  or  the  poison  of  the  serpent. 

Wisdom  uncovers  error.  Christian  Scientists  are 
expelling  mental  enemies  from  human  thought,  and 
are  barring  their  mental  doors  against  the  subtle  claims 
of  evil.  Wisdom  is  condemning  this  generation  and 
is  revealing  the  hidden  mysteries  of  God.  Truth  is 
uncovering  error  and  showing  its  illusion.  Scholastic 
theology  and  materia  medica  are  condemned  by  the 
demonstration  of  the  supremacy  of  Mind  over  matter. 

"Where  is  the  wise?  where  is  the  scribe?  where  is 


74         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

the  disputer  of  this  world?  hath  not  God  [divine  Mind] 
made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world?"  Human 
wisdom  has  labored  for  naught,  and  must  yield  to  the 
divine.  To-day  Christian  Science  is  operating  in 
human  thought  as  leaven  operates  in  meal.  Mortals, 
by  the  force  of  Truth  are  to-day  unconsciously  shaping 
their  creed  at  the  forge  of  thought. 

"  Truth's  mighty  arguments  shall  roll  down 
From  inland  mountain  to  seaboard  town." 

The  altar  is  only  awaiting  the  hour  when  all  men  shall 
know  God,  be  one  royal  brotherhood,  and  one  church 
made  free  by  love,  which  is  the  law  of  God.  Material 
thought  is  being  destroyed  by  Christian  Science,  that 
the  temple  of  God — spiritual  consciousness — may  be 
revealed.  Each  in  his  or  her  consciousness  is  gradually 
overcoming  false  sense. 

It  is  said  by  some  that  Christian  Scientists  are  doing 
nothing.  When  the  hour  strikes,  and  the  shout  of  vic- 
tory goes  up,  the  walls  of  Jericho  will  fall.  Truth  is  a 
silent,  disintegrating  force.  It  is  eating  into  old  theories 
and  traditional  dogmas,  and  is  casting  error  to  the  sur- 
face that  it  may  be  destroyed.  Error  resists  Truth,  as 
Truth's  potent  presence  threatens  to  overthrow  error's 
strongholds.    The  cry  of  the  unbeliever  attracts  the  ear. 

Hate  and  malice  and  self-love  mar 
The  notes  of  triumph  with  painful  jar, 
And  the  helping  angels  turn  aside 
Their  sorrowing  faces  the  shame  to  hide. 
Never  on  custom's  oiled  grooves 
The  world  to  a  higher  level  moves, 
But  grates  and  grinds  with  friction  hard 
On  granite  boulder  and  flinty  shard. l 

•  Whittier. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         75 

To-day  Christian  Scientists  behold  the  bow  of 
fruition.  They  are  realizing  "the  peace  of  God  for 
the  world's  annoy."  "Beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of 
joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit 
of  heaviness  !1  (Isa.  lxi.,  3). 

All  the  foregleams  of  wisdom  in  santon  and  sage, 
In  prophet  and  priest,  are  our  true  heritage.1 

Then  let  us  choose  wisdom,  and  declare,  I  know  not 
how  to  go  out  or  come  in."  Give  me  wisdom  and 
understanding. 

CHRIST-MIND  HEALING 

And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  will  come  and  heal  him. — Matthew  viii.,  7. 

Jesus  illustrated  the  divine  Principle  and  the  power  of  immortal  Mind 
by  healing  sickness  and  sin  and  destroying  the  foundations  of  death. — 
Science  and  Health,  p.  171. 

Throughout  the  years  of  our  Christian  experience, 
we  have  read  and  have  repeatedly  heard  of  the  Master's 
wonderful  power  in  healing  the  sick.  Without  question- 
ing how  he  performed  these  so-called  miracles,  we 
accepted  them  as  beyond  the  ken  of  erring  finite 
vision,  and  drifted  into  the  belief  that  Jesus  was  the 
Son  of  God  endowed  with  power  to  cast  out  devils 
and  raise  the  dead,  and  that  this  divine  power  was 
conferred  only  upon  the  disciples  of  that  day.  The 
religion  of  our  early  years  gave  us  no  understanding 
of  our  relation  to  God,  or  of  our  divine  birthright, 
and  while  we  were  not  satisfied  with  our  limited  and 
circumscribed  possibilities,  we  knew  no  path  out  of 
the  labyrinth  of  helplessness  in  which  we  were  straying. 

1  Whittier. 


76         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

We  read  that  "The  entrance  of  Thy  words  giveth 
light;  it  giveth  understanding."  But  the  Word  was 
not  rightly  interpreted,  for  we  did  not  get  the  light 
to  comprehend,  even  faintly,  the  mystery  of  life,  or 
the  experience  of  Jesus,  who,  beyond  all  finite  appre- 
hension, gave  testimony  to  the  illumination  of  Truth. 
To-day,  mortals  are  halting  before  Truth  which  reveals 
to  them  the  great  possibilities  of  man  when  governed 
by  God,  the  infinite  intelligence,  whose  rule  is  perfect 
harmony  and  unfailing  love. 

Truth  is  working  over  and  above  all  mortal  thought, 
asserting  its  dominion,  its  supremacy,  and  omnipotence. 
Life  is  seen  to  be  spiritual  and  eternal,  not  material 
and  mortal.  Three  hundred  years  after  the  crucifixion 
of  Jesus,  none  fulfilled  the  command  of  the  Master, 
and  for  generations  mortals  have  repeated  "the  old, 
old  story,  of  Jesus  and  his  love,"  but  have  failed  to 
catch  the  inspiration  of  that  love  sufficiently  to  cast 
out  fear,  heal  the  sick,  or  raise  the  dead. 

Jesus,  the  human  man,  has  been  the  theme  of  theo- 
logy; while  Christ,  the  ideal  man,  has  been  but  faintly 
apprehended,  and  mortals  have  lived  in  the  belief  of 
life  in  matter,  instead  of  living  in  the  understanding 
of  life  in  Spirit,  Mind. 

In  this  century,  the  voice  of  Truth  is  arousing  the 
material  world  from  its  deep  sleep,  and  is  calling 
loudly  to  mankind,  "Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell 
in  the  dust"  (Isa.  xxvi.,  19).  When  in  their  blindness 
and  weakness  they  question,  "  Where  is  our  strength?  " 
the  reply  quickly  reaches  them,  Your  strength 
"cometh  from  the  Lord,  which  made  heaven  and 
earth,  "  and,  '<!  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee. " 

In  this  hour  when  the  world  is  sitting  in  judgment 
on  healing  the  sick  by  any  but  a  material  method,  it 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         77 

is  well  for  us  to  go  back  and  recall  the  means  by  which 
mortals  in  different  epochs  of  the  world's  history  have 
endeavored  to  free  themselves  from  the  suffering  to 
which  all  are  more  or  less  in  bondage.  Since  Hippo- 
crates, man  has  striven  to  find  an  antidote  for  disease. 
Moses  introduced  mental  healing.  The  people  were 
asked  to  look  upon  the  brazen  serpent  and  they  believed 
that  they  were  healed  of  the  stings  of  poisonous  vipers. 
Later,  the  prayer  of  faith  healed  the  sick  until  their 
faith  failed  and  ceased  to  relieve  suffering  humanity. 
Then  followed  material  modes  of  relief  through  allo- 
pathy, homeopathy,  and  other  methods,  until  at  last 
Truth  appeared  and  divine  Mind  was  proved  to  be 
more  effectual  and  potent  in  the  healing  of  disease 
than  so-called  mortal  mind  with  its  drugging  system. 

Christendom  accepts  the  Bible  for  its  guide.  There 
are  recorded  in  it  many  instances  of  wonderful  restora- 
tion to  health  by  prophets  and  apostles.  The  world 
has  immortalized  these  prophets,  seers,  and  apostles 
whose  faith  laid  hold  on  the  promises  of  God,  through 
His  Son  Jesus  the  Christ.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
enumerate  the  number  of  mental  cures  effected  before 
Jesus'  day.  The  instance  of  the  raising  of  the  widow's 
son  by  Elisha  is  sufficient  to  establish  the  power  of 
Mind  to  raise  to  life  the  seeming  dead. 

Let  us  ponder  these  records  of  omnipotent  Mind  and 
ascertain  who  was  the  best  exponent  of  divine  Mind- 
healing  the  world  has  ever  known.  What  was  his 
life?  What  was  his  reception  and  experience  while 
practising  and  demonstrating  mental  healing  on  the 
scientific  basis  of  the  allness  of  God,  good,  the  supre- 
macy of  Mind  over  matter,  or  Spirit  over  the  flesh? 
Let  us  ascertain  if  it  were  Christian. 

A  few  Sundays  ago  in  one  of  the  fashionable  churches 


78         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

in  this  city,  the  words  rang  out  from  the  pulpit  strong 
and  clear,  "Christian  Science  is  a  misnomer,  for  it  is 
neither  Christian  nor  Science." 

First,  let  us  learn  what  Christian  Science  is,  and 
then  determine  if  it  be  Christian.  Christian  Science 
is  the  understanding  of  Truth.  It  teaches  that  God 
is  All,  and  that  there  is  none  beside  Him.  It  is  fcfce 
understanding  that  God  is  Mind,  Spirit,  Soul,  Life, 
Love,  Truth — the  creator  or  Principle  of  being, — omni- 
potent, omniscient,  omnipresent  Mind.  Christian 
Science  teaches  that  man  was  made  in  the  image  and 
likeness  of  Spirit,  therefore  he  is  spiritual,  and  lives, 
moves,  and  has  his  being  in  God,  having  no  other  life 
but  that  which  he  derives  from  the  source  of  his 
existence,  eternal  Life.  It  is  the  understanding  that 
man  has  God-given  dominion  over  all  things.  All 
that  God  is,  man  reflects.  It  is  the  comprehension 
that  Mind  is  the  only  cause,  and  matter  but  the 
phenomenon  of  false  thinking. 

The  Scriptures  teach  that  in  the  beginning  was 
Mind — that  Mind  was  with  God  and  that  Mind  was 
God.  Christian  Science  is  the  apprehension  that 
God  is  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  therefore,  all  that  is 
unlike  God  is  illusion,  falsity,  the  Adam-dream. 
Humanity  to-day  is  choosing  between  the  false  and 
the  true  mentality.  Many  are  weary  of  serving  two 
masters,  Love  and  fear,  Life  and  death,  and  are  begin- 
ning to  acknowledge  but  one  power,  good,  divine  Mind. 
The  Christian  Scientist  strives  to  walk  after  the 
Spirit,  and,  with  the  Word  of  God,  spiritual  thought- 
force,  endeavors  to  overcome  the  material  world,  the 
flesh,  and  evil.  Christian  Scientists  cast  out  evil  and 
heal  the  sick  through  the  understanding  that  man  is 
an  emanation  of  Mind,  and  that  matter  is  sensation- 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  79 

less,  non-intelligent  error,  or  belief.  Sin,  sickness, 
and  death  are  the  illusions  of  mortal  belief — the  result 
of  false  thinking,  or  effect  of  fear,  doubt,  anxiety,  and 
self-love,  which  hold  humanity  in  bondage  until  it 
awakes  to  the  nothingness  of  materiality,  and  rejects 
the  claims  of  belief  of  life  in  matter. 

The  mythological  Adam-dream  has  deceived  the 
whole  world.  But  thanks  be  to  God,  Christ's  voice  is 
heard  above  the  noise  of  many  waters:  "All  is  infinite 
Mind  and  its  infinite  manifestation,  for  God  is  All-in-all. ' ' 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  468).  Divine  Mind  makes  its 
own  heaven;  mortal,  so-called,  mind  evolves  its  own 
hell.  Thus  we  learn  that  heaven  and  hell  are  mental 
conditions.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  love,  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit.  As  long  as  mortals  con- 
tinue to  believe  in  death,  and  yield  to  the  illusion 
of  life  in  matter — sin,  whose  wages  is  death — they 
must  indeed  be  far  removed  from  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. 

Christ  Jesus  came  to  the  world  preaching  the  allness 
of  God.  With  his  great  spiritual  discernment  he 
dispelled  the  hallucinations  of  mortal  thought.  His 
first  sermon  was  in  his  native  village  of  Nazareth, 
where  he  entered  the  synagogue  and  read  from 
Isaiah : 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me ;  because  .  .  .  He 
hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  brokenhearted,  to  proclaim 
liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to 
them  that  are  bound;  To  proclaim  the  acceptable  year 
of  the  Lord  (Isa.  lxi.,  I,  2). 

The  people  were  astonished  as  he  proceeded  to 
proclaim   the   truth.     Then,    becoming   furious,    they 


80         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

pursued  him  and  led  him  to  the  brow  of  the  hill  on 
which  their  city  was  built,  purposing  to  hurl  him  on 
the  rocks  beneath;  but,  with  his  understanding  of  the 
power  of  divine  Mind,  he  passed  through  the  midst 
of  them  unseen  and  unscathed.  For  three  years 
this  God-man,  Jesus  the  Christ,  demonstrated  the 
power  of  Mind  by  words  and  acts;  by  healing  the  sick 
and  giving  sight  to  the  blind,  by  raising  the  dead  and 
dispelling  sorrow,  and  by  a  life  so  pure  and  Christly, 
so  far  beyond  all  reproach,  that  not  even  his  enemies 
could  prove  a  charge  against  him.  Never  did  he 
aught  but  good,  yet  he  was  compelled  repeatedly  to 
cry  out,  "for  which  of  those  [my  good]  works  do  ye 
stone  me?"  (Johnx.,  32). 

It  is  true  that  men  called  upon  Jesus  to  heal  their 
maladies,  and  it  is  equally  true  that  he  healed  them. 
He  was  called  the  great  physician  because  he  healed 
"  all  manner  of  disease."  He  gave  sight  to  the  physi- 
cally and  morally  blind,  hearing  to  the  physically 
and  morally  deaf,  strength  to  the  weak,  joy  and  peace 
to  the  sorrowing,  and  the  hand  of  compassionate 
forgiveness  to  the  penitent  sinner.  Jesus  was  filled 
with  a  wonder-working  power  and  energy  that  scattered 
to  the  winds  all  theories  of  material  therapeutics,  and 
made  all  the  methods  of  materia  medica  futile  and 
illogical.  His  was  a  life  of  love  and  blessing  to  all 
that  land  of  Galilee. 

What  was  the  power  which  Jesus  used  in  his  healing 
of  the  sick?  We  read,  "When  the  even  was  come, 
they  brought  unto  him  many  that  were  possessed 
with  devils:  and  he  cast  out  the  spirits  with  his  word, 
and  healed  all  that  were  sick. "  Let  us  learn  what  the 
Word  was  and  is. 

It  is  written:     "  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         81 

the   Word   was  with   God,   and  the  Word  was  God" 
(John  I,  i). 
Also: 

"  I  read  in  the  beginning  was  the  Word, 
And, — if  by  the  Spirit  I  am  truly  taught, 
Then  thus  in  the  beginning  was  the  thought. 
Is  it  the  thought  that  works,  creates  indeed? 
Then  in  the  beginning,  Mind  was  the  power  I  read." 

The  learned  teachers  and  preachers  of  that  day 
spent  their  fury  on  this  godly  man,  Christ  Jesus,  whose 
teachings  if  they  had  obeyed,  and  whose  life  and 
example  if  they  had  emulated,  would  have  delivered 
them  from  their  bondage  to  sin  and  death.  Instead, 
the  truth  he  preached  antagonized  them  and  they 
nailed  him  to  the  cross.  His  yearnings  for  their 
salvation  were  expressed  on  the  Mount  of  Olivet  when 
he   cried   out   in   the   agony   of   unreciprocated   love: 

O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  .  .  .  how  often  would  I  have 
gathered  thy  children  together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth 
her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye  would  not!  (Matt, 
xxiii.,  37). 

In  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  his  anguish  was  for 
the  world."  The  cross  on  Golgotha  terminated  his 
earthly  service  to  humanity  and  gave  him  his  victory 
over  "the  last  enemy" — death. 

Their  ignorance,  or  belief  of  life  in  matter,  nailed 
him  to  the  cross,  sealed  the  belief  of  a  mortal  body  in 
the  tomb,  and  the  people  who  held  these  beliefs  con- 
gratulated themselves  that  they  had  forever  silenced 
his  voice.  Then,  as  to-day,  the  world  did  not  recognize 
the  Christ-mind,  expressed  in  the  ideal  man.  Mortal 
sense  took  cognizance  only  of  the  material  phenomenon, 
the  body  of  the  fleshly  mind.     In  all  Jesus'  teachings 


82         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

he  endeavored  to  impress  humanity  with  the  allness 
of  God,  and  the  real  man's  oneness  with  the  Father. 
He  attributed  reality  to  none  but  God  and  His  spiritual 
man  and  spiritual  universe,  which  can  be  seen  only 
through  spiritual  sense.  He  asked,  "Whom  do  men 
say  that  I  .  .  .  am?"  and  Peter  only  had  spiritual  dis- 
cernment to  reply,  "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
the  living  God."  Christ  Jesus'  divine  selfhood  finally 
triumphed  over  his  human  sense,  and,  with  his  body 
unchanged,  he  returned  to  his  disciples,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  he  rose  to  a  wholly  spiritual  con- 
sciousness which  hid  him  from  their  material  view. 
Was  Jesus  Christian?  Let  Christians  answer.  Was 
Jesus  a  Christian  Mind-healer?  Again  we  call  for 
a  reply.  Is  there  any  difference  between  the  modern 
method  of  Mind-healing,  and  that  of  Jesus'  day? 
Then,  as  to-day,  there  were  mesmerists,  hypnotists, 
mortal  mind-healers — those  who  use  human  will 
power  which  is  directly  opposed  to  the  divine  will  as 
exercised  by  Jesus. 

The  accusation  of  the  materialists  was  that  Jesus 
"cast  out  devils  ...  by  Beelzebub."  He  replied: 
It  is  not  I  (the  material  personal  Jesus)  who  doeth  the 
works,  but  the  Father  which  worketh  in  me  (that  is, 
worketh  in  and  through  my  spiritual  individuality), 
He  doeth  the  works. 

Jesus  the  Christ  was  the  best  exponent  of  Christian 
Mind-healing  the  world  has  ever  known.  It  was 
demonstrable  Truth,  the  operation  of  the  immutable 
law  of  Spirit,  when  man  is  governed  by  God.  His 
disciples  were  not  infallible  in  their  demonstrations 
of  the  law  of  Truth  and  Love,  for,  while  Paul  and 
Peter  raised  the  dead,  Paul  failed  at  another  time  to 
heal   Trophimus   and   was   obliged   to   leave   him   at 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  83 

Miletus.  Jesus  rebuked  his  disciples  for  their  lack 
of  faith  on  several  occasions  because  they  failed  to 
heal,  and  said,  "this  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer 
and  fasting. "     Again  he  said : 

He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he 
do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do  (John 
xiv.,  12). 

And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe;  .  .  .  they 
shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick,  and  they  shall  recover  (Mark 
xvi.,  17,  18). 

The  voice  of  the  impersonal  Christ  is  again  heard  in 
this  nineteenth  century,  proclaiming  the  gospel  of 
Truth  which  heals  the  sick,  casts  out  devils  (evil 
thoughts  which  cause  disease  and  death),  and  will, 
when  man  is  governed  by  God,  raise  the  dead.  That 
which  has  been  done  may  be  done  again.  Jesus  is 
our  Way-shower  to  the  Christ-mind  healing  and  to 
eternal  Life.  History  shall  not  continue  to  repeat 
itself.  Religious  intolerance  shall  not  compel  us  to 
abandon  a  spiritual  Christianity  with  its  spiritual 
healing.  They  who  have  really  touched  the  hem  of 
the  garment  of  Christ  can  never  return  to  a  material 
religion,  to  drugs  and  physical  surgery.  We  have  only 
to  be  faithful  if  we  would  win.  We  will  not  be  ordered 
to  the  rear,  nor  tortured  upon  the  rack  while  we  demand 
for  ourselves  and  for  humanity  our  God-given  dominion. 
The  full  significance  of  man's  great  destiny  is  just 
dawning  upon  him  and  mankind  will  awake,  arise,  and 
"goto  my  Father." 

Material  theories  regarding  God,  man,  and  the 
universe  have  enslaved  humanity.  Christendom  is 
worshiping  the  Adam-man  as  God's  creation.  The 
carnal,  so-called,  mind,  with  its  material  phenomenon 


84         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

or  embodiment,  is  being  mistaken  for  spiritual  man. 

Jesus  declared,  to  those  who  called  upon  God  in 
their  temples  and  synagogues:  "Ye  are  of  your  father 
the  devil,"  or,  you  are  governed  by  the  belief  of  life, 
substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter.  He  rebuked 
them  with  the  word  of  God :  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  Me" — (Spirit) — no  other  life  but  the 
spiritual,  no  other  mind  but  Love  and  Truth.  Life, 
Love,  Truth  is  the  reality  of  being;  sin,  sickness,  and 
death  are  the  illusions  of  the  material  senses.  Do  not 
think  that  you  can  believe  in  and  serve  these  senses 
and  not  suffer.  There  is  no  reality  in  sin,  but,  if  you 
yield  to  its  false  claims,  you  must  pay  the  penalty. 
There  is  no  power  in  a  falsehood  when  you  know  it  to 
be  a  falsity,  but  the  falsehood  which  you  believe  may 
cause  you  as  much  suffering  as  if  it  were  a  fact. 

Said  a  patient  to  me  recently:  "I  dreamed  last 
night  that  I  was  running  from  an  animal  that  had 
escaped  from  a  menagerie,  and,  when  I  awoke,  my 
heart  throbbed  so  violently  I  was  terrified.  I  was  as 
weary  and  out  of  breath  as  if  I  had  actually  had 
that  experience. "  Such  is  the  power  of  so-called 
mortal  mind  to  deceive.  We  have  been  in  the 
dream  of  life  in  matter  so  long  that  matter  seems 
tangible  substance  to  us  until  we  resist  and  overcome 
its  claim  to  power.  A  lie  is  "more  subtil  than  any 
beast  of  the  field."  Satan,  or  mortal  mind,  is  a  lie 
from  the  beginning  and  truth  abides  not  in  him.  Let 
us  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  Let 
us  realize  that  we  possess  the  power  of  God  through 
our  Christ-consciousness,  which  is  the  reflection  of  God. 

Who  is  not  weary  of  the  struggle  between  the 
flesh  and  Spirit,  of  the  irresistible  conflict  between  the 
divine  and  the  human  concepts  which  were  and  aie 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         85 

"contrary  the  one  to  the  other"?     "In  Adam  all  die, 
.  .  .  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive." 
Shakespeare  thus  speaks  of  mankind : 

But  man,  proud  man,  [mortal  man] 

Drest  in  a  little  brief  authority, 

Most  ignorant  of  what  he  's  most  assured, 

His  glassy  essence,  like  an  angry  ape, 

Plays  such  fantastic  tricks  before  high  heaven 

As  makes  the  angels  weep. 

Let  us  recall  the  text:  "And  Jesus  saith  unto  him, 
I  will  come  and  heal  him."  Christian  Scientists  have 
for  their  Leader,  Christ,  who  assures  them,  "Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end."  Is  it  Christian 
to  accept  him  as  our  guide  and  follow  his  example? 
Is  it  Science  (understanding)  that  enables  us  to  dem- 
onstrate over  disease,  by  the  "Word"?  Paul  asked, 
"Why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible  with  you, 
that  God  should  raise  the  dead?"  Is  it  possible,  in 
this  hour  of  spiritual  development,  to  do  the  works 
which  Jesus  promised  us  we  should  do?  Is  it  blas- 
phemy for  us  to  affirm:  "I  and  my  Father  are  one"? 
Hear  the  Master's  prayer  for  his  disciples  which  has 
rung  down  the  ages: — "As  Thou,  Father,  art  in  me, 
and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us"  (John 
xvii..  21). 

Oh,  blind,  and  in  love  with  darkness,  awake,  and 
behold  the  light  which  shineth  about  you!  Christ 
is  come  to  the  understanding  of  those  who  are  looking 
for  his  reappearing.  He  is  piercing  the  black  clouds  of 
mortal  sense,  dispelling  the  darkness  with  the  efful- 
gence of  his  coming.  He  is  approaching  with  healing 
in  his  wings,  to  show  us  the  mansions  that  he  has 
prepared  for  us,  the  heavenly  consciousness  of  Life, 


86         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Love,  and  Truth.  We  are  listening  to  heavenly 
harmonies,  instead  of  the  discordant  refrain  of  sin, 
sickness,   and  death,  which  we  have  so  long  heard. 

Again,  an  objection  has  been  raised  by  the  material- 
ists that  a  woman  has  given  Christian  Science  to  this 
generation,  and  is  teaching  Jesus'  method  of  healing 
by  the  power  of  the  Mind  of  Christ.  Mrs.  Eddy  has 
taught  thousands  to  turn  from  the  belief  of  life  and 
intelligence  in  matter  to  the  eternal  verities  of  divine 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Through  her  books  and  her 
students,  she  is  attuning  the  human  heart  to  sing  the 
hymn  of  salvation  from  sin  and  death,  and  to  rejoice 
in  the  demonstration  of  health,  love,  peace,  and  joy. 
Her  experience  runs  parallel  with  the  experience  of 
her  Master.  Alone,  reviled,  and  denounced  by  mortals, 
understood  in  a  small  degree  only  by  the  few  who 
perceive  and  accept  Truth,  she  stands  on  the  mount 
of  spiritual  illumination,  up  whose  rugged  sides  no 
feet  but  those  of  the  blessed  Master  have  so  directly 
toiled;  first  in  agony,  and  then  in  triumphant  demon- 
stration of  divine  power  and  glory. 

With  Truth  and  Love  to  inspire  her — transfigured 
with  spiritual  love  and  wisdom — she  comes  with  the 
meekness  and  gentleness  of  a  child  and  lisps  to  a  world 
of  dreamers  the  old-new  story  of  God's  love,  and 
Jesus'  mission.  Her  utterances  of  divine  power, 
"All  is  Mind,"  "There  is  no  matter,"  have  become 
like  the  thunders  from  Mount  Sinai — heard  from 
East  to  West — from  North  to  South.  Dare  the 
world  reject  her  word  because  she  is  a  woman?  How 
does  the  Christ  speak  in  his  divine  code  of  Science? 
It  was  a  woman  who  put  the  leaven  into  the  meal 
which  leavened  the  whole  lump.  It  was  a  woman  who 
poured  the  precious  ointment,  an  offering  to  the  divine 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         87 

inspiration.  A  woman  knelt  at  the  foot  of  the  cross 
when  all  the  terrified  men,  save  one,  forsook  Jesus 
in  self -protection.  To  a  woman  Jesus  first  revealed 
himself  after  the  resurrection.  It  was  the  woman  in 
Revelation  who  was  to  be  clothed  with  light  to  interpret 
the  Word  of  God.  Woman's  spirituality  first  dis- 
cerned Truth,  and  she  will  finally  lead  to  spiritual 
heights  all  who  have  heretofore  failed  to  discern  the 
immutable  things  of  Spirit. 

Truth  is  calling  to  humanity,  "Halt!"  Science  says 
that  man  governed  by  Truth  and  Love  is  master  over 
every  condition  and  circumstance.  With  gentle  teach- 
ings, man  is  being  led,  step  by  step,  up  the  heights 
of  wisdom  to  that  understanding,  which,  with  all  his 
getting,  he  has  never  dreamed  of  possessing — the 
understanding  of  himself,  and  his  relation  to,  and 
oneness  with,  God. 

The  prophecy  will  be  fulfilled ;  the  seed  of  the  woman 
shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head  (Gen.  iii.,  14,  15)  and 
restore  man  to  his  primal  estate — health,  holiness, 
and  immortality.  Man  will  learn  through  divine 
Science  the  "new  tongue,"  the  unfathomable  speech 
which  leads  him  to  the  verge  of  the  infinite,  and 
permits  him  to  commune  with  the  Father  in  spirit  and 
in  truth.  The  prophets  of  old  became  entranced  as 
this   spiritual   joy   and  power  filled   their  being. 

This  understanding  of  God  is  both  Christian  and 
Science.  It  is  said  to  be  "unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling- 
block,  and  unto  the  Greeks  foolishness";  but  to  us 
that  are  saved  (understand)  it  is  "the  power  of  God." 
"The  Christian  Scientist  has  enlisted  to  lessen  evil, 
disease,  and  death."1  The  arguments  of  supposi- 
tional evil  which  we  have  challenged  are  powerless 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  450. 


88         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

to  compel  us  to  beat  a  retreat.  Christ  has  given  us 
his  promise,  and  will  support  us  with  his  power.  The 
hosts  of  mortal  mind  (false  belief)  cannot  intimidate 
us.  "If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?" 
If  we  are  beset  by  foes  within  and  without,  if 
contumely  and  ostracism  await  us,  we  shall  unite 
our  voices  with  the  invisible  choir  in  the  anthem, 
"Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee,"  and  go  on  with  rejoicing. 
If  our  warfare  with  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  evil 
brings  the  fate  of  Daniel,  or  the  fiery  furnace  of  the 
Hebrew  children,  or  the  boiling  oil  to  which  John  was 
subjected,  we  will  pursue  our  wilderness  journey  and 
trust  the  words  of  our  ever-present  Christ.  Then 
let  us  continue  to  attune  our  thoughts  to  the  grand 
symphonies  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  remember  that: 

The  path  of  duty  was  [is]  the  way  to  glory: 
He  that  walks  it,  only  thirsting 
For  the  right,  and  learns  to  deaden 
Love  of  self,  before  his  journey  closes, 
He  shall  find  the  stubborn  thistle  bursting 
Into  glossy  purples,  which  outredden 
All  voluptuous  garden-roses. 

Shall  find  the  toppling  crags  of  Duty  scaled 

Are  close  upon  the  shining  table-lands 

To  which  our  God  Himself  is  moon  and  sun. r 

Christian  Scientists,  as  you  listen  for  the  voice  of 
Christ,  Truth,  you  will  hear  above  the  roar  of  the 
breakers  of  mortal  thought,  "Be  of  good  cheer," — 
"the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also."  Love  that  is 
divine,  strength  that  is  infinite,  are  ours.  We  are  con- 
tinually rested  and  refreshed  as  we  live  in  spiritual 

1  Tennyson. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses         89 

consciousness  and  Christ's  promise  is  fulfilled  in  us: 
"Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  Dwelling  in  the 
consciousness  of  ever-present  Love,  we  ascend  in  the 
scale  of  being  to  higher  demonstrations  of  the  power 
of  the  Word,  and  draw  others  into  the  Life  that  is  God. 

When  storm-tossed  and  tempest-torn  we  pause  to 
listen  for  the  Shepherd's  voice  up  the  mountain  height, 
we  catch  the  refrain,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,"  "  It  is 
I;  be  not  afraid."  The  poet  says:  "Therefore,  great 
heart,  bear  up,  thou  art  but  type  of  what  all  lofty 
spirits  suffer  that  fain  would  win  men  back  to  strength, 
and  peace,  and  health,  through  Love." 

Let  us  follow  the  Master  into  his  Gethsemane;  let 
us  toil  up  the  rugged  hill  of  Calvary;  let  the  pierced 
hands  and  wounded  side  inspire  us  to  press  onward 
till  we  rise  with  him  in  Spirit,  and  conquer  the  illusion 
of  sin  and  death  with  the  understanding  of  eternal 
Life  and  Love. 

THE  DAWN  OF  SPIRITUAL  ILLUMINATION 

The  night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand:  let  us  therefore  cast  off 
the  works  of  darkness,  and  let  us  put  on  the  armour  of  light. 

Romans  xiii.,  12. 

The  night  of  materiality  is  far  spent,  and  with  the  dawn  Truth  will 
waken  men  spiritually  to  hear  and  to  speak  the  new  tongue. 

Science  and  Health,  p.  354. 

In  this  hour  the  demand  of  the  world  is  for  a  more 
spiritual  religion;  and,  while  scholastic  theology  has 
not  changed  its  creed  or  ritual,  many  people  have 
so  far  advanced  in  spirituality  that  the  old  garment 
of  materiality  is  outgrown.  They  have  put  off  the 
old  mind,  and  are  putting  on  the  new, — the  Mind  of 
Christ.     They    are    no    longer    dominated    by    false 


90  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

teaching,  or  led  by  those  who  cannot  in  some  degree 
demonstrate  their  theories.  It  is  apparent  to  the 
advanced  thinker  who  endeavors  to  keep  "abreast 
with  Truth"  that  "the  night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at 
hand."  Many  are  still  demanding  "A  little  sleep, 
a  little  slumber,  a  little  folding  of  the  hands  to  sleep. " 
But  the  bugle-call  of  Truth  has  aroused  the  slumberers. 
They  have  been  disturbed,  and  cannot  again  sink 
into  dreaming  as  of  yore,  but,  fretful  and  impatient 
because  they  have  been  aroused  and  must  awake, 
they  hug  the  old  creed  and  dogma  more  closely,  and 
bid  Truth  i  Go  thy  way  for  this  time. " 

The  night  is  indeed  far  spent;  the  dark  gloomy 
night  of  error,  when  man  knew  nothing  of  his  possi- 
bilities, but  was  at  the  mercy  of  sin  and  sickness,  when 
he  was  subject  to  all  the  claims  of  belief  of  life  in  matter 
and  yielded  ready  obedience  to  the  tyrannous  rule  of 
so-called  mortal  mind.  The  night  of  Stygian  darkness 
which  has  shrouded  the  world  in  gloom,  bathed  it  in 
tears,  and  hung  the  pall  of  darkness  over  all;  the 
night  of  error,  when  man  was  ignorant  of  his  divine 
power,  or  his  oneness  with  his  Maker,  when  he  dreamed 
and  believed  his  dream  a  reality — when  he  suffered 
from  disease,  with  no  knowledge  of  his  own  dominion 
over  the  flesh  and  evil;  when  he  vainly  imagined  that 
matter  was  substance,  with  sensation  and  intelligence; 
when  he  trembled  before  evil,  as  it  suggested  disease 
and  death,  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  every  man  had 
within  himself  a  power  which  would  destroy  the  illusion 
of  mortal  mind  with  its  sin  and  sickness — that  night 
is  passing  away.  That  dark,  gloomy,  terrible  night 
is  far  spent,  with  its  ghosts  and  mirages,  its  optical 
illusions  and  mental  hallucinations,  its  false  teachers, 
its  false  preachers,  and  its  "blind  leaders  of  the  blind. " 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  91 

Already  the  dawn  foretells  the  coming  of  the  day. 
Mankind  is  awaking  from  the  deep  sleep  of  the  Adam- 
dream,  to  the  light  of  a  glorious  emancipation  from 
the  darkness  of  mortal  sense.  Looking  back  through 
the  ages  we  see  human  energy  directed  to  the  study 
of  matter.  We  learn  from  material  history  that 
through  all  time  mortal  man  has  been  led  by  material 
sense  into  the  belief  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence 
in  matter.  He  has  spent  years  of  toil  and  sacrifice 
to  find  the  "life-germ,"  and  an  antidote  for  the  dis- 
eases to  which  humanity  is  believed  to  be  heir;  but 
alas!  he  has  sought  in  vain.  During  generations 
man  has  been  wandering  in  darkness  while  seeking  for 
light,  contemplating  death  in  the  search  for  Life, 
investigating  error  in  groping  after  Truth.  He  must 
now  reverse  the  old  mental  processes,  retrace  his  steps, 
and  erase  from  his  memory  the  falsely-stated  hypotheses 
to  which  he  can  never  gain  a  correct  solution.  It  was 
formulated  from  the  premise  of  error,  but  error  in 
premise  invariably  results  in  error  in  conclusion. 
Leaving  his  erroneous  premise  mankind  must  begin 
to  solve  Life's  problems  with  Truth  as  a  basis.  He 
must  begin  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  of  divine  meta- 
physics, or  Christian  Science,  and  climb,  step  by  step — 
nor  expect  to  leap  to  the  summit  at  a  bound.  The 
belief  in  the  reality  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death  is  the 
night  which  is  far  spent. 

Those  who  have  come  into  the  understanding  of 
the  allness  of  God,  of  good,  are  daily  proving  the 
nothingness  of  error,  and  that  error  is  not  the  reality 
of  being,  but  is  the  illusion  which  is  destroyed  by 
Truth.  Ever-present  Truth  is  an  infallible  antidote 
for  a  lie.  Ever-present  Love  casts  out  fear,  and 
instead  of  the  "grim  monster,"  death,  that  has  held 


92  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

mortals  in  bondage  for  ages,  we  find  ever-present 
Life  sufficient  to  destroy  its  seeming  power.  Humanity 
in  this  nineteenth  century  is  blessed  by  the  revelation 
of  the  omnipotence  of  good.  God  is  good,  and  is  all 
power.     He  has  no  co-partnership  with  evil. 

As  God  is  All  and  there  is  none  beside  Him,  all  is 
good,  and  that  which  seems  to  human  sense  to  be  evil, 
sin,  and  sickness,  is  that  which  "  seems  to  be,  but  is 
not "  *  (real).  It  is  like  a  dream  which  was  real  while  we 
dreamed,  but  which,  upon  waking,  we  knew  to  be 
nothing.  Had  men  never  learned  that  a  dream  is 
not  a  real  experience,  they  might  have  continued  to 
believe  in  its  delusions  and  suffered  from  its  influence — 
as  they  do  in  the  illusion  of  material  existence.  To-day 
mankind  is  sufficiently  awakened  to  apprehend  that 
good  is  the  reality  of  being,  that  evil  is  not  true,  that 
Life,  Love,  Truth  is  God,  and  that  God  is  omnipotent. 
Divine  Mind  creates  only  good.  Man  is  made  in 
God's  image  and  likeness  and  is  spiritual.  Heretofore 
we  have  believed  that  God  made  mortal  man.  We 
have  submitted  to  the  material  interpretation  of  the 
Bible,  because  we  had  no  spiritual  understanding  by 
which  to  reconcile  seeming  inconsistencies. 

When  we  awoke  to  a  partial  discernment  of  Truth, 
it  was  a  revelation  to  us.  We  then  saw  that  God  is 
good,  and  that  all  He  made  is  good ;  that  man,  reflecting 
God,  was  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  his  Maker, 
spiritual  and  not  material.  We  gladly  recognized 
and  declared  that  God  is  unchangeable,  "the  same 
yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever" ;  that  His  law  is  the 
law  of  Life,  Love,  and  Truth;  and  that  sin,  sickness  or 
death  never  could  result  from  God's  law.  We  learned 
that  mortal  man  is  mortal  error,  with  his  man-made 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  123. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  '       93 

law,  sin,  and  its  results,  sickness  and  death,  and  that 
this  so-called  mortal  man  has  no  power  to  break  a  law 
of  God.  Understandingly  we  now  "Render  therefore 
unto  Caesar  the  things  which  are  Caesar's;  and  unto  God 
the  things  that  are  God's"  (Matt,  xxii.,  21).  In 
the  past  we  submitted  to  sickness,  believing  it  to  have 
been  sent  by  God.  We  never  yielded  however  to  this 
supposed  discipline  until  we  had  earnestly  prayed, 
hoping  to  convince  God  that  we  had  received  sufficient 
chastisement  for  any  sins  of  omission  or  commission. 
Whether  one  admits  it  or  not,  the  Christian  who 
believes  that  God  sends  suffering  for  discipline,  and 
who  then  employs  a  physician  to  heal  him,  is  certainly 
limiting  God's  power  to  restore  health,  and  questioning 
God's  justice  and  wisdom. 

Oh,  the  night  of  darkness  through  which  humanity 
has  passed!  How  blindly  we  groped,  and  how  often 
we  despaired,  when  we  could  not  reconcile  God  and 
man  as  a  loving  Father  and  His  child,  though  the 
divine  within  us  assured  us  that  God  was  wisdom, 
and  Love,  and  all-powerful.  Yet  to  our  finite  sense 
our  loving  Father  seemed  unwilling,  or  unable,  to 
relieve  us.  We  were  taught  that  we  were  made  in 
His  own  image  and  likeness,  and  yet  we  were  suffering 
and  helpless  in  a  world  of  chance  and  chaos,  where 
nothing  was  unchangeable,  nothing  perfect,  and  nothing 
represented  a  perfect  God.  Christian  Science  ushers 
in  a  glorious  day.  We  look  no  longer  "through  a 
glass,  darkly,"  but  can  faintly  discern  the  things  of 
Spirit,  and  shall  finally  find  a  solution  of  all  human 
problems. 

God's  law  is  perfect  wisdom,  and  is  Truth.  Mortal 
man  or  mortal  mind  is  the  error,  the  false  sense,  the 
illusion,   the  dream  from  which  we  must  awake   to 


94  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

realize  the  nothingness  of  all  belief  of  life  and  substance 
in  matter.  We  have  lived  in  a  false  sense,  but  the 
night  of  darkness  is  drawing  to  a  close.  Let  us  awake, 
for  the  day  of  Truth  is  at  hand.  Do  not  linger  to  take 
a  last  look  at  old  theories,  for,  though  there  was  in 
them  a  grain  of  Truth,  this  grain  was  hidden  under 
mountains  of  error.  We  want  the  Truth,  the  whole 
Truth,  and  nothing  but  the  Truth.  We  want  God, 
good,  and  nothing  but  God.  Scholastic  methods  must 
give  place  to  Christ's  Christianity,  which  demands 
demonstration  of  Immanuel,  "God  with  us."  Those 
who  claim  to  preach  the  gospel  must  also  heal  the  sick. 
We  demand  for  the  watchman  on  the  hills  of  Zion, 
a  reliance  upon  God  as  "  a  very  present  help  in  trouble." 
The  destruction  of  sin  (belief  of  life  as  existent 
in  mortal  mind  and  its  matter  body)  is  the  healing  of 
disease.  Jesus  said,  "thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,"  and 
"sin  no  more."  When  sin  was  destroyed,  sickness 
disappeared,  and  so  it  is  in  this  day.  Christian  Science 
is  so  far  advanced  that  few  now  deny  the  healing  power 
of  Mind.  Physicians  are  becoming  convinced  of  the 
healing  of  the  sick  by  the  disciples  of  Christ  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  are  generous  in  their  admis- 
sions of  the  Christ-mind  healing.  The  followers  of 
materia  medica  have  made  small  progress  during  the 
hundreds  of  years  since  they  began.  They  are  still 
busy  experimenting  and  many  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  medicine  is  needless. 


I  kindly  quote  from  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  the  famous 
Philadelphia  teacher  of  medical  practice.  He  declared 
that  "it  is  impossible  to  calculate  the  mischief  which 
Hippocrates  has  done,  by  first  marking  Nature  with  his 
name,  and  afterward  letting  her  loose  upon  sick  people." 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  95 

Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  Professor  in  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, declared  himself  "sick  of  learned  quackery." 

Dr.  James  Johnson,  Surgeon  to  William  IV,  King  of 
England,  said : 

"I  declare  my  conscientious  opinion,  founded  on  long 
observation  and  reflection,  that  if  there  were  not  a  single 
physician,  surgeon,  apothecary,  man-midwife,  chemist, 
druggist,  or  drug  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  there  would  be 
less  sickness  and  less  mortality. " 

Dr.  Mason  Good,  a  learned  Professor  in  London,  said: 

"The  effects  of  medicine  on  the  human  system  are  in  the 
highest  degree  uncertain;  except,  indeed,  that  it  has  already 
destroyed  more  lives  than  war,  pestilence,  and  famine, 
all  combined."1 

Mrs.  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science,  says,  in  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,  that  when  Christianity  replaces  faith  in 
drugs  with  faith  in  God,  sickness  will  disappear. 

In  the  face  of  this  testimony  of  learned  physicians 
against  the  use  of  material  methods  of  healing  the 
sick,  and  the  recent  failures  of  those  who  stand  highest 
in  the  profession,  through  their  evident  misunder- 
standing of  their  own  therapeutic  methods,  is  it  any 
wonder  that  mankind  seeks  some  other  way  to  relieve 
suffering?  Is  it  not  wise  to  question  if  there  be  a  path 
which  will  lead  to  health  and  holiness?  Now  that  the 
disciples  of  Esculapius  are  themselves  condemning 
their  own  methods,  acknowledging  that  for  ages  they 
have  been  experimenting  only  to  prove  their  theories 
futile,  would  it  not  be  well  for  them  to  turn  to  the 
disciples  of  Christ,  and  investigate  the  methods  by 
which  they  healed  the  sick  and  raised  the  dead? 

When  Jesus  the  Christ  established  and  proved  a 

•  Science  and  Health,  pp.  162,  163. 


96         Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

mental  method  for  relieving  human  suffering  that 
extended  to  the  raising  of  the  dead,  and  gave  to  his 
disciples  this  understanding,  is  it  not  strange  that  no 
one  has  followed  him  into  the  realm  of  Mind?  Jesus' 
history  has  been  recorded  with  that  of  his  disciples, 
and  the  records  show  good  lives  and  wonderful  healing 
power.  Did  the  power  cease  with  these  exponents 
of  Truth?  Jesus  said,  "these  signs  shall  follow  them 
that  believe" — not  ye  who  believe,  or  we  might  con- 
clude that  spiritual  healing  was  delegated  only  to  the 
twelve.  We  have  first  to  understand  what  the  healing 
power  was,  whence  it  came,  and  how  it  produced  its 
results.  The  power  which  Jesus  the  Christ  gave  to  his 
disciples  (for  "as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave 
he  power ")  was  the  understanding  of  the  Word  or 
Mind.  Christ  Jesus  healed  the  sick,  and  cast  out  evil 
with  the  Word.  That  Word  was  in  the  beginning, 
and  was  with  God,  and  was  God.  God  is  Mind,  Spirit, 
Soul,  Life,  Love,  and  Truth ;  and  spiritual  man  reflects 
his  creator. 

God  is  the  only  power — the  only  creator.  All  He 
made  was  good,  and  man,  His  last  work,  was  like 
Him — good.  When  God  gave  life  He  gave  man  power 
to  reflect  all  that  He,  God,  had  created.  God  gave 
man  dominion  over  all  things.  Mind,  through  spiritual 
man,  evolves  and  projects  the  spiritual  universe,  every 
sense  of  beauty,  form  and  outline,  sky  and  landscape, 
for  Mind  evolves  all  objects.  Our  divine  birthright 
is  Mind.  It  is  Life,  continuous  and  eternal,  without 
beginning  or  end,  and  is  the  reality  of  spiritual  being. 
Life  cannot  produce  its  opposite,  so-called  death. 
Love  is  God,  unchangeable,  "the  same  yesterday, 
and  to-day,  and  for  ever. "  Love  cannot  produce  fear, 
but  casts  it  out.     Truth  is  immutable,  for  it  is  Christ — 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  97 

God — and  can  never  shadow  forth  a  lie.  God  is 
omnipotent,  omniscient  and  omnipresent  Life.  God's 
infinite  life  renders  void  the  belief  of  death.  Where 
are  the  dreamers  who  preach  another  power  than  God? 
How  many  to-day,  ignorant  of  the  truth  of  being,  are 
believing  in  a  mortal  man,  or  Adam,  as  the  real  man, 
whereas  the  mortal,  or  Adam -body  is  the  phenome- 
non of  mortal  mind.  It  is  error,  illusion.  Not  until 
mankind  awakes  from  the  dream  of  life,  substance, 
and  intelligence  in  matter,  will  it  gain  the  power 
over  its  delusions.  Evil  is  erring  false  sense — the  lie. 
Its  body  is  sickness  and  death.  A  healthy  thought 
manifests  a  healthy  body.  Life,  Love,  and  Truth 
objectify  the  harmonious  and  perfect  Christ-man. 
When  shall  we  awake  in  God's  likeness? 

Where  are  those  who  claim  to  be  disciples  of  Christ  ? 
Are  they  following  the  Master,  and  doing  the  work  he 
commanded  his  disciples  to  do?  Eighteen  hundred 
years  have  passed;  the  night  has  been  long.  Are  his 
professing  disciples  now  ready  to  awake  and  welcome 
the  day  that  ushers  in  the  Christ,  the  Truth,  to  their 
understanding?  Have  their  yearnings  been  for  some- 
thing higher  than  "faith  without  works"?  Have 
they  longed  to  be  free  from  their  belief  in  the  "body 
of  this  death"?  When  will  they  arise  and  assert 
their  freedom  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  sickness, 
by  understanding  the  law  of  Spirit?  Have  they  been 
able  to  heal  the  sick  or  raise  the  dead?  Have  they 
realized  that  the  promise,  "ask,  and  ye  shall  receive," 
means  what  it  says?  Have  they  lived  in  God,  and 
whatsoever  they  ask  is  it  given  unto  them?  Have 
the  gospels  of  Truth  lost  their  power?  These  gospels 
have  been  in  the  hands  of  the  people  eighteen  centuries, 

and  it  is  time  that  men  were  made  to  answer  for  the 

7 


98  Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

hope  that  is  in  them.  Have  we  to  continue  at  the 
mercy  of  mortal  mind,  evil,  the  lie,  and  bring  out 
its  results — sin  and  death — during  another  eighteen 
hundred  years,  because  mankind  is  too  material  to 
discern  the  things  of  Spirit?  Have  we  no  power  to 
cast  out  fear?  Has  good  ceased  to  overcome  evil? 
No!  "Let  God  be  true,  but  every  [material]  man 
a  liar."1 

Let  us  thank  God  that  we,  through  Christian  Science, 
have  learned  the  mental  method  which  Jesus  the 
Christ  taught  to  his  disciples,  and  that  we  have  demon- 
strated that  it  is  the  "Word,"  or  divine  Mind,  which 
is  potent  in  the  destruction  of  sin,  or  the  casting  out 
of  disease.  To-day  Christ's  disciples,  or  genuine 
Christian  Scientists,  heal  the  sick  by  the  reflection 
of  Spirit — the  power  of  divine  Mind.  They  dispel 
the  illusions  of  mortal  sense  with  Truth,  and  to  these 
disciples  the  night  of  error  is  far  spent.  Would  it  not 
be  wise  for  those  who  have  failed  to  verify  the  command, 
"heal  the  sick,"  to  stop  and  investigate  the  old-new 
gospel  which  is  doing  so  much  towards  relieving  the 
sufferer  and  reforming  the  erring? 

Hundreds  in  this  and  other  cities  have  proved  the 
potency  of  its  beneficent  influence,  and  are  strong 
adherents  of  apostolic  healing — spiritual  thought- 
force.  If  there  are  those  who  are  satisfied  with  the 
poison,  whose  name  is  legion,  hiding  under  the  label 
of  medicine,  and  who  desire  their  narcotics  and  anaes- 
thetics, their  drugs  and  death-dealing  potions,  let 
them  continue  to  depend  upon  these  false  reliances. 
The  drug-bound  will  find  ample  supply  for  their 
demand.  Everywhere  may  be  found  chemists  who 
will  supply  all  sorts  of  remedies  and  drugs  which  it  is 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  471. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses  99 

claimed  will  take  their  course  direct  to  the  particular 
disease.  Unfortunately  for  materia  medica,  the  power 
behind  the  material  throne,  the  drug,  is  losing  its 
potency,  since  mortal  mind  has  lost  faith  in  its  efficacy, 
and,  with  many,  Truth  is  found  a  sufficient  antidote 
for  disease,  both  mental  and  physical.  It  is  now  too 
late  to  interfere  in  the  rights  of  Mind.  Man  has 
learned  his  God-given  power  of  good  over  evil,  and  is 
gaining  his  spiritual  dominion  over  the  material  world, 
the  flesh,  and  error.  Medical  practitioners  have  given 
us  much  idle  guessing,  and  scholastic  theologians 
have  fed  us  on  husks.  Both  have  been  deceived  and 
have  mistaken  shadow  for  substance.  Materia  medica 
has  worked  with  the  effect  or  phenomenon,  leaving 
the  cause  undisturbed,  while  scholastic  theologians 
have  supposed  the  body  of  death,  or  mortal  mind,  to 
be  the  temple  of  the  living  God. 

Good  and  evil,  Life  and  death,  Truth  and  error, 
Light  and  darkness,  Love  and  fear,  each  antithesis 
of  the  other,  have  been  so  blended  by  human  thought 
that  we  must  struggle  to  free  ourselves  from  material 
theorizing.  The  effort  often  necessitates  a  hard- 
fought  battle.  Now  that  we  have  returned  to  our 
Father's  house,  Spirit,  Mind,  we  dimly  apprehend  the 
allness  of  God,  and  the  nothingness  of  evil.  While 
we  believed  the  lie,  the  serpent,  it  was  to  us  a  power. 
Now  that  we  understand  our  relation  to  God,  we  are 
freeing  ourselves  from  bondage  to  material  sense.  As 
we  realize  more  and  more  our  oneness  with  the  Father, 
we  shall  gain  the  victory  over  evil.  In  the  name  of 
deluded,  suffering  humanity  bending  beneath  the 
weight  of  sin  and  suffering,  let  us  protest  against 
any  teachings  that  give  power  to  the  claim  of  evil. 
We  have  put  off  our  swaddling  clothes.     We  have  cast 


ioo       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

off  the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  have  gained  the 
understanding  of  life  in  God,  good,  or  Mind :  therefore, 
let  us  put  on  the  spiritual  armor  and  bid  mankind 
come  forth  from  darkness  into  the  light.  This  seeming 
chaos  and  evil,  in  which  mortals  dream,  cannot  be  the 
reality  of  being.  God  is  the  law  of  His  universe, 
including  spiritual  man,  and  there  is  no  other  man. 
His  kingdom  is  harmony.  The  material  world  is 
discord,  the  illusion  of  false,  erring  mortal  sense, — 
mortal  sense  itself  being  an  illusion,  the  product  of 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  from  this  falsity,  Truth  is 
awakening  all  who  hear  Her  voice. 

The  night  of  mortal  error  is  far  spent.  The  day  is 
at  hand  which  is  ushering  in  the  power  of  God,  and 
freeing  us  from  the  bondage  of  physical  sense,  sin,  and 
sickness.  To-day,  the  God-inspired  demand  of  the 
preacher  of  the  gospel  a  spiritual  interpretation  of 
the  Bible.  Many  are  painfully  conscious  that  the 
church  is  a  long  spiritual  distance  from  the  teachings 
of  Christ  Jesus,  which  it  advocates,  but  which  it  fails 
to  demonstrate.  Christian  Science  is  the  key  that 
unlocks  the  kingdom  of  love,  joy,  and  peace  in  the 
Holy  Spirit.  It  is  the  mightiest  Christian  power 
since  the  days  of  Christ  and  his  disciples.  Its  expo- 
nents prove  their  faith  by  daily  demonstrations  of 
spiritual  power  over  sin  and  sickness.  Christian 
Science  is  spiritually  potent,  scientifically  certain, 
and  philosophically  true.  It  is  the  understanding  of 
the  Truth  or  Mind  of  God  which  is  Life  eternal. 
Christian  Science  demonstrates  that  only  in  the  right 
concept  of  man's  relation  to  God,  and  conformity  to 
God's  law  is  health  to  be  found.  He  alone  is  the 
"health  among  all  nations."  Christian  Science  prac- 
tice lifts  humanity  to  higher  aspirations  and  possibil- 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        101 

ities,  brings  out  the  divine  love  which  casts  out  fear, 
and  develops  all  that  is  deep  and  rich  in  character, 
raising  mankind  to  the  supremacy  of  good  over  evil, 
of  love  over  fear,  of  life  over  death,  by  showing  the  all- 
ness  of  God  and  the  nothingness  of  evil  when  met  by 
Truth.  It  is  the  supremacy  of  Mind,  a  victorious 
transforming  power,  which  overcomes  mortal  sense 
with  its  illusions  of  discord,  vanquishes  disease,  and 
leads  the  dreamer  from  the  darkness  of  death  into 
the  sunlight  of  Life.  It  is  the  divine  illumination  of 
Spirit,  that  breaks  gloriously  forth  in  triumphant  power, 
until  we  rise  to  sublime  heights  where  we  hear  the 
voice  of  the  Father:  "Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee." 

Do  you  desire  this  "glorious  liberty  of  the  children 
of  God"?  Are  you  weary  of  the  night  of  helpless 
materialism?  Are  you  hungering  for  the  bread  of 
Life?  None  but  Jesus  the  Christ  has  said,  "I  am  the 
bread  of  life :  he  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger. " 
Will  you  heed  his  words?  Will  you  come  to  Christ, 
Truth,  Spirit,  and  leave  behind  you  error,  evil,  belief 
of  life  in  matter?  Will  you  press  forward  for  the 
prize  of  immortal  manhood  and  womanhood?  Will 
you  strive  day  by  day  to  overcome  error  until  you 
destroy,  as  did  your  Master,  "the  last  enemy  " — death? 

Oh!  the  joy  and  peace,  the  heaven  which  is  yours,  if 
you  will  awake  to  your  reality.  Christian  Scientists, 
be  faithful  to  your  obligations.  Little  band  of  faithful 
workers,  God-directed  and  God-inspired,  you  have 
power  to  bring  the  wanderer  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
Go  into  the  desert  to  find  his  sheep,  if  need  be.  Have 
no  fears  that  your  words  will  not  be  heard  if  you  voice 
Truth.  Christ  Jesus  said:  "My  sheep  hear  my 
voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me"  (John 
x.,  27).     Let  us  abide  in  Him  who  is  Life,  Love,  and 


102        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Truth.  May  the  sunlight  of  Truth  dawn  upon  our 
understanding ;  may  the  dense  darkness  of  the  night 
of  error  be  dispelled,  and  the  realities  of  immortality 
appear,  and  unfold  to  humanity  the  effulgence  of 
eternal  Life — the  joy  and  peace  of  divine  Love. 

THE  SON  HATH  LIFE  IN  HIMSELF1 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is,  when 
the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God:  and  they  that  hear 
shall  live.  For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  Himself;  so  hath  He  given 
to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  himself. — John  v.,  25,  26. 

God  will  heal  the  sick  through  man,  whenever  man  is  governed  by 
God. — Science  and  Health,  p.  495. 

Nearly  nineteen  hundred  years  ago  there  lived 
a  man  who  to  human  sense  appeared  like  other  men; 
who  walked  among  mortals  like  others,  but  who  de- 
clared that  he  was  the  Son  of  God.  This  man's  life 
was  beyond  the  reproach  of  the  strictest  moralist. 
His  constant  efforts  were  directed  to  the  relief  of 
suffering  humanity,  and  to  teaching  the  people  that 
God  was  the  only  source  of  life  and  power.  He  healed 
disease,  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind  and  the  ears  of 
the  deaf;  gave  the  hand  of  compassionate  forgiveness 
to  the  penitent  sinner,  and  raised  the  dead.  He  was 
constantly  preaching  and  teaching  others  to  proclaim 
God's  power  to  heal  the  sick  and  to  cast  out  evils;  and 
so  well  did  some  of  his  disciples  come  to  understand  his 
method   of  healing,   that   they   too   performed   many 

1  Sermon  preached  in  1887. 
During  the  three  years  when  I  used  MSS.  most  of  the  sermons  were 
written  between  one  and  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  entire  day 
being  filled  with  the  work  of  healing  the  sick  and  teaching  Christian 
Science.  The  physical  rest  from  eight  in  the  evening  to  twelve  proved 
sufficient. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        103 

cures.  This  man  declared,  "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is 
upon  me,  because  He  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  poor ;  He  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken- 
hearted, to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives,  .  .  . 
to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised"  (Luke  iv.,   18). 

In  an  age  when  the  people  were  imprisoned  by  the 
material  senses,  when  they  were  captives  to  disease — 
when  they  were  broken-hearted  with  grief  occasioned 
by  seeming  death — when  the  halt  and  the  blind,  the 
paralytic  and  the  deaf  were  abandoned  as  incurable — 
when  the  preacher  with  his  prayers,  and  the  physician 
with  his  potion  were  unable  to  relieve  human  suffering, 
one  would  say,  what  a  blessing  a  man  endowed  with 
such  healing  power  must  have  been!  How  the  people 
must  have  rejoiced  and  loved  this  public  benefactor! 
How  the  home  must  have  been  gladdened  as  he 
entered  the  sick  room  and  said:  "Damsel,  I  say  unto 
thee,  arise"  (Mark  v.,  41).  How  great  must  have 
been  his  renown  as  the  paralytic  who  had  been  helpless 
thirty-eight  years  immediately  walked!  Surely  one 
would  say  the  clergy  would  endeavor  to  learn  the 
secret  of  his  prayer,  the  physician  would  investigate 
the  power  of  his  healing  and  both  would  imitate  such 
a  man  and  follow  him. 

Jesus  had  no  vices  to  deter  his  followers  from  walking 
with  him.  He  was  loving,  sincere,  and  true.  Never 
in  the  history  of  his  earth-life  was  there  aught  found 
against  him.  His  was  a  life  of  blessing  in  all  that  land 
of  Galilee;  and  yet,  incredible  as  it  may  appear  to  this 
age,  he  was  persecuted  and  reviled  for  opening  the 
eyes  of  the  blind,  for  healing  the  sick  and  raising  the 
dead.  Not  only  was  he  denounced,  but  the  people 
sought  to  kill  him  because  his  methods  and  teachings 
were  contrary  to  theirs.     They  declared  that  he  was 


104       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

one  who  stirred  up  seditions;  that  he  blasphemed  by 
calling  God  his  Father,  and  by  healing  on  the  Sabbath 
day.  Why  did  they  condemn  Jesus  for  calling  upon 
God  whom  they  taught  was  "a  very  present  help  in 
trouble,"  but  which  assertion  they  could  not  prove? 
When  some  acknowledged  the  mighty  works  which 
Jesus  performed,  and  the  world  saw  the  action  of  Mind 
over  matter,  or  the  power  of  the  Word  with  which  he 
performed  the  healing  of  sickness  and  sin,  why  did  not 
the  doctors  of  divinity  and  the  medical  practitioners 
unite  in  efforts  to  establish  the  Christ-mind  healing? 
Instead,  they  said:  "We  will  not  have  this  man  to 
reign  over  us"  (Luke  xix.,  14).  It  is  strange  that 
so  good  a  man  as  Jesus  the  Christ  could  have  been 
so  misunderstood.  Humanity  in  this  enlightened  age 
recounts  the  story  of  his  life  and  crucifixion,  and 
wonders  at  the  resistance  and  cruelty  of  that  age. 
The  clergy  to-day  rehearse  to  listening  ears  this  woeful 
lack  of  spiritual  discernment,  and  believe  that  if  they 
had  been  there  they  would  have  appreciated  his  good 
works,  and  would  have  followed  him. 

Let  us  learn  what  Jesus  the  Christ  was  endeavoring 
to  teach  the  world,  what  power  he  exercised  to  heal 
the  sick  and  raise  the  dead,  what  was  the  "Word," 
for  we  read  that  many  were  brought  to  him  and  he  cast 
out  devils  and  healed  them  all  with  the  Word.  Let  us 
learn  further  if  the  Word  still  exists,  and  if  Christ 
has  any  disciples  in  this  generation  who  understand 
and  practice  the  Christ-mind  healing.  John  tells  us 
in  sacred  history:  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word, 
and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God" 
(Johni.,  1). 

Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by 
Mary   Baker  G.   Eddy,    Discoverer  and   Founder  of 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        105 

Christian  Science,  teaches  us  that  All  is  Mind,  there  is 
no  matter,  and  that  God  is  Supreme  Being,  Principle, 
the  only  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  of  man  and  the 
universe.  Has  Christ  any  disciples  to-day  who  follow 
his  command  to  go  into  all  the  world,  preach  the  gospel, 
heal  the  sick,  and  raise  the  dead? 

Jesus  said:  "other  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of 
this  fold"  (John  x.,  16).  There  are  those,  to-day, 
who,  through  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science,  are 
demonstrating  (according  to  their  understanding) 
the  power  of  the  Word.  Let  us  see  what  reception 
their  methods  meet  in  this  century.  Let  us  learn  if 
the  gospel,  which  is  preached  from  the  pulpits  of  the 
many  denominations,  is  followed  by  the  demonstration 
of  Spirit  and  of  power,  in  the  healing  of  sin  and  sick- 
ness, as  it  was  in  the  days  of  the  early  disciples.  Do 
they  proclaim,  with  the  understanding  of  the  early 
disciples  this  injunction:  "Hear,  0  Israel:  the  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord"?  (Deut.  vi.,  4).  Do  they 
preach  the  gospel  of  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  the 
allness  of  God?  Do  they  not  teach  Life  and  death, 
good  and  evil,  Love  and  fear.Truth  and  error,  and  that 
one  is  as  real  as  the  other?  Do  these  disciples  obey 
the  command,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before 
Me"? 

This  is  no  longer  an  age  of  passive  acquiescence 
in  time-honored  and  undemonstrable  theories.  The 
nineteenth-century  thinker  will  not  be  satisfied  longer 
to  accept  traditional  forms  of  worship  which  never 
prove  the  promise,  "If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my 
name,  I  will  do  it"  (John  xiv.,  14),  or  Paul's 
words,  "the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death 
(Rom.  viii.,  2).     Pastors  and  people  repeat,  year  after 


106       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

year,  promises  and  prayers,  while  humanity  cries  in 
vain  for  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death. 
These  cries  reach  the  depths  of  human  sympathy 
with  their  pathetic  appeal,  "Have  mercy  on  me,  0 
Lord,  thou  son  of  David"  (Matt,  xv.,  22),  and  with 
thousands  of  prayers  ascending  from  those  who  pro- 
fess to  be  his  disciples,  humanity  surges  on  past  the 
church  doors,  never  entering  or  demanding  the  physical 
help  which  is  offered  by  the  promise,  "ask,  and  ye  shall 
receive,"  nor  the  Christianity  to  be  expected  from 
those  who  profess  to  obey  the  command  "love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself."  They  carry  their  burden  of 
sin  and  sickness,  doubts  and  fears,  ever  seeking  for  the 
Christ  who  said,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world"  (Matt,  xxviii.,  20). 

The  desire,  or  prayer  for  Truth  has  at  last  reached 
the  ear  of  infinite  Love,  and  through  the  spiritual 
discernment  of  one  who  has  long  been  on  the  watch- 
towers  of  Zion,  the  Science  of  being  has  been  given 
to  the  world.  Through  the  teachings  of  Science  and 
Health  thousands  are  learning  the  power  of  Christian 
Mind-healing.  They  are  healing  the  sick,  casting  out 
evils  and  raising  a  dead  faith  to  a  living  understanding. 
Nearly  nineteen  centuries  ago,  Jesus  the  Christ  said, 
"I  go.  .  .  [but]  I  will  come  again"  (John  xiv.,  3). 
To-day  the  voice  of  the  impersonal  Christ,  or  spirit 
of  Truth,  the  Comforter,  the  ideal  Christ,  is  appearing 
to  human  consciousness,  awaking  mankind  from  the 
long  dream  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  as  existent 
in  matter,  to  the  Truth  of  being,  life,  substance,  and 
intelligence  in  Mind,  or  in  spiritual  consciousness. 

Man  is  gaining  a  glimpse  of  his  reality,  his  God- 
given  birthright,  "dominion.  .  .  over  all  the  earth." 
He  is  entering  into  the  heritage  of  his  Christ-mind,  re- 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        107 

fleeting  the  power  and  possibilities  of  his  "Father- 
Mother  God,"  and  is  beginning  to  verify  the  promises. 
He  is  standing  face  to  face  with  himself  in  Truth,  and 
is  under  the  guidance  of  the  spiritual  teacher — Christ, 
the  impersonal  idea.  Through  overcoming  the  false 
claims  of  personal  sense — the  carnal  mind,  he  is  being 
led  away  from  self  and  sin  into  all  Truth. 

The  experiences  of  Christ  Jesus  are  being  repeated 
in  this,  his  second  manifestation,  and  though  the 
opposition  to  him  is  less  material  in  its  phenomena, 
it  is  none  the  less  powerful  in  its  character.  In  its 
attitude  and  resistance  to  the  Truth  of  being  (the 
supremacy  of  good  which  Christ  Jesus  demonstrated 
for  all  who  should  follow  him)  scholastic  theology 
to-day  is  but  little  more  imbued  with  the  true  sense  of 
the  power  of  Mind  and  man's  relation  to  God,  which 
the  Master  recommended,  than  was  the  church  at 
Jerusalem  when  he  said  to  the  multitude,  "except  your 
righteousness  shall  exceed  the  righteousness  of  the 
scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in  no  case  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven"  (Matt,  v.,  20).  Is  the  voice 
of  Truth  hushed,  silenced  by  the  deafening  clamor 
of  materiality?  Is  the  ever-present  Christ  heard  to- 
day, speaking  to  the  world  as  when  he  spake  to  the 
multitudes  on  that  Sabbath  day  at  Jerusalem,  by  the 
pool  of  Bethesda,  within  whose  five  porches  lay  a  great 
number  of  impotent  folk,  blind,  halt,  and  withered? 
As  he  stands  an  invisible  presence  and  bids  the  helpless 
arise,  is  he  to-day  heard?  The  voice  of  Christ  is 
continually  sounding  above  human  sense,  pleading 
for  recognition,  until  the  individual  spiritual  idea, 
the  "Son  of  God"  is  heard,  as  he  was  on  that  Sab- 
bath morn  when,  moved  to  the  intensity  of  spiritual 
realization,  he  exclaimed: 


108       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is  coming,  and 
now  is,  when  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God :  and  they  that  hear  shall  live. 

For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  Himself ;  so  hath  He  given 
to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  himself  (John  v.,  25,  26). 

These  words  express  Christ  Jesus'  sublime  realization 
of  the  allness  of  God  and  the  supremacy  of  the  divine 
Mind.  The  Galilean  prophet  understood  God,  good, 
as  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth — the  only  power. 
He  knew  man  as  spiritual  consciousness,  made  in  the 
image  and  likeness  of  God — His  idea  or  child  express- 
ing Him  who  made  man  like  Himself.  Therefore  His 
command,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  Me" 
(Spirit) .  Jesus  saw  that  mortals  were  dead  to  spiritual 
life,  that  they  were  asleep  in  the  dream  of  personal 
sense,  the  belief  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in 
matter.  He  said,  "the  words  that  I  speak  unto  you, 
they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life."  He  also  said, 
"I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life  "  (John  xiv.,  6). 
With  the  law  of  Spirit  he  dispelled  material 
sense  and  destroyed  sin,  disease,  and  death,  the  ef- 
fects of  the  carnal  mind — the  lie  which  deceives 
the  whole  world  with  its  claim  of  matter  as  sentient 
substance.  There  is  but  one  Life,  one  Love,  one 
Truth,  and  this  is  our  God,  who  is  omnipotent,  omnis- 
cient, and  omnipresent  good;  our  Father-Mother  in 
heaven,  whom  we  are  striving  to  worship  in  spirit  and 
in  truth.  There  is  but  one  sun  of  our  solar  system, 
but  many  rays  which  proceed  from  it.  So  man  is  the 
expression  of  God,  and  reflects  eternal  Life.  He  is 
one  with  the  Father.  The  "Father  is  greater  than 
I,"  said  Jesus.  Again  he  prayed  for  his  followers, 
"that  they  may  be  one,  as  we  are."     Jesus  knew  that 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        109 

as  the  Father  is  eternal  Life,  so  man,  the  Son  or  idea 
of  God,  has  life  in  himself. 

As  this  truth  in  Christian  Science  arouses  mortals 
to  the  verity  of  being,  they  awake  from  the  material 
senses,  and  the  inspiration  of  Life  and  Love,  spiritual 
sense,  pours  itself  forth  in  the  glad  exuberance  of 
healing  power,  its  elevating,  satisfying  peace  and 
strength  which  is  the  operation  of  spiritual  thought — 
the  truth  of  being.  Love  will  melt  the  cold,  cruel 
belief  of  malice,  hate,  and  fear,  as  the  sun  dispels  the 
early  dew.  Sin,  sickness,  and  death  are  the  illusions 
which  have  been  revealed  by  Christian  Science  to  be 
like  Satan,  "a  liar  from  the  beginning."1 

Through  Truth  they  are  becoming  less  real,  and 
will  finally  disappear.  The  Mind  which  was  in  Christ 
Jesus  was  the  Science  of  immortality.  The  first  desire 
of  the  Christian  Scientist  is  to  receive  the  Christ  into 
his  consciousness.  This  begins  to  break  the  fetters  of 
finite  sense,  the  chains  of  time-honored  authority 
which  have  bound  him  in  darkness,  and  buried  him 
under  the  debris  of  error — false  thinking  or  belief. 
In  the  apprehension  of  his  oneness  with  the  Father 
he  hath  "life  in  himself."  He  communes  with  God 
in  silent  adoration,  and  a  touch  of  love,  joy,  and  peace 
assures  him  that  he  has  found  "the  secret  place  of 
the  most  High." 

Like  a  flash  of  lightning  that  for  an  instant  illuminates 
the  darkness,  revealing  our  surroundings  and  assuring 
us  of  our  position,  so  Truth  lights  the  pathway  as  we 
journey  from  sin  to  holiness,  from  matter  to  Mind, 
from  earth  to  heaven.  This  ascending  power  of  Life 
and  Love  will  impel  us  onward,  till  it  leads  us  into 
all  Truth.     If  while  we  follow  the  Master  we  watch, 

1  Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  108. 


no       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

work  and  pray  and  obey  the  divine  law  of  Spirit ;  if  we 
strive  to  be  like  him — walking  in  humility  and  love, 
in  meakness  and  self-abnegation,  denying  personal 
sense  and  self,  and  declaring  for  God's  allness — we 
shall  daily  rise  higher  in  spiritual  realization  and 
gradually  approach  the  realm  of  Soul.  The  Master 
said,  "  be  of  good  cheer;  I  have  overcome  the  world. " 
While  yet  in  the  flesh,  man  has  found  himself  on  the 
mount  of  spiritual  vision.  There  the  atmosphere  of 
divine  intelligence  surrounds  him  and  he  may  faintly 
realize  that  his  "life is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. " 

May  we,  as  humble  followers  of  the  meek  and  Holy 
One,  follow  so  closely  our  Christ  that  we  may  continu- 
ally unfold,  and  be  gradually  transformed  by  the 
renewing  of  the  mind!  May  our  strength  be  con- 
stantly supplied  from  the  fountain  of  Life  and  Truth, 
whose  streams  of  love  course  onward  with  vigor  and 
power,  sweeping  away  the  mortal  illusion  of  sin  and 
death!  Christian  Scientists  are  calling  all  to  come 
forth  from  the  Adam-dream.  Thousands  are  listening 
to  the  call,  and  are  awaking  to  health  and  holiness. 
God's  command  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be,  "Let  there 
be  light." 

Are  there  any  to-day  who  are  conscious  that  they 
have  life  in  themselves  and  are  the  sons  of  God,  or  who 
demonstrate  the  potency  of  the  Word?  Human  con- 
sciousness is  passing  through  one  of  the  greatest 
revolutions  the  world  has  ever  known.  The  power 
of  the  Christ  is  felt  as  the  words  of  the  Master  resound 
through  thought,  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is.  .  .  in  the  which  all 
that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  And  shall 
come  forth."  In  this  condition  of  Stygian  darkness 
the  human  hand  seems  reaching  out  for  the  Father. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        1 1 1 

These  spiritual  longings  must  be  met.  The  weary 
searcher  for  Truth  cries :     I  cannot  stand  nor  go  alone, 

T  O  Father!  take  my  hand, 
And  from  the  night, 
Lead  up  to  light 

Thy  child!" 

Who,  to-day,  hears  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God? 
Christian  Scientists  have  heard  the  glad  tidings;  they 
have  come  forth  from  a  dead  faith  to  a  living  under- 
standing, and  their  feet  are  planted  upon  the  rock  of 
Truth,  above  the  clamor  of  the  crowd  of  disturbed 
mankind,  whose  voices  again  ring  out  "Crucify  him." 
Adam,  error,  screams  from  the  mountain  of  the  mortal 
sense  of  pleasure  and  from  the  valley  of  the  mortal 
sense  of  sin:  '"We  will  not  have  this  Mind  to  reign 
over  us."  But,  unmoved,  Christian  Scientists  march 
calmly  on,  as  did  the  children  of  Israel,  declaring  that 
Life  is  real,  Love  is  real,  Truth  is  real,  Mind  is  real, 
God  is  All,  and  there  is  none  beside  Him  and  His  idea. 

"  Truth's  mighty  arguments  are  rolling  down 
From  inland  mountain  to  seaboard  town. " 

"He.  .  .  whose  right  it  is"  shall  reign.  "The 
cradle  song  of  Christ  was  never  sung  in  vain."  Life 
will  vanquish  the  illusion  of  death,  Love  will  cast 
out  fear,  Truth  will  destroy  the  false  claim  of  life  in 
matter,  and  man  will  finally  find  himself  perfect  and 
immortal,  with  dominion  over  all  things.  Love  will 
fulfil  Her  law.  It  was  divine  Love  which  moved 
the  blessed  Christ  Jesus  to  urge  humanity  to  awake 
from  the  dream  that  matter  is  real,  and  taught  that 
man  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  the  Son  of  God,  the 


ii2        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

expression  of  Mind.  Divine  Love  impelled  Christ 
Jesus  to  declare  to  a  sin-bound  world  the  grand  verities 
of  being — eternal  Life — in  opposition  to  its  belief  that 
matter  is  real,  and  that  sin  and  death  are  inevitable. 
It  was  divine  Love  which  made  him  appear  severe  to 
those  who  were  obeying  their  own  carnal  desires  and 
following  their  own  erroneous  methods.  It  was  divine 
Love  that  compelled  the  stern  rebuke  to  the  "generation 
of  vipers"  and  to  the  "whited  sepulchres,"  and  that 
said  to  the  disciple  Peter,  "thou  art  an  offence  unto 
me."  It  was  divine  Love  that  brooded  tireless  over 
the  disciples  and  urged  upon  them  the  necessity  of 
watching  and  praying  lest  temptation  enter  unawares 
and  turn  them  from  the  light. 

"  It  is  the  little  rift  within  the  lute, 
That  by  and  by  will  make  the  music  mute, 
And  ever  widening  slowly  silence  all. " 

Divine  Love  sustained  Christ  Jesus  when  malice, 
hatred,  envy  and  revenge  nailed  him  to  the  cross, 
because  he  testified  against  evil.  It  was  divine  Love 
which  supported  him  as  he  labored  to  destroy  the 
seeming  power  of  evil  and  prove  to  the  world  that 
matter  was  but  illusion,  and  not  the  real  man,  who 
was  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God — spiritual 
consciousness,  perfect  and  immortal.  It  was  divine 
Love  which  enabled  him  to  bear  the  indignities  of 
the  malicious  throng  with — "Father,  forgive  them; 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do. "  It  was  evil  which 
Jesus  pursued  to  uncover  and  destroy  with  Truth. 
Love  is  courageous  and  dares  to  meet  the  foe,  for  it 
"careth  not  for  itself."  Human  love  fears  to  be  dis- 
turbed and  passes  error  by,  believing  in  its  power  and 
fearing  the  consequences  of  uncovering  it.     It   fails 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        113 

and  grows  weary;  but  divine  Love  abides  with  us 
forever,  denies  fear  and  evil,  and  will  continue  its 
mighty  action  until  it  consumes  the  clouds  that  hide 
from  us  the  real  and  eternal.  Jesus  fulfilled  his  earth 
mission.  He  left  us  the  Way.  Let  us  cling  firmly 
to  Truth,  and  Love  will  ever  enfold  us.  The  "test  of 
discipleship  is  obedience  and  love, "  says  our  dear 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  Jesus  said,  "By  this  shall  all 
men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love 
one  to  another. "     Let  us  fulfil  the  law  of  Love. 

"Love  one  another. "     Oh!  hark  to  His  pleading, 

Follow,  and  bring  in  my  lambs  as  they  roam." 
Love  goes  before  you,  dispelling  the  shadows; 
List  to  the  mountain  horn  calling  you  home. 

Christ  bids  you  rise  to  your  conscious  dominion; 

Life  calls  to  action,  obey  Truth's  behest; 
Love's  constant  whisper  is,  "  Man  is  immortal,  " 

Dear  one,  press  on  to  the  realms  of  the  blest ! 

Sweeter  than  lullabies,  sung  by  the  mother; 

Clearer  than  ocean's  roar  heard  in  the  shell; 
Softer  than  zephyrs,  the  voice  of  the  Father — 

"Child  I  am  with  thee,  fear  not,  all  is  well. " 

A.  E.  S. 

HIS  SHEEP  HEAR  HIS  VOICE 

For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Behold,  I,  even  I,  will  both  search  My 
sheep,  and  seek  them  out.  .  .  . 

I  will  feed  them  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the  high  mountains  of 
Israel  shall  their  fold  be.— Ezekiel  xxxiv.,  11-14. 

Truth  regenerates  this  fleshly  mind  and  feeds  thought  with  the  bread 
of  Life. — Science  and  Health,  p.  222. 

To  the  spiritually  illumined,  who,  from  the  sunlit 
elevation    of    Christian    Science,    sweep    the    mental 


ii4        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

horizon,  there  arises  "the  Sun  of  righteousness.  .  .  . 
with  healing  in  his  wings;"  and  the  voice  of  God 
resounds  like  the  echo  of  a  lofty  strain  of  heavenly 
harmony,  "so  will  I  seek  out  My  sheep,  and  will 
deliver  them  out  of  all  places  where  they  have  been 
scattered  in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day. " 

The  Holy  Bible  testifies  that  in  all  ages  God  has 
walked  and  talked  with  men,  and  they  who  profess 
to  be  His  followers,  whether  worshiping  Him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  as  do  Christian  Scientists,  or  whether 
they  worship  in  spirit  and  in  flesh,  as  in  the  old  material 
creed,  ritual  and  dogma: — all  repeat  the  words  of 
prophet  and  seer  of  old,  and  accredit  them  with  voicing 
God,  accepting  as  a  fact  their  statement,  "thus  saith 
the  Lord  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel."  The  present 
age  declares  to  listening  mortals  that  centuries  ago 
God's  voice  was  audible  to  His  chosen  ones — that  He 
directed  them  and  commanded  them  to  go  forward,  or 
to  stand  still  and  see  His  salvation. 

The  above  is  repeated  in  the  churches  to  listening 
audiences  Sunday  after  Sunday,  month  after  month, 
year  after  year,  as  proof  that  God  at  one  time  mani- 
fested Himself  to  His  children,  that  the  prophets  of 
old  were  especially  favored  with  the  presence  and 
protecting  power  of  the  great  Shepherd,  the  Father 
and  His  Christ,  but  that  no  one  to-day  can  hear  the 
voice  of  Christ,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway. "  "I  am 
the  first,  and  I  am  the  last ;  and  beside  Me  there  is  no 
God  [power]"  (Isa.  xliv.,  6). 

The  preacher  of  two  powers,  good  and  evil,  Life  and 
death,  makes  great  demands  upon  the  credulity  of 
the  people  when  he  affirms  that  God  is  omnipotent, 
omnipresent  Spirit,  eternal  Life,  divine  Love  and 
Truth,  and  that  there  is  none  beside  Him,  while  his  next 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        115 

declaration  may  be  that  sickness  and  death  originate 
in  the  Mind  of  God ;  that  God  is  the  author  of  good 
and  evil,  Life  and  death,  Truth  and  a  lie,  Spirit  and 
matter.  Scholastic  theology  declares  that  God  made 
all  and  that  all  is  good ;  therefore  we  must  infer  (if  we 
believe  this  statement)  that  sin  is  good,  and  that  its 
consequence  or  penalty,  its  wages,  death,  must  also 
be  good.  These  theorists  endeavor  in  every  material 
way  to  avert  sickness,  and  they  never  regard  death 
as  an  "enemy"  to  be  overcome. 

Every  one  condemns  evil,  but,  not  willing  to  forsake 
it,  and  feeling  its  stigma,  they  endeavor  to  conceal 
their  sins,  while  sickness  and  death,  which  are  the 
result  of  sin,  are  regarded  as  something  to  be  recog- 
nized and  discussed  in  all  places  and  at  all  times. 
Many  people  regale  their  visitors  with  exaggerated 
recitals  of  aches  and  pains,  until  they  become  real 
to  themselves  and  to  their  hearers.  We  anticipate 
the  day  when  Christian  Science  in  its  purity  will  be 
understood,  and  the  entire  world  will  learn  that  God- 
thoughts  evolve  a  harmonious  body,  and  that  carnal 
thoughts  are  expressed  in  discord  and  disease.  Mor- 
tals in  the  future  will  as  soon  entertain  their  friends 
with  an  account  of  their  sins,  their  envies  and  jealousies, 
their  pride  and  selfishness,  as  they  now  interest  their 
listeners  with  a  recital  of  nerves  and  liver,  heart  and 
head  troubles. 

Materia  medica  declares  that  hatred  cannot  be 
indulged  without  serious  consequences  upon  the  heart. 
Should  a  Christian  Scientist  make  this  statement 
to-day,   the  world  would  reject  it — yet  it  is  true. 

The  admission  of  a  power  opposed  to  divine  Life, 
Love,  and  Truth  is  sin.  Fear,  envy,  hatred,  jealousy, 
revenge  are  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind  and  are  sin. 


n6        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

God  is  divine  intelligence,  and  there  is  no  sin,  hate  nor 
fear  in  God's  Mind.  God  is  All,  therefore  there  is  no 
reality  in  the  claim  of  sin. 

From  whence  comes  the  belief  in  carnal  or  mortal 
mind?  God  is  immortal  Mind,  Spirit,  and  there  is  no 
other  power,  mind  nor  intelligence.  What  seeming 
power  is  it  that  mortals  obey  when  they  submit  to 
sickness  and  sin?  To  material  sense  there  seem  to 
be  two  powers:  Truth  and  a  lie;  good  and  evil;  Spirit 
or  Mind,  and  matter  or  carnal  thought,  but  in  reality 
there  is  but  one,  the  power  of  God. 

It  remains  for  us  to  choose  by  which  we  will  be  gov- 
erned,— the  Mind  of  eternal  Life,  Love  and  Truth — the 
Spirit,  or  the  seeming  mind  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death 
— the  false  and  untrue. 

I  will  feed  My  flock,  .  .  saith  the  Lord  God  (Ezek. 
xxxiv.,  15).  I  will  feed  them  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon 
the  high  mountains  of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be  (Ezek. 
xxxiv.,  14). 

Did  God  really  say  this,  and  to  whom  was  His  voice 
audible?  The  Scriptures  declare  the  Word  of  the 
Lord  came  expressly  to  Ezekiel,  the  prophet.  Ezekiel 
testifies  that  he  had  prostrated  himself  upon  his  face 
when  the  voice  said  to  him,  "Son  of  man,  stand  upon 
thy  feet,   and  I  will  speak  unto  thee"  (Ezek.  ii.,   1). 

And  the  spirit  entered  into  me,  .  .  . 

He  said  unto  me,  ...  I  send  thee  to  the  children  of 
Israel,  to  a  rebellious  nation.  .  .  . 

For  they  are  impudent  children.  ...  I  do  send  thee 
unto  them;  and  thou  shalt  say  unto  them;  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God. 

And  they,  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether  they  will 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        117 

forbear,  .  .  .  yet  shall  know  that  there  hath  been  a  prophet 
among  them. 

And  thou,  son  of  man,  be  not  afraid  of  them,  neither 
be  afraid  of  their  words,  though  briers  and  thorns  be  with 
thee,  and  thou  dost  dwell  among  scorpions:  be  not  afraid 
of   their   words,    nor   be   dismayed   at   their  looks,  .  .  . 

And  thou  shalt  speak  My  words  unto  them,  whether  they 
will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  forbear;  for  they  are  most 
rebellious"  (Ezek.  ii.,  2-7). 

The  Christian  world  accepts  the  word  of  Ezekiel 
that  God,  or  the  Word  came  to  him.  We  should 
understand  the  meaning  of  the  "Word."  We  read 
in  the  Holy  Bible,  which  is  accepted  by  all  scholastic 
theologians,  that,  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word, 
and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God. " 
The  Word  is  thought,  or  Mind  expressed.  The  God- 
thought,  the  divinity  of  the  real  man,  came  to  Ezekiel' s 
consciousness,  for  he  says:  "And  the  spirit  entered 
into  me,  .  .  .  that  I  heard  Him  that  spake  unto  me. 
And  he  said  unto  me,  ...  I  send  thee"  (Ezek.  ii., 
2,  3).  God,  Spirit,  the  divine  Mind,  the  Ego,  the  Prin- 
ciple of  being,  moved  Ezekiel  to  utter  truth  to  the 
rebellious  children  of  Israel.  Mortal  thought  argued 
that  briers,  and  thorns,  and  scorpions  would  resist 
him,  but  Truth  urged  him  on,  and  said:  "Son  of  man, 
I  have  made  thee  a  watchman  unto  the  house  of 
Israel:  therefore  hear  the  Word  at  My  mouth,  and  give 
them  warning  from  Me"  (Ezek.  iii.,  17). 

Where  to-day,  is  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of 
Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob,  the  God  who  walked 
with,  and  talked  through  them?  Where  shall  we  look 
for  the  God  who  spoke  through  Moses  and  Samuel, 
through  Daniel  and  all  the  prophets?  Where  shall 
the  seeker  of  Truth  look  to-day  for  the  Father?     Ages 


u8        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

have  passed  since  the  prophets,  and  nineteen  hundred 
years  since  the  Father  talked  with  Jesus  the  Christ. 
Has  God,  Spirit,  Truth,  divine  intelligence,  Mind, 
ceased  to  manifest  Himself  to  man,  or  is  He  ever- 
present  and  omnipotent — expressed  in  His  idea — the 
real  man?  Jesus  the  Christ  manifested  God  as  no 
other  ever  did.  He  declared  that  he  was  one  with 
the  Father,  and  for  his  disciples  he  prayed:  "that 
they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one."  He  was  one 
with  God.  He  worshiped  God  in  spirit,  and  in  truth. 
We  must  follow  Christ's  example  and  not  divide  our 
worship  between  good  and  evil,  spirit  and  flesh. 

Mortals  nailed  Jesus  to  a  cross  and  inflicted  upon 
him  the  most  cruel  torture  the  carnal  mind  could  devise, 
because  he  declared  for  the  allness  of  God,  for  Spirit, 
and  testified  against  matter  and  mortal  mind.  The 
carnal  mind  has  always  been  at  enmity  with  God. 
Whenever  the  disciples  of  Christ  Jesus  voiced  truth, 
error  pursued  them  with  relentless  barbarity  to  hush 
their  utterances.  Had  their  understanding  been  equal 
to  their  faith,  mortal  mind,  or  animal  magnetism, 
could  not  have  destroyed  them.  One  disciple  only 
had  sufficient  realization  of  divine  Love  to  overcome 
the  seeming  power  of  evil.  Shall  we  accept  the  testi- 
mony of  one  in  the  nineteenth  century,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  who  declares  that  God  speaks  and  commands 
her  to  convey  His  message  to  the  people,  or  shall  we 
reject  God's  Word  through  His  messenger — a  woman? 
When  Moses  heard  the  voice  of  God  commanding 
him,  Moses  argued  that  the  people  would  not  listen 
to  him,  but  would  ask  who  sent  thee  to  rule  over  us? 
God  said,  "say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM  hath 
sent  me  unto  you."  Moses  obeyed,  and  a  few  be- 
lieved  him,   while   the   multitude   followed   Pharaoh. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        119 

Was  Pharaoh  calling  upon  God?  No,  Pharaoh  called 
upon  his  god,  and  he  commanded  hosts  who  thought 
they  were  being  led  by  God  and  by  a  leader  superior 
to  Moses  whom  God  sent  to  guide  His  people. 

Through  the  history  of  the  ages,  God  has  voiced 
Himself  through  one,  and  always  through  the  most 
spiritualized  consciousness.  In  every  instance,  those 
divinely  led  have  been  opposed  by  the  materially 
minded.  Good  has  always  been  denounced  by  evil 
thinkers  and  doers,  and  yet,  with  this  record  of  ages, 
there  are  those  in  the  nineteenth  century  of  enlightened 
thought  and  spiritual  conception,  denying  Christ  or 
Truth.  God  speaks  through  Science  and  Health, 
to  the  world  of  material  worshipers,  "Thou  shalt 
worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  Him  only  shalt  thou 
serve"  (Matt,  iv.,  10).  God  is  omnipotent  Life, 
Truth,  and  Love,  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness. 
Mrs.  Eddy  voices  God  when  she  says  to  the  rebellious 
house  of  Israel,  '"Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods 
before  me.'  This  me  is  Spirit"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  467). 

Does  humanity  admit  any  other  God  or  power  than 
Spirit?  God  is  Spirit,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  Love,  and 
there  is  none  beside  Him.  This  spiritual  sense  reveals 
the  Father  and  His  spiritual  idea — man.  This 
spiritual  fact  of  being  Mrs.  Eddy  fearlessly  rings  out 
to  a  world  of  idolators: 

Spirit  is  immortal  Truth;  matter  is  mortal  error.  Spirit 
is  the  real  and  eternal;  matter  is  the  unreal  and  temporal. 
Spirit  is  God,  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness.  There- 
fore man  is  not  material ;  he  is  spiritual  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  468). 

Does  her  statement  correspond  with  the  utterances 


120        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

of  Jesus,  as  God  spoke  to  mortals  through  him?  His 
phraseology  differed  but  little  from  hers.  He  declared, 
All  is  Mind,  when  he  said,  I  (the  Ego  or  the  Christ- 
man),  am  the  truth,  the  reflector  of  God  and  "  I  and 
my  Father  are  one."  Again,  he  said  of  Satan,  "  He 
was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning"  (John,  viii., 
44).  He  urged  mortals  to  obey  Truth  when  he 
said,  "  It  is  the  spirit  that  quickeneth ;  the  flesh  profiteth 
nothing"  (John,  vi.,  63). 

When,  through  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  error  was 
uttered,  Jesus'  rebuke  incensed  them.  When  he 
declared  they  were  of  their  father  the  devil,  or,  in  other 
words,  that  they  were  governed  by  the  false  mentality, 
they  reviled  him.  They  were  in  the  illusion  or  dream 
of  life  in  matter.  He  was  in  the  understanding  and 
demonstration  of  Life  in  Mind. 

The  command,  "Awake  thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise 
from  the  dead, "  proves  that,  while  we  are  in  the  sense 
of  life  in  matter,  we  are  dead.  The  voice  of  Christ 
speaks  through  our  Leader  to-day,  as  audibly  as  it 
spoke  through  Jesus.  Awake,  put  on  your  strength. 
Your  strength  cometh  from  the  Lord,  from  Mind, 
not  from  matter,  from  Life,  not  from  a  sense  of  the 
reality  of  matter,  sin  and  death.  Jesus  feared  not  to 
rebuke  a  wicked  and  perverse  generation. 

Eighteen  centuries  ago  mortals  were  calling  upon  God 
from  the  street  corners  and  in  gorgeous  temples  and 
synagogues.  Apparently  they  were  worshiping  God. 
But  Jesus  discerned  that  they  were  believing  that 
Life  existed  in  matter.  He  knew  that  they  believed 
in  good  and  evil,  and  that  evil,  or  so-called  mortal 
mind,  was  more  real  to  them  than  Spirit.  They 
talked  of  God  as  Life,  and  of  evil  as  a  power.  They 
declared    God    was    the    creator,    and    believed    that 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        121 

matter  also  had  power,  substance,  and  intelligence 
to  create.  They  knew  nothing  of  the  creative  power 
of  Mind,  and  that  there  was  but  one  intelligence,  one 
God.  Had  they  not  heard  the  testimony  of  seers  and 
prophets  of  old,  "Hear,  0  Israel;  The  Lord  our  God 
is  one  Lord"?  Did  they  not  admit  this  God,  or  power, 
to  be  good?  Did  they  not  also  acknowledge  Him  to  be 
Spirit,  Life  eternal,  the  only  creator?  Then  why  did 
they  not  apprehend  that  Spirit,  or  the  divine  Mind, 
was  the  real  and  only  power,  and  that  all  material 
objects  were  but  the  phenomena  of  a  false  concept,  the 
illusion  of  physical  sense,  the  lie  which  had  deceived  the 
whole  world,  and  which  Truth  must  destroy? 

To  the  spiritually  awakened,  this  became  apparent, 
and  they  learned  that  the  law  of  Spirit  set  them  free 
from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death.  But  Jesus  did  not 
convince  the  majority  of  the  truth  of  scientific  being,  for 
in  many  places  "he  did  not  many  mighty  works  .  .  . 
because  of  their  unbelief. "  He  said  to  his  listeners, 
1 '  Having  eyes,  see  ye  not  ?  and  having  ears,  hear  ye  not  ? ' ' 
and  "ye  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye  might  have 
life."  Paul  says  that  the  things  of  Spirit  must  be 
discerned  by  spirit.  Looking  through  the  mental 
concept  of  sin,  belief  of  life  in  matter,  humanity  sees 
sickness  and  death.  When  we  realize  that  Life  is 
Mind,  and  that  Truth  is  Spirit,  that  good  only  is  real, 
we  shall  reveal  God's  man  and  the  spiritual  universe. 

Mankind  will  finally  discern  that  Mind  is  the 
Principle  of  being.  When  thought  is  recognized  and 
admitted  as  power,  then  will  come  the  question,  by 
which  mind  will  you  be  governed,  the  immortal  Mind, 
or  the  so-called  mind  of  the  flesh?  Your  decision  will 
determine  whether  you  will  have  a  sick  or  a  healthy 
body — the  effect  of  a  discordant  or  of  a  spiritual  men- 


122        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

tality.  The  law  of  Spirit  or  Life  operates  to  destroy 
the  sense  of  sin  and  death,  and  the  mighty  force  of 
Truth  and  Life  expels  the  beliefs  of  disease.  Truth 
repels  the  lie,  and  gradually  lessens  its  hold  on  human 
consciousness,  till  the  way  of  Life  is  made  known,  and 
we  realize  joyfully  our  dominion  over  the  flesh  and 
evil. 

Does  the  operation  of  Truth  on  the  human  mind  go 
on  without  conflict?  It  is  the  warfare  between  the 
flesh  and  the  Spirit.  It  has  been  called  the  battle 
between  Truth  and  error.  Was  there  ever  a  material 
battle  fought  without  more  or  less  sacrifice  or  struggle 
attending  it?  Does  the  opposing  army  yield  until 
compelled  by  superior  force?  Every  prophet  and  seer 
has  met  and  resisted  error  in  all  its  forms.  In  our 
day,  history  records  the  opposition  of  error  to  Truth, 
the  resistance  of  the  carnal,  so-called  mind  to  Christian 
Science  Mind-healing. 

Of  old  there  were  false  prophets.  To-day  there  are 
false  prophets  who  attempt  to  part  the  seamless 
garment  of  Truth,  and  cast  lots  for  it;  mind-curists, 
who  treat  by  hypnotism  and  mesmerism;  spiritualists, 
who  teach  the  doctrine  of  free  love  and  affinities,  and 
the  attraction  of  physical  personalities;  theosophists, 
and  others  who  are  trying  to  climb  up  some  other 
way,  and  many  who  are  masquerading  under  the 
name  of  Christian  Science. 

"God  is  Spirit."1  "The  hour  cometh,  and  now  is, 
when  the  true  worshipers  shall  worship  the  Father 
in  spirit  and  in  truth"  (John  iv.,  23).  If  Spirit 
is  all,  what  is  matter?  Does  all  include  all  there  is, 
or  is  there  something  left  beyond  all?  The  latter  is 
blind   reasoning.      The   spiritually-quickened    discern 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  117. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        123 

the  source  of  their  being  to  be  Life  eternal  in  divine 
Mind,  and  their  real  source  and  supply  to  be  Spirit, 
for  God  and  man  are  one.  Christ  was  one  with  the 
Father.  He  was  governed  by  Spirit,  and  the  con- 
sciousness of  the  reality  of  Life.  Christ  Jesus  over- 
came mortal  error,  which  expressed  itself  in  matter  in 
its  various  manifestations  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 
This  sacred  sense  of  the  one  Mind,  and  of  our  union 
with  the  Father;  the  realization  of  the  supremacy  of 
Mind  over  the  belief  of  corporeal  sense,  ushers  us  into 
the  presence  of  God,  and  the  power  that  Jesus  exercised 
when  he  said,  "  I  speak  not  of  myself  [the  material 
personality  which  you  recognize] :  but  the  Father  that 
dwelleth  in  me,  He  doeth  the  works"  (the  Spirit  or 
Mind,  the  Principle  of  my  spiritual  selfhood,  He  doeth 
the  works  which  I,  as  spiritual  idea,  manifest). 

Is  it  unreasonable  for  us,  as  Christian  Scientists,  to 
claim  God  as  our  Father,  and  to  endeavor  to  have  in 
us  the  Mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus  whereby  he  healed 
the  sick,  cast  out  devils,  or  carnal  thoughts,  diseases, 
and  raised  the  dead?  Have  we  not  the  promise  of 
our  Way-shower,  Christ  Jesus:  "He  that  believeth 
on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also ;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do  "  ?  (John  xiv.  ,12).  Again, 
he  said:  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  me"  (John  xii.,  32).  Jesus  the 
Christ  was  lifted  up  out  of  all  materiality  into  Spirit. 
He  said :  "I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father; 
and  to  my  God,  and  your  God"  (John  xx.,  17). 
He  gave  them  another  blessed  assurance:  "I  go  .  .  . 
[but]  I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself; 
that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also"  (John  xiv., 
3).  Christ  Jesus  entered  into  spiritual  consciousness. 
He    destroyed    every    false    sense    that    brings    forth 


124        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

sickness  and  death.  He  entered  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  and  his  voice  is  audible  to  the  children  of 
light,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end" 
(Matt,  xxviii.,  20). 

Christ  is  ' '  the  way. ' '  There  is  no  other.  Only  by  put- 
ting off  the  old  mind,  or  belief  of  life,  substance,  and  intel- 
ligence in  matter,  and  walking  after  the  Spirit,  can  we 
gain  a  sense  of  freedom  from  bondage  to  fear.  Only 
by  putting  on  the  new  Mind,  the  understanding  of 
the  power  of  the  divine  Mind,  or  eternal  Life  as  the 
reality  of  our  being,  and  the  realization  of  our  relation 
to  God  as  Principle  and  idea,  as  Father  and  Son,  God 
and  His  thought  expressed,  can  we  ever  emerge  from 
the  darkness  of  mortality  into  the  light  of  immortality, 
and  find  our  true  being.  So  long  as  we  cling  to  the 
reality  of  life  in  matter  and  indulge  physical  sense, 
we  shall  bring  forth  a  sick  and  dying  body  and  shall 
behold,  through  material  lens,  a  chaotic  universe. 

Here  or  hereafter,  error,  or  this  false  sense  of  life, 
must  be  destroyed.  Too  long  mortals  have  heard 
the  wailing  cry  of  the  mother  as  her  treasures  have  been 
ruthlessly  torn  from  her  embrace.  "Rachel  weeping 
for  her  children,  and  would  not  be  comforted,  because 
they  are  not. "  To-day  the  suffering  and  the  sorrowing 
long  to  learn  Jesus'  method  of  healing  the  sick,  that 
they  may  prevent  these  cruel  separations.  Have 
not  chance  and  change,  discord  and  decay  already 
turned  us  from  the  things  of  time  and  sense  to  long 
for  the  verities  of  eternal  Life — immortality  ? 

Christian  Scientists  are  taught  by  our  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  (as  Jesus  taught  his  disciples),  to 
overcome  evil  with  good,  never  to  surrender  to  evil 
suggestions.  By  knowing  ourselves  to  be  spiritual 
and  immortal,   and  by  demonstrating   the  power  of 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        125 

man  when  governed  by  God,  we  shall  attain  our 
spiritual  dominion — immortal  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, the  sons  and  daughters  of  God. 

So  will  I  seek  out  My  sheep,  and  will  deliver  them  out  of 
all  places  where  they  have  been  scattered  in  the  cloudy 
and  dark  day. 

Like  attracts  like.  Jesus  the  Christ  declared  that  the 
power  of  spiritual  attraction  would  draw  all  men  unto 
him  (unto  his  spiritual  individuality).  This  mighty 
action  of  spiritual  force  is  surging  through  human 
consciousness  to-day,  quickening  humanity  to  spiritual 
discernment,  and  delivering  it  out  of  all  places  or 
conditions  of  mortal  mind ;  out  of  the  belief  of  another 
power  than  Spirit;  out  of  the  dark  and  cloudy  day  of 
bondage  to  the  false  claim  of  hate,  fear,  self-love,  love 
of  the  material  world,  personal  pride,  jealousy,  envy, 
and  the  lusts  of  the  flesh;  out  of  the  belief  of  matter 
as  sentient  substance,  and  Spirit  as  shadow;  out  of 
the  belief  in  evil  into  which  the  material  senses  have 
wandered.  It  was  indeed  a  dark  day.  How  the 
clouds  of  sickness  and  death,  of  sin  and  sorrow  lowered 
over  the  mental  horizon  and  the  homes  of  mankind. 
How  the  weary  human  heart  plead  for  repose,  but 
relentless  untruths  pursued  it,  and  the  wormwood  and 
the  gall  were  given  as  solace  in  these  words,  "There  is 
rest  in  the  grave. " 

We  were  indeed  children  of  darkness,  and  did  not 
comprehend  the  ever-present  light,  the  light  which 
lighteth  every  man  and  dispels  darkness.  As  its  faint 
rays  penetrated  our  thought  and  we  began  to  apprehend 
our  reality,  it  illuminated  us  until  we  were  inspired 
with  a  sense  of  our  relation  to  God  and  our  divine 
birthright,  eternal  Life.     How  joyously  we  went  out 


126        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

to  tell  the  glad  tidings  and  invite  the  world  to  the 
spiritual  feast.  Then  came  the  question  propounded 
of  old  to  Abraham,  Moses,  Ezekiel,  to  all  the  prophets, 
and  to  Jesus  the  Christ:  "Who  hath  sent  you?"  We 
answer,  Truth  came  to  the  consciousness  of  our  Way- 
shower,  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  to  our  Christly  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  Christ  sent  his  followers  into 
the  world  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives.  Truth 
is  calling  all  to  awake  from  the  dream  of  life  in  matter 
to  the  realization  that  all  is  Spirit,  infinite  Mind.  The 
Philistines,  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh  of  this  generation 
still  arise  and  declare,  "We  will  not  have  this  man 
[Mind]  to  reign  over  us. " 

Jesus  suffered  crucifixion.  Who  opposed  him?  Was 
it  not  the  so-called  carnal  mind?  Were  not  the  scribes 
and  Pharisees  trying  to  climb  up  some  other  way? 
The  time  will  come  when  mortals  will  be  convinced 
that  there  is  no  other  name  known  upon  earth  or  in 
heaven  .  by  which  they  can  be  saved  except  through 
Christ. 

Through  spiritual  sense  alone  mortals  are  en- 
abled to  hear  the  voice  of  Spirit.  The  coming  of 
this  spiritual  understanding  to  human  conscious- 
ness disturbs  antiquated  beliefs,  overthrows  time- 
honored  theories,  and  destroys  personal  sense.  It 
necessitates  contention  with  religious  sects  which 
have  always  advocated  the  reality  of  sin  and  death 
as  inevitable,  and  as  the  work  of  God.  They  declare 
the  Lord  gave  the  mortal  body,  with  its  sin,  sickness 
and  death,  and  that  the  Lord  taketh  away  the  mortal 
body  with  its  sin,  sickness  and  death.  A  learned 
divine  recently  said  that  "when  Christ  Jesus  was 
here  he  healed  the  sick."  He  is  here  to-day,  and  has 
been   throughout   the  ages.     Christian   Scientists  be- 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        127 

lieve  Christ  to  be  ever-present — Immanuel  or  God  with 
us.  The  members  of  the  body  of  Christ  are  spiritual, 
individualized  ideas  and  are  here,  ever-present  repre- 
sentatives of  God  to  be  revealed  by  spiritual  sense. 

Christian  Science  meets  and  opposes  traditional 
dogmas,  just  as  Truth,  through  Jesus,  met  and  opposed 
material  worship.  Christian  Scientists  will  not  accept 
blind  belief.  They  demand  a  living  understanding. 
They  call  for  the  power  of  Christ,  Truth,  to  overcome 
sickness  and  death.  They  claim  that  the  power  of 
good  will  finally  destroy  evil  in  all  its  manifestations. 
Truth  to-day  works  as  of  old,  and,  as  of  old,  the 
carnal  mind  resists  it. 

To  Ezekiel,  God  said:  "I  will  feed  them  [My 
flock]  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the  high  mountains 
of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be."  Ever-present  Spirit 
speaks  to  you,  Christian  Scientists,  to  you  who  have 
accepted  Spirit  as  real.  You  are  the  children  of  God, 
the  children  of  Israel  after  the  Spirit — not  the  rebel- 
lious house  of  Israel  after  the  flesh  to  whom  matter  is 
substance.  Spirit  is  all,  and  all  men  are  reflectors  of 
God.  Mortals  do  not  reflect  God,  they  are  the 
illusion  of  material  sense,  dust  to  dust,  nothingness. 

"I  will  feed  them  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the 
high  mountains  of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be."  Has 
not  our  tender  shepherd  of  Israel  led  us  into  pastures 
of  living  green,  and  beside  the  still,  harmonious  waters 
of  Life?  We  have  risen  above  the  dense  miasma  and 
gloom  of  the  valley  and  shadow  of  belief  in  the  reality 
of  the  mind  of  the  flesh,  the  Adam-dream,  and  are 
striving  to  live  unto  Christ  in  whom  all  are  made  alive. 
Let  us  press  forward  until  hope,  faith,  and  understanding 
merge  into  immortal  consciousness,  our  oneness  with 
infinite  Life  and  Love. 


128       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 
CHRIST'S  SECOND  COMING 

And  we  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an 
understanding,  that  we  may  know  Him  that  is  true,  and  we  are  in 
Him  that  is  true,  even  in  His  Son  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  the  true 
God,  and  eternal  life.— I  John  v.,  20. 

If  Christ,  Truth,  has  come  to  us  in  demonstration,  no  other  com- 
memoration is  requisite,  for  demonstration  is  Immanuel,  or  God  with  us. 

Science  and  Health,  p.  34. 

The  material  world  is  to-day  experiencing  the 
greatest  revolution  in  thought  that  has  ever  been  wit- 
nessed by  humanity.  The  traditional  religion  of  our 
ancestors,  with  its  time-honored  creeds  and  rituals, 
before  which  all  have  bowed  as  being  unquestionable 
in  vital  conception  and  strength,  and  able  to  lead  man 
to  the  divine  source  of  eternal  Life,  this  traditional 
religion  is  in  this  age  publicly  questioned  and  privately 
denounced  by  many.  The  ancient  creeds  and  doctrines 
are  said  to  be  wanting  in  the  spiritual  power  necessary 
to  meet  and  destroy  the  seeming  force  of  evil  which 
appears  to  control  mortals,  and  from  which  they  are 
struggling  to  free  themselves.  To-day  the  spiritually 
inspired  have  turned  from  a  dead  faith,  and  an  undemon- 
strable  creed,  to  a  living  Christ,  and  are  asking :  Are  we 
awaking  from  sleep,  and  have  we  been  so  deep  in  the 
Adam-dream  that  we  are  only  now  able  to  hear  the  whis- 
per of  ever-present  Truth — "Have  I  been  so  long  time 
with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou  not  known  me,  Philip?" 

As  the  potency  of  the  Christ-mind  reaches  human 
consciousness,  illuminating  the  world  with  its  radiance, 
men  discern  the  spirit  of  Truth — "the  Comforter" — 
the  impersonal  Saviour,  the  "Sun  of  righteousness," 
who  comes  with  healing  in  his  wings,  heralding  the 
promised  millennial  day.  As  they  awake  from  the 
mesmeric  sleep  of  the  Adam-dream,  the  belief  of  life, 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        129 

substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter  in  which  "all  die," 
to  the  consciousness  of  the  allness  of  the  Christ-mind 
in  which  all  are  "  made  alive,"  as  they  realize  the  allness 
of  God,  the  supremacy  of  the  divine  Mind,  the  omni- 
potence of  Love,  Life,  and  Truth,  they  come  forth 
from  among  the  sleepers,  and  send  to  the  dreamers 
who  are  deceived  by  the  supposed  pleasures  and  pains 
of  matter,  the  divine  message:  "Now  is  come  salvation, 
and  strength,  and  the  kingdom  of  our  God,  and  the 
power  of  His  Christ."  The  awakened  have  seen  the 
"star  in  the  East"  which  ushers  in  the  Christ-mind, 
and  are  coming  from  the  East  and  from  the  West, 
from  the  North  and  from  the  South,  chanting  again 
the  angelic  salutation:  "Glory  to  God  in  the  highest, 
and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men."  "The 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder:  and  his  name 
shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  The  mighty 
God,  The  everlasting  Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace" 
(Isa.  ix.,  6). 

The  reign  of  terror,  sin,  sickness,  and  death,  shall 
cease  to  govern  mortals,  for  the  government  shall  be 
the  Lord's.  The  mighty  God,  the  omnipotent  creator, 
the  infinite,  supreme  intelligence,  eternal  Life,  Love, 
and  Truth,  shall  be  recognized  as  the  great  First 
Cause,  the  only  power,  the  reality  of  being.  Since 
mortals  first  acknowledged  a  Supreme  Being,  whom 
they  called  God,  ever  since  the  first  chant  of  the 
creedsman  and  ritualist  ascended  in  praise  to  the 
omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omnipresent  Father, 
whom  they  admit  is  the  source  of  all  life  and  intelli- 
gence, they  have  proclaimed  one  theory,  and  practiced 
another.  Moses  sang:  "Hear,  O  Israel:  the  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord."  The  Hebrew  bard  swept  his 
lyre  to  the  same  melody;  and  on  through  the  ages  the 


130       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

God-inspired  have  voiced  this  Truth,  till  Jesus  the 
Christ  appeared,  demonstrating  the  words  of  Moses: 
"  The  Lord  He  is  God;  there  is  none  else  beside  Him." 

At  Christ's  first  appearing  in  the  flesh,  he  found 
the  world  worshiping  other  gods  and  bowing  down 
to  idols.  It  was  calling  upon  God  with  the  lip,  while 
believing  in  another  power,  the  power  of  evil,  which 
testifies  of  life  in  matter.  To-day,  at  his  second 
coming,  Christ,  Truth,  finds  mankind  bowing  to  an- 
other power,  or  god,  as  he  found  the  woman  at  the 
well,  who  said:  "Our  fathers  worshiped  in  this  moun- 
tain; and  ye  say,  that  in  Jerusalem  is  the  place  where 
men  ought  to  worship.  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Woman, 
believe  me,  the  hour  cometh,  when  ye  shall  neither 
in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem,  worship  the 
Father.  Ye  worship  ye  know  not  what:  .  .  .  God 
is  a  Spirit:  and  they  that  worship  Him  must  worship 
Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. "  Christ,  Truth,  meets 
many  to-day  at  the  material  well,  drinking  of  its 
material  waters  as  their  fathers  have  done  before 
them.  He  speaks  to  them  audibly  as  he  spoke  to  the 
woman,  "Ye  worship  ye  know  not  what,"  for  not  in 
the  mountain  of  mortal  thought,  nor  in  the  belief  of  life 
in  matter  do  ye  find  the  Father,  but  in  Spirit,  or  in  the 
understanding  of  divine  Mind,  do  ye  find  Him. 

For  generations  mortals  have  lived  in  the  material 
senses;  they  have  accepted  the  testimony  of  mortal 
error,  believing  all  of  error's  illusions  of  sin,  sickness, 
and  death,  which  represent  a  mortal  as  a  foam- 
crested  wave  that  rises  for  a  moment,  and  then  is  for- 
ever gone — lost  in  the  immensity  of  the  great  unknown. 
While  the  war  of  the  senses  has  raged  on,  humanity 
has  suffered  from  constant  care  and  incessant  watch 
lest  life  be  destroyed;  has  agonized  with  doubts  and 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        131 

uncertainties  that  fill  men  with  dismay  from  the 
moment  they  enter  upon  the  stage  of  human  existence 
to  the  hour  they  make  their  exit,  with  nothing  to 
satisfy  their  immortal  yearnings  for  something  enduring 
and  eternal. 

This  has  been  the  condition  of  mortality  since  the 
serpent,  Satan,  the  lie,  first  deceived,  with  the  illusion 
that  matter  was  sentient  substance,  possessing  life 
and  intelligence.  This  theory  has  been  preached 
for  ages  by  the  professing  disciples  of  Christ,  who  have 
themselves  been  deceived  by  the  siren  voice  of  the 
subtle  lie,  the  carnal  mind,  until  these  blind  disciples 
lulled  all  into  the  deep  sleep  of  Adam.  This  error  in 
premise  has  resulted  in  erroneous  conclusions. 

Instead  of  recognizing  the  real,  or  the  spiritual  man 
who  was  made  in  God's  own  "  image  "  and  "  likeness," 
Spirit,  "  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever," 
mortals  have  been  governed  by  the  opposite  of  Truth — 
the  carnal  mind,  which  testifies  that  Adam  is  the  real 
man.  Mind  is  causation,  the  creative  power.  Thought 
is  force.  In  the  Adam-thought  all  die.  In  the  spiritual 
thought  is  Life,  in  which  all  are  made  alive. 

The  Mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus  was  the  power  of 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  which  destroyed  the  seeming 
power  of  the  carnal  thought  which  is  expressed  in  sin, 
sickness,  and  death.  To-day  there  are  those  who 
realize  that  Truth  is  working  over  and  above  the 
claim  of  evil,  and  that  man  is  spiritual,  with  the  power 
of  the  Christ-mind,  which,  if  understood  can  be  demon- 
strated, and  will  give  him  his  promised  dominion  over 
all  things.  The  truth  of  being,  the  understanding  of 
the  supremacy  of  divine  Mind,  is  working  through  the 
consciousness  of  this  age,  going  forth  on  its  pinions  of 
mercy  and  light,  fulfilling  its  mission  of  purifying  and 


132        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

uplifting  the  great  world  of  humanity,  and  is  destroying 
the  illusions  which  becloud  the  reality  of  being.  This 
understanding  is  inspiring  our  world  with  higher  ideals ; 
it  is  moving  men  to  holier  aspirations,  and  to  the 
contemplation  of  the  reality  of  being. 

Mind,  Spirit,  bursts  the  bonds  of  finite  sense  and 
reveals  the  glories  of  infinite  Mind,  the  supreme 
intelligence — "the  secret  place  of  the  most  High," 
in  whom  "we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being." 
To  those  whose  life  is  "hid  with  Christ  in  God," 
verily  "the  Son  of  God  is  come,"  for  he  gives  the 
understanding  that  this  is  Life  eternal. 

To-day,  the  question  is  asked:  By  which  influence 
are  you  governed,  by  Truth  or  by  error — for  as  a  man 
"thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he"?  The  humble 
Nazarene,  whom  all  Christians  to-day  profess  to  follow, 
testified  of  the  false  thought,  and  declared  he  came  to 
destroy  the  works  of  the  devil.  He  further  pronounced 
this  devil  a  lie  from  the  beginning.  Jesus'  life  mission 
was  to  arouse  mortals  from  the  influence  of  this  lie, 
or  Adam-dream,  to  the  truth  of  being,  Mind,  Spirit, 
God.  He  healed  the  sick,  cast  out  evils,  and  raised 
the  dead  with  the  Word,  or  Mind.  To  the  woman 
who  was  helpless  he  said  that  Satan  had  bound  her, 
"lo,  these  eighteen  years." 

If  theologians  had  followed  Christ's  example,  and  had 
rendered  "unto  Caesar  the  things  which  are  Caesar's; 
and  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's,"  humanity 
would  have  resisted  the  fetters  that  have  bound  all 
to  sin  and  sickness.  How  much  we  might  have  escaped 
of  the  sin  of  idolatry,  of  self-love,  of  selfishness  and 
physical  and  mental  suffering,  had  we  understood  our 
relation  to  God,  and  the  falsity  of  the  belief  of  life  in 
blood,  sensation  in  nerves,  and  intelligence  in  brain, 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        133 

to  which  in  the  past  we  have  all  yielded,  until  at  times 
"life  seemed  a  blessing  not  worth  possessing,  and 
death  a  consummation  greatly  to  be  desired. " 

In  Jesus'  age  mortals  had  other  gods  as  now  they 
have;  there  were  heathen  then,  as  there  are  to-day. 
The  words:  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before 
Me  "  mean  the  same  now  as  they  then  meant.  Chris- 
tian Scientists  declare  that  "God  is  All,"  and,  "there 
is  none  beside  Him,"  and  they  labor  unceasingly  to 
destroy  the  belief  in  a  power  opposed  to  the  one  God. 

Mortals  will  continue  to  sin,  to  suffer,  and  to  die, 
while  matter  is  regarded  as  possessing  life,  substance, 
and  intelligence.  Mortal  thought  is  the  generalissimo, 
the  supreme  commander  of  suppositional  evil;  hatred, 
envy,  jealousy,  personal  pride  of  place  and  power, 
lust,  self-love,  selfishness,  love  of  gold,  ambition, 
greed,  personal  aggrandizement  and  fear.  Each  so- 
called  carnal  thought  exercises  its  control  over  mortals, 
producing  discord  and  disease  till  Truth  arouses  them 
and  declares  that  discords  are  illusions,  creations  of 
the  carnal  mind.  Thus  Truth  bids  man  take  possession 
of  his  birthright,  dominion  over  all  things  through  the 
reflection  of  Truth  and  Love,  which  dispels  the  mythical 
gods  who  preside  over  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Jesus  the  Christ  was  the  best  exponent  of  Christian 
Mind-healing  the  world  has  ever  known.  He  healed 
the  sick,  proclaimed  forgiveness  to  the  penitent  sinner ; 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  turned  sorrow  into  joy, 
and  taught  his  disciples  to  do  the  same.  Yet  for  all 
his  loving  ministrations  and  good  works  he  received 
the  crown  of  thorns,  the  gall  and  vinegar,  and  the 
cruel  crucifixion.  Why  had  he  none  to  defend  him 
but  a  few  disciples,  who  later  slumbered  while  he 
prayed,  and  who  at  last  left  him   to  tread    the  wine- 


134       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

press  alone?  Why  did  not  crowds  fill  the  temple 
and  synagogue  when  he  spoke,  and  rejoice  his  heart 
with  loving  appreciation?  Why  was  he  left  to  be 
delivered  up  to  the  cruel  materialists  and  scourged? 
Because  he  testified  against  the  carnal  mind,  and  over- 
came its  illusions  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death  with  the 
divine  power  which  he  possessed.  He  knew  that  the 
scribes  and  Pharisees  were  worshipers  of  matter,  and 
that  they  could  not  attain  harmony,  or  their  divine 
power,  while   they  were  governed  by  material  sense. 

Are  you  pained  as  you  recall  the  cruelty  of  the  Jews 
toward  your  Saviour,  whom,  to-day,  you  acknowledge 
showed  the  world  the  way  to  Life  eternal?  As  you 
recount  his  good  works  in  healing  the  sick  and  raising 
the  dead,  do  you  understand  why  the  world  rose  in 
arms  against  him?  As  you  recall  his  sweat  of  agony 
in  Gethsemane,  as  you  follow  him  up  the  hill  of  Calvary 
where  he  endured  the  tortures  of  the  inquisition,  can 
you  believe  the  carnal  mind  holds  within  itself  such 
bitter  hatred  of  Truth's  exponent  of  God  and  His 
ideal  man?  Do  you  not  feel  that  had  you  been  there 
you  would  not  have  denied  the  Christ? 

Jesus  said,  "I  go  away,  and  come  again  unto  you" 
(John  xiv.,  28).  In  this  nineteenth  century,  again 
the  spirit  of  Truth — Christ,  the  divine  idea — through 
the  teachings  of  Christian  Science  appears  to  us.  "We 
know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given 
us  an  understanding. "  This  understanding  is  Christ's 
second  coming  to  human  apprehension.  What  recep- 
tion have  you  given  him?  Do  not  men,  as  of  old, 
refuse  to  believe?  Do  they  not  say,  we  will  not  have 
this  Christ-mind  to  rule  over  us?  Again,  do  we  not 
hear  that  he  is  "making  himself  equal  with  God," 
"Crucify  him"?     Is  not  the  carnal  mind  in  this  hour 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        135 

rising  against  Truth,  and  declaring  for  Life  in  matter 
and  the  reality  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death?  Truth  and 
Love  must  and  will  finally  prevail. 

Had  the  world  accepted  the  teachings  and  atone- 
ment of  Christ  Jesus  and  followed  the  example  of 
Jesus  in  his  demonstrations  of  Mind  over  matter, 
of  Truth  over  error,  and  of  Life  over  death,  it  would 
realize  to-day  that  the  creator  of  "man,  the  divine 
Mind,  could  not  be  the  author  of  this  seemingly  chaotic 
and  turbulent  universe.  This  mental  and  physical  chaos 
has  no  governor  nor  controller,  but  tosses  mortals  about 
with  its  own  erratic,  ungovernable  claim  to  power, 
leaving  them  trembling  with  fear  and  suffering,  sorrow 
and  darkness,  and  mocking  them  when  they  resist  its 
arrogant  claim  to  dominion.  In  that  surpassing  life 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  men  have  seen  the  supreme 
power  of  Love,  a  revelation  of  "Our  Father  which 
art  in  heaven. "  The  relation  of  man  to  his  Maker, 
as  taught  by  Christ  Jesus,  has  exerted  a  deeper  influence 
over  mankind,  and  has  done  more  to  teach  the  power 
of  divine  Mind  and  its  healing  efficacy,  than  all  the 
disquisitions  of  philosophers,  or  exhortations  of 
moralists  the  world  has  ever  known. 

In  this  nineteenth  century  Christian  Science  has 
come  to  us  to  interpret  the  transcendent  spiritual 
ideal,  which  was  expressed  in  the  life  of  Jesus,  our 
Way-shower  to  eternal  Life.  Through  his  words  and 
works,  the  understanding  of  the  supremacy  of  the 
Christ-mind  is  being  taught  and  demonstrated. 

To-day  men  and  women  who  have  been  for  years 
endeavoring  to  fathom  the  hidden  mysteries  of  God; 
who  have  long  hungered  and  thirsted  for  something 
that  would  give  them  their  dominion  over  all  things, 
which  is  their  heritage;  who  have  long  spurned  the 


136       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

empty  forms  and  dead  faith  of  time-honored  creeds 
and  dogmas;  who  have  been  vainly  trying  to  fathom 
the  depths  "of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God,"  which  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
utilized  to  overcome  sin,  sickness,  and  death — these  are 
to-day  resisting  theological  assumptions  and  ecclesias- 
tical pretentions.  They  are  emancipating  themselves 
from  the  tyranny  of  drugs  and  the  so-called  law  of 
physics — from  the  power  of  the  lie,  which  has  deceived 
the  whole  world — and  in  this  glad  hour  they  rejoice  as 
the  voice  of  eternal  Truth  speaks  hope  and  peace  to 
a  sin-sick,  sorrowing  world. 

As  mental  illusions  are  gradually  overcome,  and  as 
the  power  of  Mind  is  understood,  man  will  rise  to  one- 
ness with  the  Father  and  become  master  of  himself 
and  his  environment.  Man  will  respond  to  infinite 
Mind  and  be  thrilled  with  spiritual  power,  the  omni- 
potence of  God,  which  will  overcome  all  evil.  He 
will  cast  out  fear,  will  destroy  the  false  creation,  and 
will  reveal  the  universe  and  man  of  God's  creating. 

In  this  era  of  awakening  consciousness,  the  Christian 
world  believes  that  God  at  one  time  was  heard  through 
mortals,  and  it  denounces  all  who  oppose  this  belief.  God 
spoke  through  Abraham,  and  directed  him  to  lead  the 
people;  but  the  majority  in  Abraham's  day  refused  to 
follow.  God  spoke  through  Moses,  but  Pharaoh  refused 
to  obey  the  voice  of  God  through  Moses.  Samuel, 
Joshua,  Daniel,  and  all  the  prophets  uttered  Truth.  God, 
as  of  yore,  voices  Himself  through  the  consciousness  of 
the  men  and  women  of  the  nineteenth  century  who 
understand  their  relation  to  Him  as  sons  and  daughters. 

As  God  is  ever-present  Truth  and  Light,  the  light 
shines  through  the  darkness  of  human  thought.  Men 
and  women  of  to-day  who  are  sufficiently  spiritual  to 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        137 

discern  Spirit  are  declaring  Truth  and  Love,  and  are 
known  by  "signs  following." 

"Ah!  the  light  of  the  Mind  shines  as  bright  as  of  old, 
A  type  of  the  truly  divine, 
And  its  Word  is  the  same  sacred  Truth  that  was  told 
To  the  seers  of  Israel's  time. 

"  And  man  to-day,  must  he  aimlessly  wander  alone; 
In  darkness  without  and  within, 
Uncertain,  an  outcast  bewildered  to  roam, 
Left  hopelessly  cumbered  with  sin? 

"  Must  he  still  look  for  wonders  through  dead  sages'  eyes, 
Distrusting  the  light  of  his  own, 
Ere  his  Saviour  can  come,  in  true  Fatherly  guise, 
And  take  the  lost  prodigal  home? 

"  Oh!  the  power  of  Mind  awakes  us  to-day, 

And  we  know  the  bright  message  is  true, 
For  it  works  as  of  old,  in  a  marvelous  way, 
Forever  revealing  the  new." 

This  is  an  age  of  unparalleled  development  of  Mind 
and  its  possibilities.  In  the  history  of  man  there  has 
never  been  such  a  universal  awakening.  The  bright- 
ness of  the  light,  which  is  now  shining  in  darkness, 
dazzles  humanity,  whose  eyes  have  so  long  gazed  into 
"chaos  and  old  night."  By  degrees  we  are  turning  our 
faces  to  the  "Sun  of  righteousness,"  and  are  reflecting 
the  smile  of  God.  The  carnal  mind  is  lurid  with  the 
dream  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  The  Christ-mind 
is  as  the  mountain  wind  which  invigorates  and  makes 
alive;  the  carnal  mind  is  as  the  scorching  simoon  to 
blast  and  wither. 

In  this  hour  the  wise  will  not  use  the  word  impossible, 
and  we  beg  to  remind  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  of  Aristotle's  words:    "That  it  is 


138        Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

a  part  of  probabilities  that  many  improbable  things 
will  happen. "  Every  new  discovery,  every  embryo 
conception,  every  advance  in  art  or  science,  every 
attempt  to  utilize  forces,  has  been  rejected  by  the 
incredulous  or  by  those  too  obtuse  to  discern  progress. 

In  this  epoch  of  the  world's  history  everything  in  art 
and  science  is  being  tested ;  and,  thank  God,  religions 
and  old  theology  are  to  be  weighed  in  the  balance. 
They  have  been  found  wanting  in  demonstration  of 
Spirit  and  of  power.  The  truth  that  Jesus  taught  sets 
mortals  free  from  the  bondage  of  sickness  and  death. 

We  are  like  children  learning  to  spell  the  word 
Spirit.  We  are  only  able  to  discern  the  A,  B,  C  of  our 
alphabet ;  but  this  understanding  enables  us  gradually  to 
overcome  sin  and  sickness.  We  shall  go  on,  until, 
like  our  Master,  we  have  overcome  our  last  enemy. 
Not  somewhere  in  the  dim  unknown,  but  here  and 
now  we  can  attain  to  a  faint  realization  of  our  true 
existence.  Day  by  day,  we  are  lifted  to  a  spiritual 
altitude,  where  we  demonstrate  the  power  of  our 
Christ-mind,  and  however  environed,  we  hear  the 
constant  assurance,  "  Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee." 
This  power  of  Mind  is  the  mighty  wave  of  Truth,  and 
is  an  ascending,  endless  force  which  will  sweep  on 
through  human  consciousness,  till  sin  and  death  are 
destroyed  and  man  finds  himself  perfect  and  immortal, 
with  dominion  over  all  things. 

Let  us  grow  into  the  realization  of  the  omnipotence 
of  God  and  our  oneness  with  Him,  until  we  see  only 
shadow  in  the  objects  of  material  sense  called  matter, 
and  behold,  through  the  spiritual  concept,  our  reality 
in  God's  "  image  "  and  "  likeness."  Love  is  the  golden 
chain  that  binds  us  to  the  infinite.  The  harp  of  Mind, 
touched  by  angel  thoughts,  wafts  to  us,  in  the  hush 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        139 

and  silence  of  spiritual  communion,  the  great  anthem 
of  immortality,  o'ersweeps  all  time,  all  tears,  all  fear, 
and  resounds,  like  the  eternal  thunders  of  the  deep, 
this  truth,  eternal  Life  and  Love  are  God  and  man; 
therefore  man  is  immortal. 

SPIRITUAL  SENSES 

There  's  an  eye  beyond  the  human, 

That  beholdeth  only  good, 
That  sees  God's  vast  creation 

And  man's  real  brotherhood; 
That  looks  on  things  supernal, 

Rejoicing  in  the  light 
Which  revealeth  perfect  Wisdom, 

Omnipotence  and  might. 

There  's  an  ear  beyond  the  finite, 

Which  hears  only  words  of  peace, 
Which  lists  to  sweetest  harmonies 

That  never,  never  cease; 
Which  hears  the  constant  melody 

Of  soul-reviving  Life, 
And  nothing  knows  of  finite  sense, 

Of  sin  and  human  strife. 

There  's  a  sense  that  tastes  the  real, 

And  sees  that  God  is  good, 
Whose  delights  are  rare  unfoldings 

Of  the  blessed  Fatherhood; 
Whose  silent  speech,  the  thought  of  God, 

Expressed  in  His  idea, 
Has  sweetest  taste  of  Life  and  Love, 

And  never  taste  of  fear. 

There  's  a  Power,  a  mighty  Presence, 
Which  sustains  immortal  man, 

Which  he  feels  is  Life  eternal, 
For  he  knows  man  ne'er  began. 


140       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Forever  with  the  Father, 

He  feeleth  joy  and  rest, 
Unfoldeth,  as  the  lily 

On  the  water's  peaceful  breast. 

There  's  a  sense  beyond  the  finite, 

Which  inhales  God's  atmosphere, 
And  smells  the  sweet  aroma 

Of  Love's  flowers  ever  near; 
Which  wanders  in  His  garden, 

Drinking  in  the  perfumes  rare, 
And  nothing  knows  of  planting, 

Of  watering,  or  of  care. 

Thus  seeing,  hearing,  taste,  and  smell, 

And  feeling,  are  divine; 
And  prayers,  like  censers'  perfumes  rise, 

"  0  Father,  we  are  Thine." 
Then,  turning  from  the  mortal, 

And  gazing  on  the  goal, 
We  lose  our  finite  sense  of  self, 

And  find  our  sense  in  Soul. 

A.  E.  S. 

DEDICATORY   ADDRESS1 

Thou  in  Thy  mercy  hast  led  forth  the  people  which  Thou  hast 
redeemed:  Thou  hast  guided  them  in  Thy  strength  unto  Thy  holy 
habitation.  .  .  . 

Thou  shalt  bring  them  in,  and  plant  them  in  the  mountain  of  Thine 
inheritance,  in  the  place,  O  Lord,  which  Thou  hast  made  for  Thee  to 
dwell  in,  in  the  Sanctuary,  O  Lord,  which  Thy  hands  have  established. 

Exodus  xv.,  13,  17. 

In  the  sacred  sanctuary  of  Truth  are  voices  of  solemn  import,  but 
we  heed  them  not.  It  is  only  when  the  so-called  pleasures  and  pains 
of  sense  pass  away  in  our  lives,  that  we  find  unquestionable  signs  of 


1  Address  delivered  at  the  dedication  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, New  York  City,  1  West  Ninety-sixth  Street,  November  29,  1903. 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        141 

the  burial  of  error  and  the  resurrection  to  spiritual  life  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  232). 


This  is  a  glad  hour  for  Christian  Scientists,  whose 
hearts  are  overflowing  with  love  and  gratitude  to  God 
for  His  gift  of  this  house,  wherein  we  may  gather  the 
sick,  the  sinful,  and  the  sorrowing,  to  meet  the  ever- 
present  Christ  who  comforts  the  broken  in  heart  and 
heals  all  wounds. 

As  the  children  of  Israel  journeyed  through  the 
wilderness,  as  they  toiled  on,  descending  into  deep 
valleys,  and  ascending  rugged  heights — as  they  halted 
in  dismay  before  the  obstacles  which  obstructed  their 
pathway,  shrinking  in  terror  before  the  wild  beasts 
and  venomous  reptiles  against  whose  deadly  attack 
they  were  compelled  to  wrestle  and  prevail — as  they 
saw  before  them  the  waters  of  the  Red  Sea  through 
which  they  must  pass  to  gain  the  Promised  Land — so 
the  faithful  children  of  Israel  of  the  twentieth  century — 
Christian  Scientists — have  been  led  through  the 
wilderness  of  human  illusions,  the  belief  of  life  in 
matter,  with  its  material  phenomena  of  sin,  suffering, 
disease,  sorrow,  and  death,  to  behold  with  the  eye  of 
faith  and  understanding  the  fulfilment  of  the  promises 
made  by  the  prophets,  and  by  Jesus  the  Christ — that 
we  should  build  goodly  houses  and  dwell  in  them — 
that  "My  people  shall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habitation, 
and  in  sure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet  resting  places" 
(Isa.  xxxii.,  18).  "For  your  Father  knoweth  what 
things  ye  have  need  of,  before  ye  ask  Him"  (Matt. 
vi.,  8).  These  promises  have  been  verified.  God  has 
led  forth  His  people.  He  is  redeeming  us,  who  were 
once  bound  with  fetters  of  personal  sense,  with 
doubts,    fears,    and    limitations;    and    all    the    false 


142       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

thoughts  which,  since  the  material  world  began,  have 
enslaved  humanity. 

We  are  "a  chosen  generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  .  .  . 
a  peculiar  people, "  who  have  been  taught  in  Christian 
Science  to  discern  man  in  the  image  and  likeness  of 
God.  We  have  been  led  to  plant,  in  this  city,  the  seed 
of  Truth  and  Love  in  the  hearts  of  its  people ;  to  awaken 
a  slumbering  faith  in  God  to  an  active  demonstration 
of  His  ever-presence,  and  all-power;  to  quicken  the 
people  with  a  desire  to  redeem  their  God-given  birth- 
right, dominion  over  all  things,  through  spiritual 
understanding  which  is  the  reflection  of  Life,  Truth, 
and  Love — our  Father-Mother  God. 

This  edifice  has  been  built  entirely  by  those  who  have 
been  healed  of  many  diseases  to  which  flesh  is  heir,  both 
physical  and  mental,  through  the  teaching  and  practice 
of  Christian  Science,  as  taught  by  our  beloved  Leader 
and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  Christian  Science,  and  author  of  its  text- 
book, Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures. 
God  has  been  to  this  dear  flock  "a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day 
and  of  fire  by  night. " x 

Divine  Love  has  guided  in  this  demonstration  of  a 
temple  or  church  wherein  the  sick  and  the  sorrowing, 
the  weary  and  sin-laden,  may  find  a  refuge  from  the 
storm  and  tempest  of  human  beliefs;  and  wherein  they 
may  awake  to  the  truth  that  God  forgiveth  all  our 
iniquities,  and  healeth  all  our  diseases. 

Science  and  Health  also  assures  us  that  "Divine 
Love  always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every  human 
need."2  In  proof  of  this,  during  the  four  years  since 
the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  this  church,  November 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  566. 

2  Ibid,  p.  494.  < 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        143 

27,  1899,  every  demand  for  money,  skilled  workmen, 
and  the  best  materials  has  been  readily  met,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  work  on  all  public  and 
private  buildings  under  process  of  erection  during  the 
past  six  months  has  been  frequently  stopped,  owing 
to  the  disturbance  between  capital  and  labor.  In 
spite  of  the  financial  stringency  and  great  depression 
in  business,  at  no  time  has  work  been  suspended  on 
this  building.  The  sums  of  money  contributed  for 
the  erection  of  this  edifice  have  been  voluntary  and 
cheerful  donations  amounting  to  $1,250,000  all  from 
members  of  this  church,  congregation,  and  students  of 
the  New  York  City  Christian  Science  Institute.  We 
have  had  not  one  outside  contributor. 

The  growth  and  development  of  this  church  have 
been  exceedingly  interesting.  It  was  organized  with 
a  membership  of  fourteen.  The  first  year  of  its 
existence  services  were  held  in  a  small  hall  at  the 
corner  of  Forty-seventh  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue, 
over  Caswell  and  Massey's  drug  store.  In  the  year 
following,  the  congregation  removed  to  138  Fifth 
Avenue,  and  occupied  a  hall  over  Hardman  and  Peck's 
piano  rooms.  Outgrowing  the  seating  capacity  of  this 
small  hall,  which  accommodated  only  about  seventy- 
five  persons,  it  removed  to  Hardman  Hall,  corner  of 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Nineteenth  Street.  Still  continuing 
to  demonstrate  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind  healing 
over  all  manner  of  diseases,  we  rapidly  increased  in 
numbers,  until  this  hall  which  seated  two  hundred 
and  fifty  failed  longer  to  accommodate  us,  and  we 
moved  to  Scottish  Rite  Hall,  formerly  known  as  the 
Rutger  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Madison  Avenue 
and  twenty-ninth  Street,  where  we  worshiped  during 
three  years. 


144       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

In  January  of  1896,  the  Trustees  advised  the  pur- 
chase of  All  Souls'  Church  on  Forty-eighth  Street, 
formerly  occupied  by  Rev.  R.  Heber  Newton.  The 
church  was  bought  and  was  put  into  the  hands  of 
competent  architects  and  decorators.  When  it  was 
finished,  there  was  scarcely  anything  left  of  the  original 
building  except  the  four  walls.  Our  congregation  wor- 
shiped in  this  church  for  seven  years,  until  increasing 
numbers  crowded  the  auditorium,  compelling  us  again 
to  enlarge  our  borders. 

Four  years  ago,  this  land  was  purchased  and  Messrs. 
Carrere  and  Hastings  were  chosen  as  the  architects 
to  construct  a  building  with  a  seating  capacity  of  two 
thousand  two  hundred.  This  work  is  at  last  com- 
pleted ;  and  as  we  look  back  to  the  little  hall  where  we 
preached  our  first  sermon  to  an  audience  of  twenty, 
and  recall  the  pine  table  upon  which  was  an  improvised 
desk  made  of  a  dry  goods  box,  and  covered  with  red 
cambric,  we  gratefully  acknowledge  the  guidance  of 
divine  Love  which  supplied  us  with  strength  and 
courage  in  hours  of  trial,  necessity,  persecution,  fear, 
and  discouragement;  which  led  us  outward,  onward, 
upward — ever  shielding  us,  and  furnishing  us  "  a  table 
in  the  wilderness";  causing  waste  places  to  bud  and 
blossom  as  the  rose,  until  we  have  been  brought  into 
this  "house  .  .  .  exceeding  magnifical, "  into  this 
sanctuary  which  God's  hands  have  established.  The 
Scripture  has  been  fulfilled  in  our  midst. 

Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse,  that  there 
may  be  meat  in  Mine  house,  and  prove  Me  now  here- 
with, saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the 
windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that 
there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it  (Malachi 
iii.,  10). 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        145 

You  will  remember  our  first  inception  of  this  temple, 
which  we  intended  should  be  a  substantial  structure 
wherein  we  should  congregate  to  worship  God,  and 
declare  and  demonstrate  the  gospel  of  the  Christ- 
healing  to  all  seekers  after  Truth.  We  estimated 
that  we  could  build  a  structure  worthy  of  the  Cause, 
and  of  this  city,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $300,000. 
Thereupon,  plans  were  made  by  our  architects  and 
submitted  to  the  Trustees  and  the  Building  Com- 
mittee, who  objected  to  brick  and  Indiana  limestone. 
Concord  granite  was  then  suggested.  Upon  getting 
estimates,  we  learned  that  this  material  alone,  when 
set  and  under  roof,  would  cost  $400,000.  But  Con- 
cord granite  was  the  best  we  could  offer;  and  remem- 
bering that  God  was  the  source  of  all  supply,  the 
contract  was  signed.  With  a  building  fund  at  that 
time  of  only  $40,000,  and  hoping  to  be  able  to  sell 
our  church  on  Forty-eighth  Street,  which  cost  us 
about  $108,000,  we  entered  upon  the  work.  Thus 
we  broke  our  first  sense  of  limitation  on  this  building, 
and  put  our  whole  trust  in  Truth.  Every  faithful 
church  member  and  student  reconsecrated  himself 
and  herself  to  God,  and  to  the  work  of  healing  the 
sick  and  the  sinful. 

Then  began  the  development  of  the  plans  by  the 
architects,  whose  next  estimate  was  that  they  could 
give  us  the  building  for  $550,000  with  a  Reading 
Room,  Sunday-school  Rooms,  and  offices  for  prac- 
titioners and  church  officials,  in  the  basement.  The 
Trustees  and  the  Building  Committee  again  found 
objection  to  this,  preferring  to  have  the  Reading 
Room  above  the  Auditorium,  and  our  Sunday- 
school  children  to  be  taught  in  light,  sunny  rooms. 
This  change  necessitated  three  elevators  (a  departure 


146       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

in  church  construction)  and  great  additional  expense, 
bringing  the  cost  up  to  $750,000.  As  the  work  went 
on,  this  amount  was  raised.  Later  it  was  suggested 
that  the  tower  be  entirely  changed.  The  Trustees 
and  the  Building  Committee  again  decided  that  this 
demand  should  be  met,  for  they  now  discerned  that 
this  church  was  being  revealed  by  divine  Love, 
"according  to  the  pattern  shewed  to  thee  [us]  in  the 
mount. "  Accordingly  estimates  were  again  required. 
Realizing  that  of  this  temple  divine  Mind  was  the 
architect,  and  Christ  the  master  Builder,  and  also 
remembering  the  words  of  Haggai  ii.,  7-9 — 

I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

The  silver  is  Mine,  and  the  gold  is  Mine,  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts. 

The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of 
the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts — 

the  order  was  given  to  proceed  with  the  revised  tower, 
and  each  member  resolved  to  return  to  the  outstretched 
hands  of  God  some  of  the  silver  and  gold  with  which 
He  had  so  graciously  blessed  him. 

From  the  initial  development  of  this  temple,  concep- 
tion has  constantly  unfolded,  revealing  greater  beauty 
in  architecture,  decoration,  symmetry,  and  harmony; 
until  the  love  which  has  been  manifested  as  money, 
has  reached  the  sum  of  $1,250,000. 

The  one  Ego,  the  one  Mind  or  Spirit  called  God,  is 
infinite  individuality,  which  supplies  all  form  and  comeli- 
ness and  which  reflects  reality  and  divinity  in  individual 
spiritual  man  and  things  (Science  and  Health,  p.  281). 
Thought  will  finally  be  understood  and  seen  in  all  form, 
substance,  and  color,  but  without  material  accompani- 
ments (Science  and  Health,  p.  310). 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        147 

Beloved  Students  and  Members  of  this  dear  Church : — 
How  often  during  our  united  efforts  to  aid  in  estab- 
lishing Truth  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  to  provide 
a  place  in  which  to  shelter  the  weary  searcher  for 
health  and  peace,  have  we  recalled  the  words  of  our 
Master:  "Fear  not,  little  flock;  for  it  is  your  Father's 
good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom. "  Our  Leader 
says  in  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  174: 

What  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven?  The  abode  of  Spirit, 
the  realm  of  the  real.  No  matter  is  there,  no  night  is 
there — nothing  that  maketh  or  worketh  a  lie.  Is  this 
kingdom    afar   off?     No:   it    is   ever-present   here.  .  .  . 

The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  the  reign  of  divine  Science: 
it  is  a  mental  state.  Jesus  said  it  is  within  you,  and 
taught  us  to  pray,  "Thy  kingdom  come. " 

You  have  planted  your  feet  on  the  eternal  rock, 
Christ,  and  have  held  the  banner  of  Christian  Science 
above  the  aim  of  the  archer.  You  have  girded  your 
armor  more  securely  in  hours  of  severe  tests  of  your 
faith  and  understanding;  and  the  hungry  and  thirsty 
wanderers  in  the  desert  of  human  belief,  to  whom  you 
have  given  the  bread  and  the  water  of  life,  now  unite 
with  you  in  gratitude  to  God  for  the  precious  gift  of 
Christian  Science,  and  for  this  temple,  in  which  to 
continue  to  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
and  to  demonstrate  the  healing  power  of  Truth  and 
Love. 

Beloved  brethren,  continue  your  Christly  mission, 
bring  in  the  sick,  the  sinning,  and  the  sorrowing,  and 
prove  to  them  that  Christ  heals  to-day,  as  effectually 
as  he  did  centuries  ago. 

Our  revered  Leader  says  in  Science  and  Health, 
page  54:— "All  must  sooner  or  later  plant  themselves 


148       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

in  Christ,  the  true  idea  of  God."  And  again,  page 
222:  "We  must  destroy  the  false  belief  that  life  and 
intelligence  are  in  matter,  and  plant  ourselves .  upon 
what  is  pure  and  perfect. " 

Thou  in  Thy  mercy  hast  led  forth  the  people  which 
Thou  hast  redeemed:  Thou  hast  guided  them  in  Thy 
strength  unto  Thy  holy  habitation. 

Thou  shalt  bring  them  in,  and  plant  them  in  the  mountain 
of  Thine  inheritance,  in  the  place,  O  Lord,  which  Thou 
hast  made  for  Thee  to  dwell  in,  in  the  Sanctuary,  O  Lord, 
which  Thy  hands  have  established  (Exodus  xv.,  13,  17). 

The  promise  is  that  God  will  "bring  them  in,  and 
plant  them  in  the  mountain"  of  His  inheritance. 
Let  us  plant  our  feet  more  firmly  in  Christ.  Love 
is  the  victor  over  all  sin,  disease,  and  death.  This 
church  owes  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  wise  and 
efficient  Board  of  Trustees,  some  of  whom  have  been 
fifteen  and  some  twenty  years  in  office.  Since  entering 
upon  their  sacred  duties,  they  have  consecrated  their 
ability,  their  time,  and  their  money  to  the  service  of 
God,  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and  to  the 
interests  of  this  church.  They  are  assured  of  the 
heartfelt  appreciation  of  the  members  of  this  body ; 
and  they  must  have  heard  the  voice  of  the  invisible 
Christ,  whispering,  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful 
servant. "  Our  faithful  treasurer,  Mr.  Joseph  B. 
Whitney,  through  whose  hands  this  large  amount  of 
money  has  passed,  has  served  in  this  capacity  for 
eleven  years.  During  all  these  years  he  has  given  an 
account  of  every  penny  entrusted  to  his  charge.  The 
watchful  care,  sound  judgment,  and  high  integrity  of 
the  Building  Committee,  are  evidenced  in  the  success 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        149 

of  their  labors.  The  members  of  this  church  appreciate 
the  faithful  work  that  has  been  performed  by  our 
ushers,  during  the  past  years,  in  seating  the  large 
audiences  which  have  attended  our  services.  The 
position  is  an  arduous  one,  requiring  wisdom,  patience, 
and  prompt  action.  The  church  is  gratefully  mindful 
of  the  satisfactory  services  rendered  by  this  competent 
corps,  upon  whom  it  depends  for  seating  the  people. 

The  beauty  of  our  interior  decoration  we  owe  to  one 
of  our  young  members,  Mr.  Charles  H.  Cottrell,  who 
has  worked  most  faithfully  and  intelligently  with  our 
able  architects,  Messrs.  Carrere  and  Hastings.  Led 
by  divine  Love,  we  have  all  labored  toward  the  ful- 
filment of  this  work,  as  we  held  the  sword  in  one  hand 
and  the  trowel  in  the  other. 

Our  happy  choir,  the  sweet  singers  of  Israel,  have 
oft  inspired  us  with  hope  and  courage,  until  we  joined 
with  them  in  the  Hallelujah  Chorus,  and  forgot  all 
care,  and  knew  that  our  burden  was  light. 

You  all  remember  how  often  we  have  been  refreshed 
by  the  dear  little  Sunday-school  children,  whose  sweet, 
innocent  faces  were  illumined  with  the  light  of  Love, 
as  our  Leader's  words,  "  Shepherd,  show  me  how  to  go  " ' 
moved  their  hearts  and  voices  into  sweetest  song.  As 
their  affections  were  inspired  by  the  power  of  those 
love-filled  words,  many  were  healed,  and  have  testified 
to  this  fact.  These  little  ones  are  indeed  our  Leader's 
lambs.     These    are  the  words  of  one  of  their  songs: 

"  Love  doth  bid  us  shine  for  our  Leader  dear, 
Who  as  God's  reflector,  makes  our  way  so  clear. 
She  has  taught  us  how  to  love,  taught  us  how  to  shine, 
You  in  your  small  corner,  and  I  in  mine." 

*  Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  397. 


150       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 
TRIBUTE 

We  children  of  a  larger  growth  unite  with  the  little 
ones  in  chanting  anthems  to  God  for  her  who  has 
taught  us  how  to  love;  how  to  find  our  relation  to  Him, 
whose  omnipotence  we  may  reflect,  until  the  potency 
of  Love  casts  out  all  sin  and  sickness,  and  reveals  man 
as  the  perfect  idea  of  a  perfect  God. 

During  nineteen  years,  this  beloved  Leader  and 
Teacher,  the  Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  has  watched 
with  unfailing  love,  tireless  patience,  sublime  faith  and 
hope  that  I,  as  her  student,  whom  she  appointed  to 
this  work,  might  rise  from  the  human  into  the  divine 
consciousness,  and  possess  the  Mind  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus,  which  heals  the  sick ;  reforms,  transforms, 
and  redeems  sick,  sinning,  and  suffering  humanity. 
Her  wisdom  has  guided  this  people,  who  have  followed 
her  teachings,  and  have  striven  to  emulate  her  Christly 
selflessness,  meekness,  and  tender  love.  Her  firm 
hand-clasp  with  the  infinite,  inspired  conception  which 
revealed  this  temple,  or  church  militant;  type  and 
symbol  of  the  Church  Triumphant. 

Her  precious  Mother-love  has  cheered  and  revived 
our  faltering  faith  and  courage,  during  seventeen  years, 
since  we  came  to  this  city  (in  1886)  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christian  Science,  and  to  heal  the  sick  by  her 
metaphysical  method.  It  was  the  inspiration  of  her 
autograph  letter  to  me  which  was  sent  to  be  placed 
in  the  corner-stone  that  has  quickened  my  endeavor 
when  beset  by  fearful  odds,  and  assailed  by  foes  and 
fears  within  and  without.  Hers  were  the  inspiring 
words  which  enabled  us  to  finish  this  church,  which 
we  now  offer  as  a  tribute  of  love  and  gratitude  to  our 
Leader  and  Teacher,  the  Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        151 

Discoverer  and  Founder,  of  Christian  Science,  and 
author  of  its  text-book  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures. 

In  the  concluding  words  of  that  letter,  "I  leave 
my  name  with  thine  in  unity  and  love,"1  we  have  the 
promise  of  her  continued  guidance,  as  we  rise  from 
height  to  height  of  health,  happiness,  and  holiness. 

While  we  have  come  to  what  seems  to  be  a  final 
demonstration  of  a  resting-place  by  the  way,  yet  we 
must  rise  to  higher  realization  of  the  limitless  affluence 
of  our  Father-Mother  God — and  reveal  the  Church 
Triumphant. 

"From  glory  unto  glory, "  with  no  limit  and  no  veil, 
With  wings  that  cannot  weary  and  hearts  that  cannot  fail ; 
Within,  without,  no  hindrance,  no  barrier  as  we  soar; 
And  never  interruption  to  the  endless  "more  and  more!"2 

AFTERGLOW 

Since  the  demonstration  of  the  church  militant,  or 
temple  which  Mrs.  Eddy  describes  as  "a  material 
superstructure,  where  mortals  congregate  for  worship" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  595),  we  have  been  called  by 
our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  "to  build  higher"  to  "begin 
on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is 
no  other"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  Jan.  16,  1909), 
which  will  reveal  the  Church  Triumphant  which  is  the 
temple  of  the  living  God,  the  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  Mind,  "the  idea  of  Life,  substance, 
and  intelligence;  the  superstructure  of  Truth;  the 
shrine  of  Love"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  595). 

In  regard  to  emergence  from  material  organization 

1  See  letter,  pages  34,  529. 

2  Frances  Ridley  Havergal. 


152       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

to  a  higher  spiritual  consciousness,  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
Retrospection  and  Introspection,  page  45 : 

Despite  the  prosperity  of  my  church,  it  was  learned  that 
material  organization  has  its  value  and  peril,  and  that  organ- 
ization is  requisite  only  in  the  earliest  periods  in  Christian 
history.  After  this  material  form  of  cohesion  and  fellow- 
ship has  accomplished  its  end,  continued  organization 
retards  spiritual  growth,  and  should  be  laid  off, — even  as 
the  corporeal  organization  deemed  requisite  in  the  first 
stages  of  mortal  existence  is  finally  laid  off,  in  order  to  gain 
spiritual  freedom  and  supremacy. 

From  careful  observation  and  experience  came  my  clue 
to  the  uses  and  abuses  of  organization. 

Upon  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of  the  new  edifice  of  First  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  November  29,  1903,  the  following 
letter  was  received  by  the  Church  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  was  read  at 
each  service. — Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.,  xxi,  p.  585. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 

Beloved  Brethren: — Carlyle  writes,  "Give  a  thing  time; 
if  it  succeeds,  it  is  a  right  thing."  Here  I  aver  that  you 
have  grasped  time  and  labor — taking  the  first  by  the  fore- 
lock, and  the  last  by  love.  In  this  lofty  temple,  dedicated 
to  God  and  humanity,  may  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  be 
fulfilled:  "Fear  not,  for  I  have  called  thee  by  thy  name; 
thou  art  Mine."  Within  its  sacred  walls  may  song  and 
sermon  generate  only  such  as  Christianity  writes  in  broad 
facts  over  great  continents — sermons  that  fell  forests  and 
remove  mountains — songs  of  joy  and  gladness. 

The  letter  of  your  work  dies,  as  do  all  things  material, 
but  the  spirit  thereof  is  immortal.  Remember  that  a 
temple  but  foreshadows  the  idea  of  God — the  "house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens, "  while  a  silent 
grand  man  or  woman  healing  sickness  and  destroying  sin 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        153 

builds  a  heaven-reacher.  Only  that  group  of  men  and 
women  gain  greatness  who  gain  themselves,  in  a  complete 
subordination  of  self. 

The  tender  memorial  engraven  on  your  grand  edifice 
stands  for  human  self  lost  in  divine  light — melted  into 
the  radiance  of  His  likeness:  it  stands  for  meekness  and 
might,  for  Truth  as  attested  by  the  Founder  of  your 
denomination,  and  emblazoned  on  the  fair  escutcheon  of 

your  church. 

Lovingly  yours  in  Christ, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H.,     Mary  BAKER  G.  EDDY. 

November  28,  1903. 

Thanksgiving  Testimony1 

If  I  were  to  attempt  to  express  my  thanks  and 
gratitude  to  our  Father-Mother  God  for  the  manifold 
blessings  which  have  come  to  me  during  the  year, 
language  would  fail  to  impart  them.  If  I  should 
endeavor  to  convey  my  gratitude  and  love  to  my 
beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy,  for  her 
loving  watch-care,  wise  counsel,  and  holy  example, 
words  would  again  prove  inadequate.  For  twenty- 
three  years  I  have  been  journeying  through  the  wilder- 
ness of  sense  towards  the  understanding  of  Soul,  ever 
listening  for  the  voice  of  my  revered  Leader  as  she 
bids  me  follow  Christ,  and  leads  me  in  the  way  which 
reveals  eternal  Life. 

This  glad  occasion  on  which  we  are  called  to  unite 
in  the  one  Mind,  to  give  thanks  for  Christ's  dear  love, 
reminds  me  of  the  Thanksgiving  days  of  yore,  when 
families  gathered  in  the  old  home  from  far  and  near  to 
sit  at  a  table  spread  by  love.     That  table  was  bounti- 

1  Extemporaneous  testimony  given  in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  November,  1908,  and  taken 
down  by  a  stenographer  without  the  author's  knowledge. 


154       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

fully  supplied  with  that  which  ministered  to  the 
material  appetite  and  satisfied  the  demands  of  the 
mortal  man.  To-day  we  are  called  to  unite  with  one 
voice  in  the  grand  Thanksgiving  Anthem,  which  all 
Christians  will  sing,  in  response  to  the  request  of  the 
President  of  our  United  States. 

We,  as  Christian  Scientists,  convene  to  partake  of 
the  bread  that  cometh  down  from  heaven,  and  to 
drink  of  the  cup  of  our  Lord,  whom  we  meet  in  this 
bright  morning  hour.  Love  has  prepared  a  table  in 
the  wilderness,  whose  arid  wastes  are  (through  the 
reflection  of  Truth  and  Love  operating  in  human 
hearts)  beginning  to  bud  and  blossom  as  Sharon's 
rose.  When,  with  his  disciples  of  yore,  Christ  asked: 
"Children,  have  ye  any  meat?"  To-day  at  his  second 
appearing,  he  again  asks:  "  Children,  have  ye  any 
meat?"  Have  ye  here  any  meat?  Do  we  understand 
that  Mind  is  substance,  and  that  there  is  but  one  Mind, 
one  substance — God — whose  children  we  are?  Are  we 
striving  to  gain  the  Mind  of  Christ,  and  demonstrating 
Truth  and  Love  by  healing  the  sick  and  aiding  the 
sinner  to  reform?  Are  we  endeavoring  to  behold 
God's  image  and  likeness  in  our  brother  and  sister? 
Does  our  reflection  of  Love  unite  us  all  in  the  unity  of 
good  and  the  bonds  of  love?  Are  we  casting  out 
error  in  ourselves  and  aiding  to  cast  it  out  of  others, 
thus  rendering  evil  powerless  to  harm,  or  to  separate 
us  from  Christ  and  from  each  other  as  members  of  his 
body?  Are  we  partaking  of  the  meat  which  our 
Master  declared  sustained  him,  when  he  said,  "I  have 
meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of, "  and  again,  "  he 
that  eateth  of  this  bread  shall  live  forever"?  This  is 
the  substance  of  good,  and  are  we  realizing  its  satis- 
fying, supporting  presence? 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses        155 

As  we  are  called  to  this  feast  of  Soul,  where  our 
"bread  .  .  .  cometh  down  from  heaven,"  are  we 
breaking  it  and  giving  it  to  each  other?  Does  Love 
move  our  thought  (spiritual  power)  to  convey  this 
bread  to  the  hungry,  and  are  we  joyfully  passing  the 
cup  of  cold  water  to  each  other  and  to  all  who  thirst 
for  living  water?  Does  Love  find  in  each  of  us  an 
avenue  through  which  She  can  reflect  Her  presence, 
and  satisfy  the  immortal  cravings  of  those  who  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness?  We  give  thanks,  and 
meekly  bow  before  the  dear  Christ,  whose  second  ap- 
pearing is  to-day  joyfully  recognized  by  thousands 
who  no  longer  sing  the  Lord's  song  in  minor  key,  but 
who  chant,  with  the  invisible  choir,  the  song  of  peace 
on  earth,  health,  wholeness,  and  immortality. 

The  definition  of  "Church"  is  found  on  page  583, 
of  Science  and  Health: 

The  Church  is  that  institution,  which  affords  proof  of  its 
utility  and  is  found  elevating  the  race,  rousing  the  dormant 
understanding  from  material  beliefs  to  the  apprehension  of 
spiritual  ideas  and  the  demonstration  of  divine  Science, 
thereby  casting  out  devils,  or  error,  and  healing  the  sick. 

This  church  represents  a  happy  united  family,  each 
member  of  which  is  striving  to  fulfil  the  law  of  Love. 
As  we  sit  together  at  the  Thanksgiving  table  of  our 
Lord,  let  us  re-consecrate  ourselves  to  aid  our  dear 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  establishing  the  kingdom  of 
God  in  the  hearts  of  men.  This  spiritual  feast  will  not 
be  followed  by  mesmeric  stupor,  nor  indigestion,  which 
results  from  feeding  the  material  senses,  but  we  shall 
rise  to  give  thanks  for  increased  strength  and  peace. 
Paul  tells  us  that  the  Spirit  quickens  these  mortal 
bodies.     Surely  we  are  learning  that  "Man  shall  not 


156       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

live  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth 
out  of  the  mouth  of  God. " 

Are  we  giving  thanks  for  God's  grace  which  has 
sustained  us  during  the  past  year,  and  enabled  us  to 
realize  that  the  severance  of  fleshly  ties  unites  us 
more  tenderly  to  the  real?  Are  we  grateful  for 
the  Truth  that  shattered  our  idols,  and  revealed 
the  substance-idea — the  living,  loving  child  of  God — 
who  never  lived  in  matter,  never  suffered  nor  died? 
Are  we  grateful  for  Christian  Science,  which  has  taught 
us  how  God  feeds  us  as  He  feeds  the  birds  of  the  air — 
how  He  clothes  us  as  He  clothes  the  lilies?  Are  we 
grateful  for  our  homes — each  a  type  of  one  of  the 
many  mansions  which  Jesus  said  he  was  going  to 
prepare  for  his  followers? 

Christ  has  come  again,  as  he  promised,  and  is  leading 
us  to  the  place  which  he  has  prepared  for  us — spiritual 
consciousness. 

We  are  grateful  to  the  dear  Mother  Church — the 
Vine,  of  which  we  are  a  branch,  and  for  all  who  have 
ministered  to  the  support  of  this  church — the  Trustees, 
ushers,  Sunday-school  teachers,  organist,  singers, 
practitioners  who  are  healing  the  sick  and  awaking 
the  sinner,  and  church  members  whose  service  of 
time  and  money  has  been  a  work  of  love. 

To  Christian  Scientists,  this  Thanksgiving  day 
service  is  the  spiritual  meeting  with  Christ.  Our 
revered  Leader  tells  us  in  Science  and  Health,  page 
35:  "Our  church  is  built  on  the  divine  Principle, 
Love."  We  partake  of  the  bread  and  wine  which 
cometh  down  from  heaven,  of  which,  if  a  man  eat  and 
drink,  he  shall  never  die.  The  cup  must  be  filled  with 
love,  and  the  law  of  Love  must  be  fulfilled.  Let  us 
kiss  the  cross,  drink  the  contents  of  the  cup  filled  with 


Sermons  and  Public  Addresses       157 

royal  wine,  the  inspiration  of  Love,  and  eat  of  the 
bread,  Truth,  until  our  immortal  cravings  are  satisfied, 
and  we  awake  in  the  likeness  of  God. 

Thanksgiving,  and  glory,  and  honor  to  God  who 
gave  us  being,  and  to  Christ  who  demonstrated  the 
way  to  eternal  Life.  Honor  and  praise  to  our  revered 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  for  her  priceless  gift  to  the  world — 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures — 
which  points  the  way  to  the  "Home,  Sweet  Home" 
of  Soul — Mother,  home,  and  heaven. 


To  Thy  table  richly  laden, 

Mother  mine, 

T  v  ff 
I  have  heard  the  invitation, 

Come  and  dine! 


Feed  Thou  my  immortal  cravings, 

Father  mine, 
Break  for  me  the  bread  of  heaven, 

Love  divine. 
Let  Thy  substance  full  and  deep 
O'er  my  famished  heartstrings  sweep, 
'Til  my  hunger  Thou  dost  feed 
With  the  living  bread  I  need. 


From  Thy  table  richly  laden, 

Mother  mine, 
With  th'  eternal  bread  of  God 

And  royal  wine, 
Let  me  look  to  Thee  alone, 
Give  me  bread,  remove  the  stone, 
Thus  by  Thee,  O  Father,  fed, 
Give  me  ever  substance-bread. 


158       Sermons  and  Public  Addresses 

Living,  pure,  reviving  waters, 

Mother  mine, 
Flow  from  Thee,  Thou  source  immortal, 

Mind  divine. 
Can  I  thirst  when  Thou  art  near, 
Can  I  hunger,  can  I  fear? 
No!  I  find  my  all  in  Thee, 
And  Thy  love  hath  made  me  free. 

. 
So  I,  joyous,  daily  journey, 

On  the  Way, 
Watch,  and  work,  and  wait,  and  sing, 

And  love  and  pray. 
By  Thine  affluence  daily  fed, 
By  Thy  love-light  ever  led, 
I  shall  safe  in  Thee  abide, 
Rest  in  Thee — be  satisfied. 

A.  E.  S. 


. 

CHAPTER  III 
LETTERS  TO  MRS.  EDDY 

And  the  captain  of  the  Lord's  host  said  unto  Joshua,  Loose  thy  shoe 
from  off  thy  foot;  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest  is  holy.  And 
Joshua  did  so. — Joshua  v.,  15. 

Again,  without  a  correct  sense  of  its  highest  visible  idea,  we  can  never 
understand  the  divine  Principle. — Science  and  Health,  p.  560. 

THE  CANARY'S  GREETING  TO  MOTHER1 

If  a  little  bird  may  say 
What  is  in  his  heart  to-day, 
I  would  say,  ' '  a  song  of  glee 
Motherhood  of  God  for  thee." 

If  you  ask  "Why  come  you  here?" 
I  will  say,  "  Your  home  to  cheer, 
Life,  Love,  Truth,  the  whole  day  long 
Is  the  burden  of  my  song." 

At  the  early  morning  dawn 
I  will  sing  "Our  Christ  is  born." 
And  when  dawn  fades  from  our  sight, 
I  will  sing  "Let  there  be  light." 

1  Verses  sent  with  caged  canary  to  Mrs.  Eddy. 

159 


160  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy- 

As  the  light  appears  to  men 
I  will  sing  "Amen!  Amen!" 
When  the  full-orbed  sun  appears 
I  will  sing  "Love  cheers!  Love  cheers!" 

And  as  Love  appears  to  me 
I  will  sing,  "Truth  sets  me  free!" 
Loud  I  '11  sing,  "God  is  the  power 
Moving  me  from  hour  to  hour. " 

If  you  ask  "Who  told  you  so?" 
I  will  sing,  "  You  know,  you  know 
Who  has  taught  the  world  to  see 
God's  idea,  in  man  and  me, 

"Turned  us  from  the  finite  sense 
To  the  infinite  immense, 
From  the  human  flesh- veiled  view, 
To  the  spiritual  and  true." 

I  will  sing  a  tend'rer  song 
And  its  glad  refrain  prolong, 
I  will  trill,  Life,  Truth,  and  Love, 
Echoing  the  choirs  above. 

As  the  sun  sinks  in  the  West 
I  will  sing  "Beloved,  rest." 
When  the  twilight  hour  draws  near 
I  will  softly  sing  "Good  cheer." 

And  when  shadows  chase  the  light 
I  will  sing  "There is  no  night," 
Then  will  darkness  flee  away 
As  I  sing  "Behold  God's  day." 

If  I  listen,  I  shall  hear, 

"  Birdie,  you  are  God's  idea, 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  161 

Sent  to  chant  your  merry  lay 
Lovingly  to  cheer  my  way." 

Then  how  blithely  I  will  sing 
Praises  to  our  Saviour  King, 
Join  with  you  the  matin  song, 
Sing  with  you  the  whole  day  long — 
"  God  is  Love,  and  God  is  good, 
Birdie,  and  God's  motherhood. " 
Hymn  of  gratitude  repeat 
As  I  rest  in  Love's  retreat. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


THE  REPLY 

I  did  send  your  birdie  back, 

But  your  song  stayed  in  my  heart, 

To  repeat  its  strain  above, 

Wakened  by  your  friendly  art. 

I  have  loved  and  lost — Ah !  What — 

Many  a  joy,  but  once  a  bird 
Who  did  love  me — and  he  died 

Of  my  sorrow  sad,  unheard. 

I  have  never  told  my  grief, 

Yet  can  never  love  another, 
But  your  bird-prayer  God  may  grant 

Who  has  given  you  bird  and  "Mother." 

So  sweet  nestling  sing  to  her 

Whom  I  love,  and  must  not  lose, 

Tell  her  I  have  kept  her  heart, 
Ask  her  if  I  may  not  choose? 

Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 


1 62  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

THE  CAGED  CANARY.     A  GIFT  SENT  TO 
MRS.  EDDY 

July  10,  1888. 

Precious  Mother: — 

The  bird  returned  yesterday,  with  the  beautiful 
booklet — your  sweet  poem,  which  to  me,  is  a  title  to  a 
mansion  in  my  Father's  house,  a  deed  to  my  home  in 
the  City  of  our  God,  when  "  the  blast  of  the  terrible 
ones"  is  hushed — "my  strong  habitation,  whereunto 
I  may  continually  resort"  (Ps.  lxxi.,  3) — an  eternal 
promise  that  my  prayer  "Set  me  as  a  seal  upon  thine 
heart,  as  a  seal  upon  thine  arm"  (Canticles  viii.,  6) 
is  answered,  in  the  promise  "Behold,  I  have  graven 
thee  upon   the  palms   of  my  hands"  (Isa.  xlix.,  16). 

The  canary  seems  to  regret,  for  he  does  not  sing,  that 
his  desire  to  make  you  happy  opened  and  caused  to 
bleed  anew  an  old  wound.  He  has  told  me  that  you 
have  "kept  my  heart. "  It  has  been  yours  since  I  sat 
at  the  feet  of  Christ  and  heard,  "thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart. "  May  its  medita- 
tions and  the  words  of  my  mouth  be  always  accept- 
able in  thy  sight.  "Let  my  heart  be  sound  in  Thy 
statutes"  (Ps.  cxix.,  80).  "Lest  any  hurt  it.  .  .  . 
keep  it  night  and  day"  (Isa.  xxvii.,  3).  Keep  it,  Holy 
One.  I  have  your  promise  that  you  will,  and  peace 
descends  upon  me  like  showers  that  water  the  parched 
earth. 

I  do  not  longer  fear  that  the  misrepresentations  of 
the  foe  will  separate  me  from  you.  The  bird  performed 
its  dual  mission.  He  carried  the  Te  Deum  of  Love 
to  you,  and  to-night  brought  back  to  me  your  message. 
He  will  be  to  me  a  most  precious  symbol,  and  your 
poem  will  "Hold  up  my  goings  in  Thy  paths,  that  my 
footsteps  slip  not"  (Ps.  xvii.,  5),  and  "when  my  heart 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  163 

is  overwhelmed"  its  blessed  inspiration  will  "lead  me 
to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I"  (Ps.  lxi.,  2). 

Ever  in  tender  devotion  and  obedient  love,  I  am, 

Your  child, 

Augusta. 

THE  DREAM 

Winter  Hill  Mass.,  July  10,  1895. 
My  precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

I  received  these  two  letters  some  days  ago,  which 
I  enclose  to  you.  Deception  and  falsity  have  at  last 
been  uncovered  in  this  student.  My  prayers,  tears 
and  advice,  my  watchful  care  and  forbearance  during 
these  attacks  of  mental  aberration,  idiosyncrasies  and 
weakness — which  according  to  so-called  material  law 
were  inherited  from  a  mother  who  had  been  mentally 
unbalanced  for  seven  years  before  this  patient's  birth, 
and  eight  years  after — all  my  efforts  seemed  of  no 
avail.  The  fear  that  his  acts  would  injure  the  Cause — 
for  he  is  quite  irresponsible  when  these  attacks  are 
upon  him — has  caused  me  intense  suffering.  One 
night  I  felt  that  I  could  not  endure  another  hour  of 
such  mental  agony.  At  this  point  I  laid  my  head  upon 
my  pillow  and  went  to  sleep  with  this  prayer :  ' '  Father- 
Mother  God,  I  can  do  no  more  for  this  student.  Thou 
knowest  that  I  have  tried  to  be  faithful  and  true 
according  to  my  understanding.  I  leave  all  with  Thee. 
I  turn  from  this  dream  forever.  Do  with  me  as  Thou 
wilt,  only  let  Spirit  be  manifest  in  me  as  I  kiss  the  rod 
and  carry  the  cross. "     Then  I  dreamed  this : 

That  you  had  sent  for  me.  I  was  shown  into  a  large 
square  room  with  one  window,  and  one  door  which 
opened  on  a  lawn.     In  the  room  was  a  very  large  bed. 


1 64  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

You  approached  me,  and  smiling,  whispered,  "Rest, 
dear,  rest. "  You  then  glided  to  the  bed  and  lay  down 
on  the  edge.  I  followed  and  laid  myself  on  the  other 
side.  As  I  lay  there  I  thought  it  was  night  and  I  said 
to  myself,  how  quiet  she  is !  Oh,  how  sweet  and  peace- 
ful to  be  with  her ;  I  wonder  what  she  wants  me  to  do ! 
I  must  not  sleep;  when  she  awakes  she  will  tell  me. 
Then  it  seemed  to  be  morning. 

You  quietly  arose  and  went  to  a  dressing-table  and 
began  to  arrange  your  hair.  I  said,  "Oh !  Mother  dear, 
may  I  dress  it?"  You  immediately  sat  down  and 
whispered,  "Yes,  dear."  I  carefully  arranged  it, 
feeling  so  happy  that  I  was  permitted  to  do  it.  I 
exclaimed,  "Oh,  your  hair  is  so  lovely,  dear  Mother!" 
Then  you  arose  and  went  to  the  door.  Turning  to 
me  you  again  whispered,  "Come."  I  said,  "I 
must  dress  my  hair,"  and  I  quickly  pinned  it  up  and 
went  after  you.  You  were  away  beyond,  tripping 
like  a  fairy  over  a  beautiful  green  plateau  which  seemed 
to  extend  as  far  as  I  could  see,  with  nothing  to  ob- 
struct the  view.  I  said  to  myself,  "Oh,  I  must  hurry; 
she  is  so  light  and  walks  so  fast,  and  I  am  so  slow  and 
heavy,  I  must  run  faster."  And  I  increased  my 
efforts,  calling  on  God  to  help  me  to  follow,  when  you 
turned  and  smiled  and  waited  for  me. 

As  I  reached  you,  you  put  your  arm  around  my 
waist  and  I  put  mine  around  yours,  and  like  two 
school  girls  we  walked  on  together,  so  happy,  but  not 
a  word  was  spoken.  When  you  reached  what  seemed 
to  be  the  edge  of  this  plateau,  there  was  a  steep  descent, 
and  you  continued  right  on  down  it  till,  when  at  its 
foot,  I  found  we  were  on  a  wide,  smooth,  sandy  beach. 
You  walked  right  into  the  water  and  I  said,  "How 
delicious  the  water  is  to  my  feet!"     You  still  went  on, 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  165 

farther  in  where  the  water  was  quite  deep,  and  I  said, 
"Oh!  it  is  cold,  is  it  not,  Mother?"  You  said  nothing, 
but  kept  on  walking  into  deeper  water  until  I  said, 
"  It  is  cold,  but  I  am  not  afraid  when  God  and  Mother 
are  with  me."  Then  I  seemed  to  lose  the  sense  of  a 
river  bed,  and  the  thought  that  I  was  not  touching 
bottom  with  my  feet  gave  me  a  little  shudder,  but 
I  said:  "I  will  follow  where  you  lead."  Instantly 
I  felt  a  solid  substance  under  my  feet.  I  said,  "This 
seems  like  a  large  rock. "  I  saw  we  were  in  the  middle 
of  an  immense  lake — quiet,  and  clear  as  crystal — and 
we  slipped  on  the  rock  for  a  moment,  still  with  our 
arms  around  each  other.  Then  we  turned  towards 
the  shore,  walked  on  the  water,  and  ascended  the 
hill,  over  the  same  green  plateau,  and  entered  the 
same  room  we  had  left.  You  had  not  spoken  a  word. 
The  room  was  filled  with  people  waiting  for  you,  and 
many  were  outside.  Some  one  brought  in  a  tray  with 
food,  but  you  turned  away  to  talk  to  the  people,  and 
I  also  refused  to  eat.  I  then  said,  "  I  wonder  what  she 
wants  me  to  do.  I  must  not  interrupt  her,  she  is  feed- 
ing the  truth  to  so  many  people.  I  will  go  to  God  and 
He  will  tell  me."  Then  I  awoke.  The  sun  had  risen; 
it  was  early  morning  and  all  was  quiet  in  my  room. 
I  said,  "  God  will  tell  me  what  I  am  to  do;  "  for  strength 
and  peace  and  joy  assured  me  that  I  had  been  walking 
with  an  angel.     I  then  arose,  and  took  up  my  Bible. 

My  eyes  rested  on  the  sixth  verse  of  the  sixth  chapter 
of  Isaiah,  which  I  read  to  the  close  of  the  chapter. 
Since  then  I  have  been  seeing  wondrous  things  out  of 
God's  law.  I  have  no  fear  which  Love  will  not  cast 
out.  I  have  always,  when  recalling  that  dream,  felt 
the  impression  of  that  rock  under  my  feet  as  sensibly 
as  when  in  my  night  vision. 


1 66  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

I  shall  return  to  my  field  of  love's  labor  after  a  season 
of  constant  prayer  and  self-examination,  study  and 
work,  to  renew  my  efforts  to  destroy  in  self  all  that  is 
unlike  Christ,  and  with  sufficient  divine  love  and 
compassion  to  suffer  all  things,  hope  all  things,  endure 
all  things.  I  shall  not  open  my  lips  but  to  express 
love  and  bless  all.  Error  must  destroy  itself.  I  have 
done  my  work  as  far  as  it  is  a  teacher's  duty  to  do. 
God  will  do  the  work  in  this  student's  life  when  he 
yields  his  human  will  to  the  will  of  God. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
October  28,  1899. 

To  our  beloved  Leader  and  Mother,  who  first  taught 
us  to  lisp  the  language  of  Spirit,  and  led  us  to 
apprehend  the  power  of  infinite  Love. z 

In  this  hour  of  the  crucial  conflict  of  Truth  against 
all  that  opposes  its  Divine  manifestation,  we  desire  to 
express  our  continued,  unfaltering,  and  devoted  loyalty, 
and  our  deep  appreciation  of  your  wise,  dauntless,  and 
perfect  leadership. 

Our  gratitude  is  voiceless,  as  we  recall  your  tender 
Mother-love,  which  has  so  patiently  borne  all  the 
assaults  of  evil,  that  your  faithful  children  may  follow 
you  "past  the  hill-crest,  home  unto  the  Plains  of 
Peace!" 

We  wish  to  assure  you  that  all  that  has  been  said  or 
written  by  revilers,  whisperers,  or  false  witnesses,  the 
mouthpieces  of  anti-Christ,  but  strengthens  our  faith 
and  confidence  in  the  infallible  Truth,  and  deepens  our 
love  for  you. 

1  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  ii.,  p.  156. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  167 

Day  by  day  we  sing,  with  greater  realization,  your 
own  words,  which  now  come  to  us  with  the  force  of  an 
oath  of  allegiance: 

"  I  will  follow  and  rejoice 
All  the  rugged  way. " 

Your  loving  children, 

First  Reader,  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 
Second  Reader,  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  C.S. 
Trustees; 

Mrs.  Susanne  Schooley  Thomas, 
George  W.  De  Lano,  Clerk, 
James  E.  Lees, 
steuart  c.  rowbotham, 
Isabel  Colton  Dam, 
Ethelinda  Dietz, 
Adolph  Rusch, 

Joseph  B.  Whitney,  Treasurer, 
Representing  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  New 
York  City. 

Accompanying  the  above  was  the  following  poem: 

Oh !  heart  of  the  motherhood, 

Brooding  above, 
Soft  voicing  Thy  message 

Through  Love's  chosen  love, 
Hear  gratitude  voiceless 

And  prayers  without  speech, 
Which  soar  like  the  dove 

Heaven's  portals  to  reach. 
Oh !  fill  us  with  meekness 

To  sit  at  her  feet, 
Who  teaches  the  pathway 

To  Love's  blest  retreat, 


168  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

Who  leads  Israel's  army 

In  paths  Jesus  trod, 
The  highway  of  holiness, 

Leading  to  God. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


THE  REPLY  r 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 

My  Beloved  Brethren;— -Your  Soul-full  words,  and  song, 
repeat  my  legacies  in  blossom.  Such  elements  of  friend- 
ship, faith,  and  hope,  re-possess  us  of  Heaven.  I  thank 
you  out  of  a  full  heart.  Even  the  crown  of  thorns  that 
mocked  the  bleeding  brow  of  our  blessed  Lord,  was  over- 
crowned  with  a  diadem  of  duties  done.  So  let  us  meekly 
meet,  mercifully  forgive,  wisely  ponder,  and  lovingly  scan 
the  convulsions  of  the  distempered  mortal  mind — that  its 
sudden  sallies  may  even  help  us,  not  to  a  start,  but  to  a 
tenure  to  unprecarious  joy.  Rich  hope  have  I  in  him 
who  saith  in  his  heart: — 

I  will  listen  for  Thy  voice, 

Lest  my  footsteps  stray; 
I  will  follow  and  rejoice 

All  the  rugged  way. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  2,  1899. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 

143  West  48TH  Street, 
September  20,  1900. 

My  precious  Mother: — 

This   morning   the   New   York  Sun   published   the 
enclosed  article3 — I  believe  it  is  the  worst  attack  that 

1  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  ii.,  p.  156. 

2  The  article  referred  to  stated  that  I  was  endeavoring  to  secure 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  169 

M.  A.  m.  through  your  disloyal  student  ever  made 
upon  me,  and  is  her  revenge  for  the  efforts  I  made  to 
prevent  her  name  from  going  into  the  New  York 
World  in  the  same  article  with  you,  as  you  requested 
me  to  do.  It  is  false,  false,  false  from  beginning  to  end. 
This  church  to  my  knowledge  never  entertained  one 
thought  of  rivalry  toward  the  Second  Church.  I  am 
loving  and  kind  to  them  all  and  so  are  my  people. 

I  wrote  Mrs.  L.  .  .  from  the  depths  of  my  heart, 
and  all  this  commotion  is  the  work  of  malicious  animal 
magnetism.  We  are  quiet  and  do  our  own  work  in  our 
church,  and  whoever  could  have  given  such  erroneous 
ideas,  I  cannot  conceive.  If  I  do  not  know  myself, 
have  no  idea  of  my  thoughts  and  motives  and  purposes 
— then  God  has  forsaken  me,  and  I  am  useless  to  the 
Cause. 

But  I  do  believe  that  I  am  sincere  and  honest  and 
loving  and  generous,  or  at  least  I  strive  every  moment 
to  be  so.  This  is  a  wicked  attack  upon  me.  Not 
knowing  anything  of  our  purpose,  our  plans  or  work 
of  selection — they  place  us  in  this  position  to  the  city. 
But  God  reigns.  I  shall  meet  this  with  love,  as  I  have 
heretofore  met  all  malicious  attacks.  This  may  have 
been  necessary  to  drive  me  nearer  to  Christ.  I  have  not 
heard  from  Mrs.  L.  .  .  in  answer  to  my  letter,  nor 
has  Mr.  H.  .  .  ,  but  they  perhaps  felt  that  no  recogni- 
tion was  necessary.  Shall  I  reply  to  this?  I  cannot 
hear  from  you  in  time,  and  will  do  the  best  I  can, 
asking  Love  to  guide  me. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 


Mrs.  Eddy's  place  and  lead  the  Christian  Science  Field,  including  the 
churches  in  New  York  City. 


170  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  17,  1903. 

My  precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

Laus  Deo  I  We  are  ready  at  last  to  dedicate  the 
church  edifice  which  our  love  and  gratitude  have 
erected  as  a  tribute  to  you.  It  is  not  necessary  for 
me  to  tell  you  what  this  means  to  me — you  know  it 
all — the  long  and  perilous  passage,  the  fears  and  foes 
within  and  without,  and  the  opposition  of  envy  and 
all  evil.  Since  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  four 
years  ago,  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  I  have  seen  the 
necessity  of  working  alone  with  God  and  for  Him,  not 
seeking  the  approval  of  any  man,  not  even  the  brethren, 
but  the  approval  only  of  God.  I  have  known  all 
these  years  that  my  work  must  be  justified  or  con- 
demned by  God  and  my  wise  and  ever-loving  Teacher, 
and  I  knew  the  judgment  would  be  just. 

We  shall  dedicate  without  any  debt.  Our  money 
is  all  in.  The  church  is  attracting  a  great  deal  of 
attention  on  account  of  its  unique  and  refined  archi- 
tecture and  decoration.  The  convention  of  architects 
now  assembled  in  New  York  has  requested  permission 
to  visit  it  next  Friday  afternoon.  The  request  has 
been  granted  by  our  Trustees.  The  edifice  is  only 
a  type,  I  know,  but  a  better  symbol  than  the  old  church, 
for  the  love  that  through  us  has  laid  in  the  outstretched 
hands  of  God  one  million  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  proves  that  much  of  self-love  and 
trust  in  money  has  been  destroyed,  and  that  heavy 
baggage  has  been  left  behind,  as  the  members  of  this 
church  have  climbed  the  hill  of  Christian  Science. 

We  shall  have  a  very  quiet,  very  impersonal,  dignified 
service,  but  consistent  with  the  demands  of  our  en- 
vironment,  and  the  expressed  wishes  of   the   church 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  171 

members.  The  press  has  been  clamoring  for  weeks 
to  get  matter  for  publication  concerning  us,  but  our 
doors  have  been  vigilantly  guarded,  and  we  shall  give 
them  only  what  is  proper  for  them  to  know.  We  shall 
not  announce  the  date  until  next  Saturday.  From 
now  until  the  dedication  is  over,  I  pray  for  grace  and 
strength  to  stand  against  the  argument  of  the  enemy  of 
good  in  aggressive  mental  suggestion.  I  know  in  whom 
I  trust.  This  could  not  have  been  made  possible  but 
for  your  watchful,  loving,  protecting,  and  wise  guidance. 
Ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  church  edifice  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  November  29,  1903. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  19,  1904. 

My  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

I  am  moved  to  write  you  in  regard  to  a  case  to  which 
I  was  recently  called,  that,  during  two  years,  had  been 
diagnosed  by  thirteen  physicians,  and  treated  as 
malignant  cancer.  At  the  time  I  took  the  case,  the 
patient  was  under  the  care  of  a  physician  and  two 
trained  nurses,  and  had  been  confined  to  her  bed  ten 
weeks,  the  disease  being  in  its  last  stages,  and  the  lady 
had  taken  leave  of  her  family.  I  informed  them  that 
I  would  take  the  case  if  the  doctor  would  give  it  up 
and  not  interfere  with  my  treatment,  although  I  was 
willing  he  should  watch  my  work.  He  was  unwilling 
to  do  this,  and  was  discharged. 

I  then  began  treatment.  I  at  once  learned  that 
the  two  trained  nurses,  who  had  been  in  charge  for 
many  weeks,  would  not  remain  unless  a  physician  was 
in  attendance  and  would  protect  them  in  their  pro- 
fession.    I  saw  the  reasonableness  of  their  request  and 


172  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

the  necessity  of  their  personal  attendance,  and  care 
of  the  effects  of  this  dread  disease,  and  I  asked  that 
a  reputable  physician  be  engaged,  one  who  would  be 
willing  to  watch  the  case,  and  allow  me  to  treat  the 
disease  mentally  according  to  Christian  Science.  I  said 
that  if  I  failed  to  relieve  the  pain,  which  only  hypoder- 
mics of  morphine  had  done,  I  would  retire  and  leave  the 
work  to  him. 

A  prominent  physician  was  engaged,  who  was  willing 
to  work  under  these  conditions,  and  after  diagnosing 
the  case,  he  told  me  and  the  patient's  family  that  the 
disease  was  malignant  cancer,  in  its  last  stages,  and 
that  the  patient  was  beyond  medical  aid,  and  could 
not  survive,  but  that  he  would  permit  me  to  do  what 
I  could,  and  would  take  the  case  if  I  failed  to  relieve 
her.  Under  these  conditions  I  resumed  the  work, 
knowing  that  with  God  all  things  are  possible.  I 
began  regular  treatment  on  Wednesday  evening  at 
eleven  o'clock,  and  continued  the  mental  work  all 
night.  At  seven  in  the  morning,  my  patient  awoke 
refreshed,  as  from  a  quiet  sleep,  and  exclaimed,  "What 
has  come  to  me?  I  feel  such  rest  and  peace:  I  am 
healed.  God  came  to  me  in  the  night,  and  I  know  that 
I  am  healed."  This  condition  of  mind  and  body 
continued  for  three  days,  during  which  time  the  terrible 
pain  which  necessitated  the  hypodermics  had  not 
returned.  The  lady  was  buoyant,  and  confident  that 
she  was  healed,  and  the  husband,  physician,  nurses, 
and  brothers  and  sisters  who  had  come  from  their 
respective  homes  to  be  with  her,  at  the  last,  were 
convinced  that  God  was  in  their  midst,  manifesting 
His  mighty  power  and  tender  love  in  casting  out  fear 
and  destroying  pain. 

Then  came  the  first   chemicalization — the  conflict 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  173 

between  the  human  and  the  divine  mind.  She  had 
learned  in  those  three  days  much  of  the  letter  of 
Christian  Science  from  what  had  been  told  her,  and 
what  had  been  read  to  her  from  your  book,  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures.  Day  and  night 
she  had  had  constant  attendance  during  these  hours 
of  respite.  When  the  pain  returned,  she  met  it  with 
truth,  and  with  her  little  understanding  of  Christian 
Science  this  brave,  noble  woman  resisted  and  wrestled 
with  the  agony  which  attends  this  disease,  and  for 
sixteen  hours  held  out  against  the  demand  for  the 
drug,  until  the  nurses'  faith  was  tested  beyond  endur- 
ance, and  they  declared  they  could  not  witness  such 
suffering.  They  urged  her  to  accept  the  relief  which 
the  drug  offered,  and  she  yielded,  but  not  without  a 
keen  sense  of  grief  that  she  was  unable  to  meet  the 
test.  I  met  this  trial  of  her  faith  with  compassion, 
and  destroyed  the  effect  with  truth  and  love,  and 
assured  her  that  she  would  not  have  another  return  of 
pain,  which  was  true.  She  never  required  another 
drug.     This  painful  feature  of  the  disease  disappeared. 

The  healing  went  on,  and  the  cancer  passed  off 
gradually  day  by  day  as  painlessly  and  as  freely  as  if 
removed  by  a  surgeon's  knife,  until  in  two  weeks 
there  was  no  evidence  of  the  disease  except  the  after 
effects,  weakness  and  a  clearing  away  of  attending 
symptoms,  and  gradual  building  up  of  the  body.  In 
all  the  trial  of  her  faith  she  never  once  doubted  that 
she  was  healed  of  that  claim. 

On  the  eighth  day  after  her  declaration  that  she 
was  healed,  another  chemical  occurred  which  seemed 
like  a  relapse,  although  there  was  no  recurrence  of  old 
symptoms — only  a  collapse  and  sinking,  which  I  knew 
was  only  another  test  or  chemical.     The  family  being 


174  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

alarmed,  the  doctor  was  called,  who  having  seen  such 
proofs  of  the  power  of  Christian  Science  was  willing 
to  watch  the  result,  although  he  declared  she  was  in 
a  dying  condition. 

His  kindly,  honest  Christian  acknowledgment  of  the 
good  results  he  had  witnessed  of  Christian  Science 
was  most  helpful  to  me  in  my  efforts,  and  gave  the 
family  a  sense  of  trust  and  security  which  helped  the 
work,  and  for  which  we  were  all  deeply  grateful. 
Such  noble  men  will  aid  Christian  Scientists,  and 
Christian  Science  will  bless  them  and  lead  them  to  the 
true  Physician,  "Whohealeth  all  thy  [our]  diseases." 

From  this  seeming  relapse,  which  lasted  a  few  days, 
she  recovered,  and  was  again  rejoicing  in  return  of 
normal  conditions,  when,  about  the  end  of  the  second 
week,  she  had  a  third  chemical,  which  came  suddenly. 
I  was  called  in  the  night  to  find  her  struggling  for 
breath,  and  the  family  greatly  agitated.  The  doctor 
was  sent  for,  and  pronounced  it  pneumonia.  I  knew 
it  was  fear,  and  I  also  knew  that  the  same  power  that 
had  removed  the  effects  of  the  so-called  disease,  cancer, 
and  had  brought  this  dear  sufferer  into  a  knowledge 
of  God  and  her.  relation  to  Him,  and  had  raised  her 
from  two  attacks,  would  not  fail  in  the  third.  I  also 
knew  that  "this  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer  and 
fasting"  (Matt,  xvii.,  21). 

The  faith  of  the  family,  and  the  awakened  interest  of 
the  physician,  and  nurse,  for  by  this  time  she  required 
but  one,  left  the  case  in  God's  hands,  and  the  struggle 
continued.  The  lungs  filled,  the  breathing  ceased, 
and  the  end  came.  All  had  been  done  that  could  be 
realized,  and  we  had  only  to  cling  to  the  ever-present 
Christ,  and  know  that  there  was  no  death,  no  power 
nor  presence  but  God  and  His  idea,  and  that  Christ 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  175 

was  manifest.  For  sixteen  hours  the  patient  was 
unconscious  and  pulseless,  the  nurse  and  family  re- 
maining in  waiting  and  the  doctor  coming  in  occa- 
sionally. Slowly  she  revived  and  returned  as  one 
rising  from  the  dead.  This  final  struggle  for  exist- 
ence, and  victory  over  the  last  enemy,  death,  has  con- 
vinced many,  including  the  physician  who  has  carefully 
watched  this  case,  that  God  is  coming  to  His  people, 
and  that  Christian  Science  is  the  power  of  Christ, 
which  needs  only  to  be  accepted  and  understood  to 
save  mankind  from  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

I  am  glad  to  have  had  this  experience  and  test  of 
my  faith  and  understanding.  After  long  hours  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  which  have  raised  me  to  see  God's 
allness  and  ever-presence,  as  never  before,  I  leave 
this  case  with  a  perfect  assurance  that  the  patient  is 
healed  of  a  so-called  cancer,  which  has  entirely  dis- 
appeared. She  is  fast  gaining  strength,  is  moving  about 
the  house,  seeing  her  friends,  and  is  acquiring  a  know- 
ledge of  her  oneness  with  God  and  her  dominion  over 
all  things.     This  has  been  all  effected  in  five  weeks. 

I  write  this,  my  dear  Teacher,  because  I  am  deeply 
grateful  to  you  for  teaching  me  how  to  find  God,  and 
to  carry  His  message  to  the  sufferer.  Your  holy 
example  and  life,  if  followed  by  us,  your  students, 
would  convince  the  world  of  the  truth  of  your  teachings 
in  Science  and  Health.  I  pray  to  be  more  worthy  of 
your  instructions. 

I  have  written  this  in  detail,  as  the  case  was  unique, 
the  chemicalization  so  severe,  and  the  cure  so  satis- 
factory and  convincing  to  all  who  have  witnessed  the 
power  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing  in  the  cure  of 
a  disease  which  no  human  aid  can  destroy.  Surely  your 
words  have  been  verified  in  this  instance:     "Divine 


176  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

Love  always  has  met   and   always  will  meet   every 
human  need"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  494). 
I  am  ever, 

Lovingly  and  faithfully, 

Your  student, 

Augusta. 

The  foregoing  is  believed  in  fully,  and  subscribed  to  by  the  husband, 
two  sisters,  two  brothers,  two  friends,  the  physician,  and  trained 
nurse,  whose  signatures  are  attached  to  this  letter  and  can  be  seen  at 
any  time  on  application  to  me. 

New  York,  November  4,  1904. 

Reverend  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
We,  the  members  of  the  Students''  Association  of 
the  New  York  City  Christian  Science  Institute  in 
annual  meeting  assembled,  send  to  you,  our  beloved 
Leader  and  Teacher,  our  love  and  assurance  of  in- 
creasing appreciation  of  your  wisdom  and  untiring 
guidance.  We  reconsecrate  ourselves  that  we  may 
demonstrate  the  spiritual"  cooperation  which  is  the 
unity  to  which  your  wise  leadership  calls  us.  Our 
earnest  aim  is  to  reach  your  exalted  ideals  of  purity 
and  power. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  For  the  Members. 

Mrs.    Eddy's   cordial    and    cheering   reply    follows 

[Editor]  :— 

Concord,  N.  H.,  November  7,  1904. 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D.,  and 

Students'  Association,  of  the  New  York  City 
Christian  Science  Institute. 
Accept  my  thanks  and  loving  congratulation.     Jesus 
said,  "  My  sheep  hear  my  voice  and  I  know  them,  and  they 
follow  me. " 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel .  November  12,  1904. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  177 

1  West  96th  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  8,  1905. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

Never  so  precious  as  now,  when  to  think  of  you  as 
a  manifestation  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  to  behold 
your  wonderful  demonstrations  of  the  omnipotence 
of  God,  good,  in  the  midst  of  the  claim  of  lies  and 
hatred,  revenge  and  envy,  lust  and  hypocrisy,  which 
claims  seem  to  deceive  the  very  elect,  give  me  courage 
and  strength  to  press  forward  in  the  race  for  an  in- 
destructible, endless  life. 

But  for  your  holy  example,  I  could  never  endure  such 
"contradiction  of  sinners"  (Heb.  xii.,  3),  and  the 
efforts  of  the  accusers  of  our  brethren.  Evil  doers, 
evil  thinkers,  and  evil  speakers  seem,  ripe  for  the 
harvest.  Impersonal  evil  seems  to  find  willing  victims, 
and  only  by  constant  watching,  working,  and  prayer 
can  we  hold  fast  to  our  faith.  It  may  be  that  the 
coming  together  of  the  National  Christian  Scientist 
Association  in  this  city  is  agitating  the  waters,  for  the 
arguments  of  malicious  mental  malpractitioners  are 
almost  overwhelming,  but  through  the  noise  of  the 
disturbing  elements,  and  above  the  swelling  of  Jordan, 
I  hear  the  voice  of  divine  Love  through  you,  my 
beloved — chosen  of  the  Father — anointed  and  sent  to 
lead  us,  speaking  these  words,  "Fear  thou  not;  for 
I  am  with  thee"  (Isa.  xli.,  10).  "No  weapon  that  is 
formed  against  thee  shall  prosper"  (Isa.  liv.,  17),  and 
again,  "I  will  deliver  thee  .  .  .  and  thou  shalt  not 
be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  men  of  whom  thou  art 
afraid"  (Jer.  xxxix.,  17).  So,  as  I  tread  on  serpents 
and  scorpions,  I  sing  praises  to  God  for  His  goodness 
in  giving  me  my  Leader  and  Guide.  Love  is  depriving 
the  vipers  of  their  sting;  they  fail  to  overcome  me;  they 
cannot  forever  disturb,  and  are  even  now  powerless  to 


178  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

rob  me  of  my  health  and  courage,  or  to  prevent  me 
from  following  you  up  the  hill  of  Christian  Science. 

I  have  never  had  such  health  and  strength,  such 
love  and  gratitude  for  you,  dearest;  never  a  stronger 
faith  and  determination  to  demonstrate  the  power 
and  presence  of  divine  Love.  I  never  had  stronger 
evidence  of  the  all-protecting  power  of  our  Father, 
in  the  prosperity  of  our  church,  yet  I  grieve  when  I 
see  that  some  of  the  dear  ones  have  to  turn  back  and 
walk  a  while  longer  with  their  idols.  Paul  said,  "the 
more  abundantly  I  love  you,  the  less  I  be  loved" 
(2  Cor.  xii.,  15).  Love  is  a  mighty  power  to  separate 
the  true  from  the  false,  the  dross  from  the  gold;  but 
She  will  consume  the  dross,  and  reveal  the  gold. 
Some  few  are  entering  the  crucible. 

The  white  heat  of  the  furnace  will  reveal  their  Christ, 
and  some  day  they  will  lose  both  the  dross  and  the  gold 
of  human  belief,  and  stand  forth  in  Love's  image  and 
likeness.  It  is  a  marvel  that  among  so  many,  so  few 
are  found  who  are  able  to  run  the  race  continuously. 
If  you  have  anything  you  would  like  me  to  do  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Association  of  Teachers,  please  tell  me. 
We  have  no  idea  where  they  intend  to  meet  in  our  city, 
but  God  is  guiding,  and  He  will  put  His  children  in  the 
right  place.  It  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of  consequence 
what  environment  they  will  have,  as  whether  we  meet 
in  love  and  unity  and  spiritual  cooperation.  May 
I  be  worthy  to  wash  the  feet  of  the  disciples. 

With  devoted  love  and  gratitude,  and  loyal  obedience, 
I  am, 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

The  National  Christian  Scientist  Association  of  Teachers  was  held 
in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  179 

TELEGRAMS 

New  York,  November  2,  1905. 

Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
The  Association  of  my  students,  in  annual  reunion, 
unite  with  me  in  expressing  to  you,  our  beloved 
Leader  and  Teacher,  our  obedience,  our  loyal  love,  and 
our  grateful  recognition  of  your  continued  guidance 
of  mankind  to  the  realization  of  eternal  Love. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

Concord,  N.  H.,  November  4,  1905. 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D., 
1  West  96th  Street,  New  York  City. 
Thanks  to  you  and  your  association  for  telegram  and 
your    grand    glorious    work    for    humanity.     This    reply 
delayed  by  mistake. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  viii.,  p.  169. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  6,  1905. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

I  am  writing  just  to  tell  you  of  my  ever-increasing 
love  for  you,  and  of  my  constant  efforts  to  follow  and 
obey  you  and  your  teachings.  I  am  trying  to  demon- 
strate Christian  Science  and  praying  for  grace  and  love 
to  endure  to  the  end.  Our  church  is  most  prosperous 
in  Truth.  The  healing  is  being  demonstrated,  and 
many  are  rejoicing  in  the  health  and  peace  which  they 
find  in  the  study  of  Science  and  Health.  Grateful 
and  loving  disciples  call  you  blessed,  and  thank  God. 
On    Thanksgiving    Day    we   contributed    twenty-two 


180  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

thousand  dollars  to  The  Mother  Church  Extension. 
It  has  all  been  paid  in,  I  believe,  and  will  be  sent  to 
Mr.  Chase.  This  makes  eighty-four  thousand  dollars 
which  our  church  has  contributed,  and  we  want  to 
make  it  one  hundred  thousand.1  We  have  not  more 
than  four  men  in  our  large  membership  who  can  be 
called  rich.  All  give  all  that  they  can,  and  rejoice  in 
the  privilege  and  the  sacrifice  which  test  their  faith 
and  trust  in  infinite  Love.  It  is  joy  to  give  to  the 
Cause,  and  particularly  to  the  dear  Mother  Vine.  I 
long  to  do  more  for  you  and  to  be  more  worthy  of 
your  dear  love. 

Ever  your  faithful,  obedient  child, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  viii.,  p.  266. 

A  HELPFUL  LETTER 

[We  are  glad  to  publish  the  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Eddy  from  one 
of  her  students  whose  work  in  Christian  Science  has  done  much  for  the 
advancement  of  our  Cause.  This  letter  expresses  such  appreciation 
of  our  Leader's  work,  such  gratitude  for  it,  and  such  a  desire  to  be  of 
service  to  her,  that  it  will  be  read  with  pleasure  by  Christian  Scientists. 
— Editor.] 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City,  N.  Y., 
July  20,  1906. 

My  precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

My  heart  is  overflowing  with  grateful  love  for  your 
dear  letter  and  its  sweet  contents.  Had  ever  any 
people  so  wise,  unselfed  and  vigilant  a  Leader  as  we, 
your  students;  and  who  is  so  great  a  God  as  He  who 
has  given  you  to  us  to  lead  us  to  His  Christ? 

I  am  ever  searching  my  inmost  consciousness  and 
praying  earnestly  and  continually  for  God  to  open 
my  spiritual  eyes  that  I  may  behold  wondrous  things, 

1  $111,00  were  finally  contributed  to  The  Mother  Church  Extension. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  181 

as  you,  His  chosen  messenger,  reveal  His  law  of 
unfailing  Love. 

When  I  realize  what  loving  obedience  has  brought 
to  me  and  to  all  your  obedient  students,  I  could  shed 
tears  of  pity  for  those  students  who  tarried  by  the 
way  in  the  past,  and  listened  to  the  voice  of  personal 
sense,  until  they  ceased  to  hear  your  loving  tones,  and 
lost  the  pathway. 

I  thank  God  for  His  tender  care,  which  has  en- 
abled me  and  your  faithful  and  loyal  students  to 
watch  and  pray,  work  and  wait,  through  the  cloud 
and  tempest,  till  this  harvest  hour.  Love's  labor 
is  never  lost.  The  tireless  watcher  does  not  sleep  on 
his  sword. 

As  I  behold  this  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of 
New  York  City,  a  tribute  of  love  and  gratitude  to  you, 
beloved,  our  prayer  in  Concord  granite,  which  my 
students  and  members  of  this  church  have  reared 
to  you,  I  praise  God  for  this  evidence  of  His  love. 

Every  day  I  see  proofs  of  your  unselfed  watch-care 
and  love  for  your  students,  including  me  and  mine. 
How  often  during  the  church  services  I  wish  you  could 
see  the  great  congregation,  and  hear  the  testimonies  of 
the  people,  of  wonderful  deliverance  from  sin,  sickness, 
sorrow,  and  death,  and  their  appreciation  of  your  great 
work,  and  of  your  book,  Science  and  Health;  and  could 
hear  your  words  in  your  hymns  ring  out  from  hundreds 
of  voices,  which  fill  the  lofty  dome,  until  the  music  seems 
to  blend  with  the  unseen  angel  choir  and  the  great 
organ  of  eternity  swells  its  diapason  in  Te  Deums  of 
praise  to  God  for  your  ministry  to  mankind. 

Had  I  been  more  spiritually  minded  and  quicker 
to  catch  your  messages  from  God,  you  would  have 
moved  me  to  greater  demonstrations  of  His  mighty 


1 82  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

power.  I  love  the  church  solo,  "Hear  ye,  Israel! 
O,  hadst  thou  heeded  my  commandments!"  I 
always  hear  your  gentle  rebuke  in  these  words,  and 
my  heart  responds,  O,  had  we  heeded,  how  much 
holier  would  be  our  peace  and  greater  our  power. 
Then  I  watch  more  vigilantly  and  gird  on  my  armor 
more  securely  and  go  forward  more  dauntlessly  to 
wield  the  sword  of  Truth  and  Love. 

You  thank  me  for  getting  you  wearing  apparel 
and  feel  indebted  to  me  for  the  favor.  If  you  think 
you  are  indebted  to  me,  suppose,  my  beloved  Leader, 
you  and  I  compare  accounts.  I  am  indebted  to  you 
for  perfect  physical  health  and  almost  unlimited 
strength,  for  a  large  body  of  loving,  loyal  students  and 
church  members,  for  a  large  church  edifice  which  shel- 
ters multitudes  who  come  to  learn  through  Christian 
Science  the  way  to  eternal  Life. 

I  am  indebted  to  you  for  the  understanding  of 
God's  power  to  heal  through  man,  which  recently 
enabled  me  to  destroy  a  cancer  in  the  mouth  and 
throat  in  one  treatment — all  evidence  having  dis- 
appeared after  the  second  treatment.  This  was  nine 
weeks  ago.  This  gentleman,  Mr.  E.  .  .  C.  .  .  S.  .  .  , x 
is  a  very  reliable  man,  who  has  occupied  a  responsible 
position  in  one  of  our  largest  dry  goods  stores  for 
thirty-one  consecutive  years. 

I  have  found  brothers  and  sisters,  houses  and  lands, 
according  to  the  promises  in  the  Scriptures.  No 
good  thing  has  been  withholden  from  me. 

Ever  your  loving  student, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  viii.,  p.  812. 

1  A  letter  from  Mr.  E.  .  .  C.  .  .  S.  .  .  which  I  have  in  my  possession 
confirms  the  above  and  can  be  seen  at  any  time  upon  application. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  183 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City,  N.  Y., 
November  1,  1906. 

To  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
Beloved  and  Revered  Leader: — 

My  students,  assembled  to-day  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  their  Association,  unite  with  me  in  conveying 
to  you  our  loyal  love.  We  re-affirm  our  instant, 
constant  allegiance.  We  are  individually  watching 
and  working  with  you,  realizing  that  we  also  rise  with 
you  in  proportion  to  our  understanding  and  demon- 
stration of  your  teaching,  by  precept  and  example, 
of  the  eternal  law  which  governs  and  controls  all. 
created  things.  Because,  in  this  sacred  hour,  from 
your  cloistered  communion  in  the  secret  place  of  the 
most  High,  you  are  demonstrating  the  immortality 
of  Life  manifest  in  individual  man,  we  look  for  the 
appearing  of  the  ideal  man,  made  in  God's  image  and 
likeness,  never  to  disappear, — reflecting  forever  the 
presence,  power,  and  peace  of  the  eternal  Mind. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
President  of  the  Students'  Association 

of  the  New  York  City  Christian 

Science  Institute. 

First  published  incorrectly  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  Nov.  10, 
1906,  vol.  ix.,  p.  180,  and  corrected  in  vol.  ix.,  p.  197,  Nov.  17,  1906. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  22,  1906. 

My  precious  Leader,    Teacher,   Guide  and  Mother  in 

Israel: — 

My  gratitude  fails  to  find  expression  in  language.  I 

am  overwhelmed  with  conflicting  emotions.     I  wonder 

if  it  is  really  true  that  this  magnificent  jeweled  heart, 


1 84  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

right  from  God's  Holy  Messenger,  Love's  chosen  love, 
is  mine,  or  if  I  am  dreaming.  I  find  myself  question- 
ing if  I  am  worthy  of  this  symbol  of  your  priceless 
love,  or  if  it  were  sent  to  encourage  me  to  press  on, 
and  to  remind  me  that  Mother  would  continue  to 
manifest  her  presence  and  watch-care  during  my  trials 
and  temptations  in  the  wilderness.  If  I  am  faithful  I 
shall  hear  your  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful." 
This  exquisite  heart,  with  its  precious  stones,  sym- 
bolizes the  gold  of  human  character.  The  purity  of 
the  diamond  is  the  type  of  spiritual  light  and  the 
rubies  suggest  that  "wisdom  is  better  than  rubies." 
This  heart  will  be  a  constant  inspiration  to  me  to 
listen  for  your  voice,  to  emulate  your  Christly  example, 
to  honor  God  and  His  anointed  by  demonstrating  the 
power  of  divine  Love  over  sin,  disease  and  death,  and 
by  following  and  obeying  Christ  all  the  way  to  the  realm 
of  Spirit. 

The  treasure  is  most  exquisite,  but  the  dearest  of 
all  the  world  to  me,  far  above  and  outweighing  any- 
thing the  world  can  give,  is  the  picture  of  the  dear 
Mother  and  Leader  within  the  heart.  The  face  is 
so  pure  and  Christly  that  I  stand  mute  before  it.  I 
know  that  you  stand  on  the  Horeb  height  of  love, 
but  as  I  gaze  on  your  face  I  cry  out,  "  Mother,  reach 
down,  hold  my  hand,"  and  "through  the  night,  lead  to 
the  light,  thy  child. " 

I  shall  always  wear  this  treasure  as  a  reminder  of 
the  long  years  of  your  tireless  care,  your  patient 
forbearance  and  love,  your  prayers  and  tears  and  toils 
for  humanity,  and  for  me  as  I  have  striven  to  follow 
Christ.  I  will  some  day  be  found  worthy,  for  He  is 
faithful  that  has  promised,  and  I  am  persuaded  that 
nothing  shall  separate  me  from  my  beloved    Leader. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  185 

So  with  God's  help  you  will  prove  that  love's  labor  is 
not  lost.  I  would  thank  you  again  and  again  for  your 
lovely  gift,  but  works  not  words  must  attest  my 
genuine  appreciation  of  all  you  are,  and  have  been, 
and  ever  will  continue  to  be,  as  Leader,  Teacher, 
Guide,  Mother,  God  manifest  to  me  and  mine,  and  to 
all  mankind. 

Ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City,  N.  Y., 
February  7,  1907. 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 

Concord,  N.  H. 
My  Precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

It  is  evident  in  your  last  edition  of  Science  and 
Health  that  you  have  been  impelled  by  divine  Love 
to  sweep  your  hand  across  "the  harp  of  a  thousand 
strings, "  once  again  attuning  it  to  the  Science  of  Being. 
The  effect  of  your  last  edition  of  our  text-book  has 
been  to  quicken  our  spiritual  sense  and  to  increase  our 
faith.  The  pages  of  this  edition  radiate  more  brightly 
than  ever  the  light  and  might  of  intelligence,  revealing 
Christ,  the  quickening  Spirit,  as  ever-present,  compelling 
mankind  to  repeat  the  query  of  prophet  and  seer, 
"Will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  men  on  the  earth?" 
Through  your  discovery  of  the  power,  presence,  and 
allness  of  Truth,  which  Jesus  understood  and  demon- 
strated, all  who  are  ready  to  receive  Christ  at  his 
second  appearing  are  being  emancipated  from  bondage 
to  time-honored  erroneous  theories  of  life  and  intelli- 
gence in  matter.  You  have  continually  communed 
with  God,  or  you  could  never  have  established  the 
rule  and  demonstration  of  scientific  Mind-healing,  as 


1 86  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

you  have  done.  You  have  gone  before  us,  and  marked 
the  way  which  Jesus  trod,  and  have  patiently,  meekly 
borne  with  the  slow  progress  of  a  doubting  world  and 
dull  disciples. 

I  rejoice  to  be  found  worthy  to  be  called  a  Christian 
Scientist.  While  you,  immortal  scribe  and  Revelator, 
were  busy  transcribing  the  deep  things  of  God,  as  you 
worked  on  page  after  page  of  your  book,  Science  and 
Health, '  your  inspired  thought  stirred  human  conscious- 
ness, dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  drowned  in  the 
belief  of  pain  and  pleasure  in  matter.  This  carnal 
mind  resisted  resuscitation,  and  struck  the  hand  which 
was  reviving  it  to  grasp  the  realities  of  life  in  God. 
You  have  demonstrated  the  power  of  divine  Mind  over 
all  evil,  and  have  proclaimed  "liberty  to  the  captive, 
and  recovery  of  sight  to  the  blind." 

With    ever-increasing    love    and    gratitude,    I    am, 
Your  student, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  ix.,  p.  458. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  7,  1907. 

My  precious  Leader,  Teacher  and  Guide: — 

I  long  every  day  to  tell  you  of  my  love  and  gratitude, 
and  of  how  much  I  appreciate  your  wisdom  and  your 
Christly  example,  but  I  cannot  intrude  upon  your 
valuable  time  and  must  be  content  to  strive  to  imi- 
tate your  unselfed  love,  and  prove  the  truth  of  your 
teachings. 

I  send  you  to-day  the  documents  which  explain  the 
Peace  Congress,   to  be  held  in  this  city  next  week, 

1  Great  chemicalization  in  universal  and  individual  consciousness 
followed  the  revision  of  Science  and  Health. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  187 

beginning  Monday,  April  15th.  The  Executive  Com- 
mittee has  asked  this  church,  and  all  other  churches 
of  New  York  City,  to  hold  a  service  on  Sunday, 
April  14th,  to  familiarize  their  people  with  the  aim 
and  purpose  of  the  Congress.  The  same  letter  re- 
quests that  each  church  be  represented  in  the  Con- 
gress by  one  or  more  of  its  members.  If  it  is  right 
for  us  to  have  our  church  members  informed  of  the 
purpose  of  the  Congress  by  holding  a  service  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  14th,  which  would  not  interfere  with 
our  services  morning  and  evening,  would  it  not  be  well 
to  invite  Baron  D'Estournelles  to  be  present,  and 
to  explain  the  purpose  of  the  Association  for  Inter- 
national Conciliation? 

I  have  seen  the  letter  which  Mr.  .  .  is  sending 
you,  explaining  his,  D'Estournelles',  action,  in  pre- 
venting adverse  legislation  against  Christian  Science 
by  the  French  Parliament  last  year.  If  it  is  proper 
for  our  congregation  to  be  represented  in  the  body 
of  the  Congress,  one  or  more  of  our  members  could  be 
selected  to  be  present  at  the  sessions  of  the  Congress. 
This  morning  Mr.  .  .  read  to  me  your  beautiful 
letter.  As  this  Peace  Congress  is  one  fruit  of  your 
efforts,  it  seems  to  me,  that  having  this  service  in  our 
church  is  the  proper  way  of  letting  the  wise  understand 
this  fact,  and  that  the  reading  of  your  letter  would 
be  your  introduction  of  Baron  D'Estournelles  to  your 
people,  and  would  prove  your  capacity  to  take  part 
in  the  important  events  of  the  day. 

I  am  grateful  to  God  in  this  hour,  when  the  world's 
eyes  are  fixed  upon  this  city  in  the  effort  to  establish 
peace,  that  we  have  everything  necessary  in  the  way 
of  representative  church  edifices,  homes,  and  represent- 
ative people  for  taking  such  part  in  these  events  as 


1 88  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

you  may  deem  wise  and  proper.     We  are  awaiting 

your  word,  and  are  "minute  men"  at  your  service. 

With  deepest  gratitude,  I  am  ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  10,  1907. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

I  have  just  received  an  advance  copy  of  the  Broad- 
way Magazine  which  has  published  our  history  of 
Christian  Science  in  New  York  City,1  which  they 
requested  our  Publication  Committee,  Mr.  S.  .  .  ,  to 
furnish  them.  Mr.  S.  .  .  ,  at  first  declined  to  do  this 
without  authority  from  Mr.  F.  .  .  The  Broadway 
Magazine  then  wrote  to  Mr.  F.  .  .  ,  who  in  turn 
requested  Mr.  S.  .  .  to  aid  them,  in  giving  them  data 
to  publish  the  history  of  Christian  Science  in  New 
York  City.  Each  church  was  asked  to  answer  questions 
which  the  Committee  prepared  in  the  form  of  a 
circular  letter.  They  all  responded,  and  the  history 
now  appears,  commencing  on  page  107. 

It  is  practically  a  verbatim  statement  of  the  in- 
formation furnished  by  them.  In  addition  to  this, 
Broadway  has  written  about  Christian  Science  in 
New  York,  for  which  their  material  was  gathered 
by  their  own  representative  who  visited  the  churches 
and  had  interviews,  first  with  Dr.  P.  .  .  ,  our  opponent, 
who  has  written  a  book  against  Christian  Science, 
then  with  Mr.  C.  .  .  K.  .  .  ,  Mrs.  L.  .  .  ,  myself, 
and  many  others.  We  are  not  pleased  with  this  story, 
because  it  says  too  much  in  praise  of  our  church  and 
of  me,  and  for  this  reason  we  do  not  think  it  wise  to 

1  Mrs.  Eddy  afterwards  had  this  history  of  Christian  Science  in  New 
York  City,  which  appeared  in  the  Broadway  Magazine,  published  in 
the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  of  May  4,  1907. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  189 

circulate  it.     I  am  sending  you  to-night  under  separate 
cover,  a  copy  of  the  Broadway  Magazine. 

I  now  feel  that  I  should  tell  you  of  something  which 
has  come  to  me  to-day.  One  of  the  most  distinguished 
editors  in  New  York  City  sent  a  representative  to 
Boston  to  get  the  names  of  prominent  Christian  Scien- 
tists to  contribute  an  article  for  one  of  the  maga- 
zines with  which  he  is  connected.  He  mentioned 
my  name  as  one  whom  he  was  going  to  ask  to  write 
an  article.  He  was  told  that  I  had  no  standing  in  the 
Field  as  a  Christian  Scientist;  that  if  I  wrote  for  this 
magazine  no  Christian  Scientist  would  buy  or  read  it; 
that  an  article  was  about  to  appear  in  the  Broadway 
Magazine  which  had  been  prepared  by  our  First 
Church  Committee  on  Publication,  but  that  they  were 
not  going  to  circulate  it,  as  the  statements  in  it  were 
untrue.  When  this  man  returned  to  his  associate 
and  reported  these  things,  the  editor  was  furious, 
and  said  that  although  he  had  been  half  inclined  to 
believe  that  Christian  Science  was  true,  that  he  now 
saw  that  it  was  no  better  than  the  old  religion,  and 
that  he  was  going  to  publish  the  whole  story. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  May  6, 1907. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I    enclose  clippings    and    telegrams  x  just  received. 

Am  making  no  reply  to  anything,  and  am  refusing  to  be 

interviewed  by  reporters.     If  you  have  any  suggestions 

to  guide  me,   I  shall  act  upon  them  immediately. 

God  governs,   and  will  vindicate  me  through   His 

1  The  attack  made  in  these  extracts  was  similar  to  those  referred  to 
previously. 


190  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

anointed  and  appointed,   who  knows  my  heart  and 
my  deep  unswerving  love  and  loyal  gratitude  to  God 
and  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science. 
I  thank  God  for  you,  dearest. 

Lovingly  your  child, 

Augusta. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  12,  1907. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

I  enclose  some  clippings  from  the  New  York  Sun 
and  Brooklyn  Eagle.  The  other  papers  give  some 
of  my  students'  letters,  but  not  all.  Mrs  M.  .  . 
B.  .  .  W.  .  .  is  one  of  my  dear  students  and  a 
practitioner  in  our  Reading  Room.  She  and  Mrs. 
A.  .  .  B.  .  .  H.  .  .  D.  .  .  are  among  my  prominent 
and  intellectual  students,  and  both  have  come  out  in 
print  on  this  question.  To-day  the  American  consul 
and  his  wife,  from  Bombay,  India,  were  at  church,  and 
after  service  visited  me  in  my  home.  (Once  I  was  the 
guest  of  an  American  consul  at  Bombay,  for  several 
months.)  To-day  at  both  services  the  auditorium 
and  the  overflow  were  filled  to  their  utmost  seating 
capacity,  except  a  few  seats  out  of  sight  behind  the 
large  columns.  Never  was  there  such  appreciation  of 
you,  dearest ;  never  such  recognition  of  your  wonderful 
message  to  the  world,  and  never,  oh,  never,  such  love 
and  loyalty  as  we  feel  for  you,  our  beloved,  our  precious 
Guide  to  eternal  Life,  as  to-day.  If  I  can  do  anything 
for  you,  dearest,  will  you  let  me  know? 

I  am  working  and  watching  and  praying,  and  de- 
monstrating the  healing  power  of  Christian  Science. 
Last  Sunday  a  boy  nine  years  of  age  was  attended  by 
a  consulting  physician,  who  declared  that  but  one 
thing  more  could  be  done,  and  that  was  an  operation 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  191 

which  was  most  serious.  I  was  called  to  calm  the 
mother,  who  was  nearly  beside  herself.  I  went  into 
the  room  in  the  absence  of  the  nurse,  and  spoke  audibly 
to  the  child.  Then  I  realized  for  myself  just  a  few 
moments,  that  Love  filled  the  room,  and  I  went  out 
and  to  church.  In  an  hour  the  surgeons  came  with 
the  doctors,  when  they  were  amazed  to  find  the  boy 
in  a  nearly  normal  condition.  This  was  the  end  of 
the  disease.  The  boy  quickly  improved  and  is  the 
wonder  of  all  interested.  To  have  normal  temper- 
ature restored  in  two  hours  has  puzzled  the  physicians, 
who  will  learn  later  that  Truth  sets  free,  and  that 
Christian  Science  teaches  the  way  to  health,  harmony, 
and  peace. 

I  send  you  more  love  than  tongue  or  pen  can  convey. 
Forever  and  ever, 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  ix.,  p.  763. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  9,  1907. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I  am  glad  I  know  that  I  am  in  the  hands  of  God,  not 

of  men.     These  reports  are  only  the  revival  of  a  lie 

which  I  have  not  heard  for  a  long  time.     It  is  a  renewed 

attack  upon  me  and  my  loyal  students,  to  turn  me  from 

following  in  the  footsteps  of  Christ,  by  making  another 

attempt  to  dishearten  me,  and  make  me  weary  of  the 

struggle  to  demonstrate  my  trust  in  God  to  deliver 

me   from   the    "accuser   of   our   brethren."     It   is   a 

diabolical  attempt  to  separate  me  from  you,  as  my 

Leader  and  Teacher,   and  thus  deprive  you  of  your 

faithful  student  and  her  faithful  students,   who  are 

living,  as  far  as  they  can  demonstrate,  according  to 


192  Letters  to  Mrs\  Eddy 

your  teachings  in  Science  and  Health.  We  are  striv- 
ing to  emulate  your  holy  life,  and  to  trust  in  God,  as 
you  do,  in  every  hour  of  sorrow  or  joy. 

My  disloyal  students  and  others  are  determined  to 
destroy  me  and  my  work.  Their  efforts  to  prevent 
me  from  loving  and  obeying  you,  as  Leader  and 
Teacher,  are  futile  to  terrify  me.  I  shall  follow  your 
example  of  trust  in  God,  so  far  as  I  can,  and  God  will 
never  forsake  me,  nor  any  who  puts  his  trust  in  Him. 

Oh,  dearest,  it  is  such  a  lie!  No  one  who  knows  us 
can  believe  this.  It  is  vicarious  atonement.  Has 
the  enemy  no  more  argument  to  use,  that  it  has  to  go 
back  to  this?  It  is  exhausting  its  resources  and  I 
hope  the  end  is  near.  You  know  my  love  for  you, 
beloved;  and  my  students  love  you  as  their  Leader 
and  Teacher;  they  follow  your  teachings  and  lean  on 
the  "sustaining  infinite."  They  put  their  trust  in 
God,  and  recognize  you  as  the  messenger  who  brings 
to  them  the  message  of  salvation  from  sin,  sickness, 
and  death,  through  making  their  atonement  with  the 
creator,  the  one  God,  who  is  the  source  and  supply 
of  every  need. 

They  who  refuse  to  accept  you  as  God's  messenger, 
or  ignore  the  message  which  you  bring,  will  not  get  up 
by  some  other  way,  but  will  come  short  of  salvation. 
I  see  the  subtle  suggestion  of  the  enemy  and  am  not 
afraid.  My  trust  is  in  God.  I  know,  and  my  students 
know  that  we  must  work  out  our  own  problems  as  you 
work  out  yours — but  we  shall  follow  your  teachings 
and  strive  to  emulate  your  example,  and  love  you  as  our 
Leader.  Your  Father  is  our  Father.  He  will  protect 
us  as  He  has  and  ever  will  protect  you.  We  have  much 
to  do  to  stand  in  this  hour,  but  we  trust  in  God. 

Dearly  beloved,  we  are  not  ascending  out  of  sense 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  193 

as  fast  as  we  desire,  but  we  are  trusting  in  God  and  are 
putting  off  false  mentality  and  putting  on  the  Mind  of 
Christ.  This  lie  cannot  disturb  you  nor  me.  I  love 
you,  my  students  love  you,  and  we  never  send  out  such 
thoughts  as  are  mentioned. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  ix.,  p.  811. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 
Central  Park  West  and  96TH  Street, 
July  15,  1907. 

My  precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

Your  loving  letter  reached  me  just  as  I  was  going  to 
Communion  service.  As  I  read  your  wonderful  words, 
symbols  seemed  to  disappear.  Even  the  material 
edifice,  type  of  the  Church  Triumphant,  appeared  to 
dissolve,  and  I  saw  that  divine  Love  was  lifting  me  to 
behold,  as  never  before,  the  living  Christ,  Immanuel, 
or  God  with  us.  I  rose  into  newness  of  life  with  the 
baptism  which  came  from  your  loving  words  and  watch- 
care.  I  have  taken  another  step  towards  the  goal 
of  spiritual  vision.  I  thank  God  every  day,  and  my 
gratitude  for  your  teachings  constantly  increases  and 
enables  me  to  see  the  allness  of  Mind  and  the  nothing- 
ness of  matter. 

Love  is  omnipotent  and  ever-present.  Evil  is  a 
false  claim  and  is  fast  consuming  itself.  The  breath  of 
divine  Love  will  blow  its  ashes- to  nothingness.  The 
warring  in  human  hearts  will  cease.  Love  reflected 
in  love  will  reveal  a  universe  in  which  is  no  sorrow, 
sin,  nor  death.  I  shall  continue  my  earnest  endeavor 
to  follow  and  obey  the  "Star  of  Concord,"  whom  I 
have  loved  and  followed  so  long;  and  I  shall  pray  that 
the  nations  which  have  accepted  the  symbol  will  rise 


194  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

to  grasp  the  Truth  which  will  end  wars.  I  find  your 
prophetic  words  apply  to  this  hour:  "Even  thus  the 
crude  forms  of  human  thought  take  on  higher  symbols 
and  significations,  when  scientifically  Christian  views 
of  the  universe  appear,  illuminating  time  with  the 
glory  of  eternity"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  502). 

I  find  that  I  need  more  and  more  the  Mind  of  Christ 
to  enable  me  to  demonstrate  over  the  higher  and 
subtler  claims  of  error  expressed  in  the  mental  and 
physical  diseases  of  patients.  The  law  of  Love  must 
be  fulfilled  in  me  if  I  am  to  continue  to  be  a  worthy 
disciple  of  my  Leader  and  Teacher.  Love  alone  will 
deliver  from  malice,  hatred,  and  envy,  which  seem 
to-day  to  be  aroused  to  destroy  the  Christian  Science 
soldier. 

If  all  the  faithful  will  keep  their  eyes  fixed  on  Christ, 
the  strong  deliverer,  and  will  trust  Truth,  there  will 
be  no  witness  for  a  claim  called  evil;  there  will  be  no 
one  to  see,  hear,  voice  or  feel  error,  and  its  pretense 
to  power  and  presence  will  be  heard  no  more  forever. 
I  am  strong  in  faith  that  I  shall  endure  unto  the  end 
of  the  belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  good. 

Already  I  can  say,  "Father,  forgive  them,"  and  my 
hands  are  always  extended  to  lift  the  fallen  and  to 
help  the  wandering  to  find  the  path  that  leads  to 
heavenly  harmony.  I  sometimes  feel  that  I  am  the 
least  of  all  the  flock,  but  I  know  in  whom  I  believe, 
and  I  stand  firmly  clasping  my  Father's  hand,  trust- 
ingly awaiting  divine  guidance  in  hours  which  seem 
darkest.  A  rift  in  the  cloud  always  reveals  my  faithful 
Leader  and  Teacher  beckoning  me  to  come  up  higher, 
and  I  follow  her  loving  call. 

I  shall  not  faint  in  the  race,  dearest.  I  am  singing 
as  I  go,  and  I  am  rejoicing  in  this  hour  of  sure  victory 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  195 

over  the  false  claim  calling  itself  mortal  mind  and  its 
matter  body.  With  unfaltering  faith  in  Love  and  Her 
chosen  messenger,  I  am,  as  ever, 

Your  grateful,  loving  child, 
Augusta. 

P.S. — When  I  had  finished  my  letter  to  you,  I  asked 
God  to  speak  to  me.  I  opened  my  Bible  to  2d 
Thessalonians,  3d  Chapter,  and  my  eye  rested  on  the 
3d  verse.  I  read  to  the  end  of  the  5th  verse,  and  was 
comforted.  I  then  opened  Science  and  Health,  and 
repeated  the  same  request.  The  page  was  404,  line 
9,  and  I  read  to  line  14. 

Dearest,  I  am  following  on  to  know  more  of  Christ. 

A. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City. 
July   18,    1907. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I  cannot  understand  why  I  should  have  worded 
my  letter  as  I  did.  When  I  received  your  loving 
warning  and  rebuke  to  error  I  was  aroused,  and  had  the 
nations  been  a  unit  in  demanding  a  peace  flag1  to  be 
presented  by  me,  or  take  the  consequences  of  universal 
war,  I  should  have  said,  "  Go  and  destroy  yourselves." 
I  was  awakened.  No  more  peace  flag  presentations 
for  me.  I  want  no  symbols.  Why  should  I  longer 
give  symbols?     Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead. 

I  shall  follow  my  faithful  Leader  as  she  follows 
Christ.  "Christian  Science  reveals  a  necessity  for 
overcoming  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  evil,  and  thus 

1  Mrs.  Eddy  pointed  out  that  I  had  presented  a  sufficient  number 
of  peace  flags,  or  symbols,  and  that  it  was  time  to  discontinue  giving 
symbols,  and  reflect  the  spiritual  substance  which  gives  true  peace  to 
the  world. 


196  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

destroying  all  error"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  10). 
Thank  you,  beloved,  for  referring  me  to  this.  I  am 
not  going  to  justify  myself  for  consenting  to  present 
these  last  flags,  nor  argue  the  confusion  and  the  seeming 
pressure  of  the  hour.  Love  comes  nearer  to  us  in  the 
hour  of  trial,  and  so  I  should  have  been  fortified  and 
have  escaped  the  snare. 

However,  I  am  awake,  and  will  profit  by  the  reproof 
and  rise  above  type  and  symbolism.  God  will  keep 
me  and  reveal  to  me  substance-Mind.  "Fed  by  Thy 
love  divine  we  live,  For  Love  alone  is  Life, "  are  your 
inspiring  words.  Material  symbols  must  be  changed 
for  the  true  consciousness  and  its  effects ;  the  substance 
which  cometh  down  from  heaven.  This  is  my  work 
to-day,  to  follow  Christ,  eat  of  his  bread  and  live. 
Again  I  thank  you,  dearest. 

Ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

TELEGRAM l 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
August  22,  1907. 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
Love   is   enthroned.     Love    has   fulfilled    Her   law. 
My  heart's  deepest  love  to  you,  my  beloved  Leader 
and  Teacher. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  25,  1907. 

My  precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

I  have  just  opened  another  new  edition  of  Science 
and   Health   with   Key   to    the   Scriptures.     I    cannot 

*  Telegram  sent  to  Mrs.  Eddy  at  conclusion  of  "Next  Friends"  suit. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  197 

express  my  exceeding  great  joy  as  I  beheld  within  its 
covers  your  dear  face,  radiant  with  reflected  light, 
spiritual  strength,  and  the  might  and  meekness  of 
divine  Love.  I  was  touched  with  a  sense  of  your 
immediate  presence  and  impersonal  guidance  as  never 
before,  and  I  realized  that  I  was  meeting  you  in  the 
dawn  of  a  higher  and  more  spiritual  sense.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  you  had  passed  the  supreme  test  of  your 
faith  and  understanding;  had  demonstrated,  alone 
with  God,  the  power  of  divine,  unselfed  love — had 
fulfilled  the  law  of  God,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  Me,"  "Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,"  and 
had  come  forth  from  the  chaos  and  gloom  of  persecu- 
tion, ingratitude,  and  personal  indignities,  crowned 
with  immortal  dominion,  which  God  gives  to  man, 
who  is  found  in  His  likeness.  Your  example  and 
demonstration  is  our  rich  inheritance,  if  we,  like  you, 
fulfil  the  commandments.  While  contemplating  the 
meaning  of  this  edition  of  our  text-book,  this  further 
proof  of  your  faithful  guidance  of  your  flock,  "over 
the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you"  overseer, 
going  before  and  leading  us  to  the  impersonal  Christ, 
I  seemed  to  hear  you  speak,  in  tones  tremulous  with 
tenderness,  "Children,  have  ye  any  meat?"  Like  a 
moving  picture,  the  many  years  of  your  patient,  long- 
suffering  watch-care  of  your  people  passed  before  me. 
I  recalled  the  wilderness  journey  through  which  we 
have  travelled,  always  striving  to  obey  your  teach- 
ings and  to  pattern  your  Christly  life,  as  far  as  our 
faith  and  limited  understanding  enabled  us — at  times 
almost  fainting  under  the  effort  to  overcome  material 
sense,  that  we  might  gain  the  spiritual  sense.  How 
longingly  we,  your  children,  have  listened  for  your 
loving  voice  far  beyond  us,   on  the  rugged  height! 


198  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

As  you  sounded  the  mountain  horn,  you  have  tarried 
on  the  steep  ascent,  until  the  sweet  pressure  of  prayer 
for  your  dull  disciples  drew  us  higher,  and  you  caught 
our  feeble  responses — then  you  pressed  on,  until 
divine  Love  planted  your  bleeding  feet  on  the  Horeb 
heights.  Your  dear  hands  have  been  often  pierced 
for  humanity,  as  you  removed  from  human  conscious- 
ness the  thorns  of  malice,  envy,  and  fear.  Gratitude 
is  so  deep  it  is  voiceless,  but  it  is  heard  by  the  Father. 
Prayers  without  speech  reach  the  ear  of  the  infinite, 
and  must  be  manifested  in  deeds.  Your  fidelity  to 
God,  to  man,  and  to  your  followers  is  seen  and  ac- 
knowledged by  the  world.  As  I  wrote  some  time 
ago  these  lines,  let  me  repeat  them  to-day  J 

Oh!  fill  us  with  meekness,  to  sit  at  her  feet, 
Who  teaches  the  pathway  to  Love's  blest  retreat, 
Who  leads  Israel's  army  in  paths  Jesus  trod, 
The  highway  of  holiness,  leading  to  God. 

History  truly  resembles  itself.  The  life  of  Christ 
Jesus  has  been  repeated.  Again  let  me  quote  my 
lines : 

Alone  with  God 
Our  Master  trod 

Gethsemane ; 
Nor  turned  a  while, 
To  gain  the  smile 

Of  Pharisee. 

• 

Shall  we  forsooth 

Forsake  our  Truth, 

When  foes  appear? 
God  mighty  is, 
And  we  are  His ; 

Love  has  no  fear. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  199 

Love,  like  the  light, 
Puts  hate  to  flight, 

And  envy's  darts; 
She  wings  Her  own, 
Doth  joy  enthrone 

In  humble  hearts. 

The  Nazarene 
Of  humble  mien 

Won  victory's  crown; 
Love's  labors  blest, 
He  found  sweet  rest, 

Beyond  hate's  frown. 

All  praise  to  God 
For  her  who  trod 

The  winepress,  lone; 
Whose  cup  of  woe 
Did  overflow, 

Sin  to  atone. 

Let  anthems  tell, 

Let  chimes  of  bell  » 

Proclaim  the  Bride! 
Love,  robed  in  light, 
Is  radiant,  white, 

And  "satisfied." 

I  thank  the  dear  Christ  for  leading  me  to  your  side, 
and  more  than  all,  for  his  great  mercy  in  giving  you 
wisdom  and  divine  love  to  watch  with  me,  in  every 
hour  of  temptation,  until  now,  as  your  thought  goes 
forth  to  teach  all  nations  the  way  to  eternal  Life, 
through  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health.  I  may 
bring  my  sheaves  and  lay  them  at  your  feet,  asking 
that  I  may  continue  to  have  your  prayers  and  counsel 
as   I   go   into   the  world,   preaching    the   Gospel   and 


200  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

healing  the  sick — ever  trusting  Truth   to  enable  me 
to  fulfil  the  law  of  Love. 

Ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
April  8,  1908. 
My  Precious  Leader  and  Teacher: — 

Since  you  have  moved  into  your  new  home,  I  have 
greatly  desired  to  send  you  an  expression  of  my  love, 
but  I '  have  been  unable  to  find  anything  which  I 
thought  would  be  pure  and  perfect  enough  to  offer 
to  my  precious  Leader.  Nothing  I  ever  could  get 
would  express  my  deep  love  and  loyalty,  and  my  ever- 
increasing  gratitude  to  you,  so  I  ceased  my  search, 
and  settled  upon  this  flower  holder,  which  I  send  to 
you,  dearest,  as  a  reminder  of  my  affection  for  you, 
and  of  nearly  twenty -four  years  of  your  patient, 
unselfed  watch-care  of  me.  I  trust  it  will  speak  to  you 
of  my  constant  appreciation  of  your  Christly  love 
for  me,  and  mine,  and  all  mankind,  and  of  my  earnest 
endeavor  to  continue,  to  follow  and  obey  your  con- 
secrated life  and  sublime  teachings.  My  heart  is 
overflowing  with  gratitude  to  God  for  such  a  Leader, 
and  Teacher,  and  Guide  to  eternal  Life. 

Ever  your  loving  child, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

My  Beloved  Student: — 

Your  gift  to  me — a  "flower  holder" — is  a  dream  of 
beauty.  I  thank  you.  God  give  you  and  your  students  the 
beauty  of  love  in  the  highest,  peace  and  goodwill  to  men. 

Lovingly, 

Mary  B.  G.  Eddy. 
Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  x.,  p.  651. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  201 

Hotel  Touraine,   Boston,   Mass., 
June   13,   1908. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I  have  just  read  your  message,  "A  Word  to  the 
Wise."  Its  glorious  import  sweeps  over  my  waiting 
heart  like  the  diapason  of  the  great  organ  of  eternity 
pealing  forth  its  paeans  of  praise  to  our  Father-Mother 
Love,  whose  everlasting  arms  encircle  you,  my  beloved 
Leader  and  Guide  to  eternal  Life.  I  indeed  rejoice 
and  am  unspeakably  grateful  that  the  impersonal 
idea,  through  your  teachings,  has  brought  us  to  this 
hour.  Your  assurance  that  already,  through  the 
sweet  pressure  of  prayer,  faith,  and  understanding, 
we  have  advanced  from  the  material  to  a  more  spiritual 
communion,  inspires  us  to  rise  to  loftier  heights  of 
spiritual  sense,  and  to  diviner  views  of  God,  man,  and 
the  universe.  In  following  your  example  of  leaving 
"drugs  for  the  power  of  God"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  146),  we  have  proved  the  power  of  divine  Love  to 
redeem  our  bodies  from  disease.  Abiding  in  divine 
Mind,  the  activities  of  Spirit  will  cast  out  material 
sense  and  reveal  our  lives  as  "hid  with  Christ  in  God." 

Looking  back  for  a  moment  to  the  long  years  of 
your  untiring  watch-care  of  your  disciples,  myself, 
perhaps,  the  dullest  of  all,  I  recall  your  sublime  patience 
during  my  slow  progress  Spirit- ward,  your  tender 
admonitions,  your  loving  rebukes  in  the  past  to  my 
ignorance  of  mental  attacks  of  impersonal  error, 
through  personalities,  your  timely  warnings  of  hidden 
danger-chasms  before  me,  and  of  how  to  handle 
malicious  animal  magnetism  with  the  word  of  Truth 
and  Love — in  fact,  your  constant  efforts  to  help  those 
whom  God  has  given  you,  that  they  might  be  one  with 
the  Father,  even  as  you  are.  All  these  evidences  of 
fidelity  to  Truth  and  Love  prove  that  you  came  forth 


202  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

from  God  to  lead  humanity  in  this  age  back  to  our 
Father- Mother,  Love,  home  and  heaven. 

As  I  ponder  this  boundless,  omnipotent,  eternal  love 
in  reflection,  I  bow  in  speechless  adoration  before  the 
impersonal  idea,  and  pray  that  I  may  continue  to 
follow  and  obey  the  law  of  divine  Love. 

Beloved,  the  "purpose  of  your  requests"  has  always 
been  "sacred."  You  have  ever  striven  to  turn  us 
from  the  contemplation  of  finite  personality  to  the 
worship  of  one  God  and  the  spiritual  personality  or 
divine  individuality. 

We  sing  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  understanding 
also,  "Lead,  kindly  light."  Once  blind  in  material 
sense,  we  have  been  led  by  the  Way-shower,  Christ 
Jesus,  who  has  revealed  man  as  co-existent  and  co- 
eternal  with  God,  good.  You,  dearest,  following  him 
and  directing  us  to  the  Way-shower,  have  lighted  the 
paths  of  peace  which  we  knew  not.  Henceforth  we 
may  walk  in  the  light.  You  discerned  these  paths 
of  health,  holiness,  and  immortality,  and  called  us 
from  darkness  into  light.  All  must  sooner  or  later 
walk  in  this  light  which  dispels  belief  of  life  and  sub- 
stance in  matter,  and  sets  free  from  the  false  claim  of 
sin,  disease,  and  death.  Love,  through  divine  Science, 
is  revealing  the  smile  of  God  in  the  face  of  our  brother 
man.  Human  concepts  are  dissolving  under  the 
fervent  heat  of  divine  Love.  Oh!  beloved  Leader, 
may  there  be  no  undestroyed  belief  of  a  power,  a 
quality,  or  a  presence  unlike  Truth  and  Love,  to 
prevent  me  from  beholding  your  real  self,  God's  ideal, 
His  image,  and  likeness.  For  my  fidelity  to  Principle, 
for  my  love  to  God  and  to  all  mankind,  and  for  my 
efforts  to  aid  in  establishing  the  kingdom  of  God  on 
earth  and  in  the  hearts  of  man,   I   am  responsible. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  203 

I  will  listen  for  Thy  voice, 
Lest  my  footsteps  stray 

{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  398).  I  will  trust  the 
promise,  "These  things  will  I  do  unto  them,  and  not 
forsake  them. " 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
Central  Park  West  and  96TH  Street. 
December  14,   1908. 

My  precious  Leader:— 

Lest  you  may  have  seen  the  reports  of  the  New 
York  press  in  regard  to  the  contemplated  new  branch 
of  your  Church — The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Boston,  Massachusetts — which  was  to  have  been 
formed  from  an  overflow  of  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City,  I  am  writing  you  a  true 
statement    of    facts    as    they    occurred. 

In  our  church  for  two  years  we  have  discussed  the 
overflow,  and  continued  to  accommodate  the  people 
in  our  Reading  Room ;  but  when  the  By-Law  appeared 
(Art.  xvii.,  Sect.  4):  "A  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
shall  not  hold  two  or  more  Sunday  services  at  the 
same  hour, "  the  question  of  an  edifice  was  taken  up. 
As  is  natural  among  a  body  of  Christian  Scientists 
united  in  the  bonds  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  therefore 
loyal  to  you,  our  beloved  and  revered  Leader,  we 
spoke  freely  among  ourselves  and  were  happy  in  the 
anticipation  of  contributing  another  loyal  branch  to 
the  Mother  Vine  in  Boston.  No  definite  action  as 
yet  had  been  taken  to  separate  and  form  this  new 
branch,  although  Trustees  or  Committees,  and  the 
place  of  holding  service,  had  been  discussed.     While 


204  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

in  this  early  stage  of  conception,  one  of  the  most 
desirable  building  sites  for  a  church  in  this  city  was 
brought  to  my  notice.  I  reported  it  at  once  to  the 
Trustees.  Immediate  action  had  to  be  taken,  as  other 
parties  were  going  to  examine  the  property  the  next 
day  with  a  view  to  purchase.  Through  the  kindness 
of  individual  Christian  Scientists,  money  was  provided 
to  obtain  an  option  on  this  property,  in  order  to  have 
sufficient  time  to  put  the  question  legally  before  the 
people.  Authority  was  granted  by  the  church  to 
purchase  and  hold  this  site  for  the  new  church.  In 
due  time  all  would  have  been  arranged,  according  to 
law  and  order,  which  have  always  characterized  our 
church. 

The  press,  however,  took  up  the  transaction,  and, 
evidently  through  faith  in  the  possibilities  of  Chris- 
tian Scientists,  drew  on  its  imagination,  and  pictured 
and  published  a  church  edifice  which  should  outrival 
all  church  architecture  now  extant,  although  we  had 
not  even  considered  what  the  structure  would  be,  our 
attention  having  been  directed  entirely  to  securing 
the  plot.  Still,  we  knew  the  edifice  would  have  been 
worthy  of  our  Cause  and  its  Leader.  I  do  not  doubt 
the  press  meant  to  be  kind,  and  we  are  glad  it  is 
beginning  to  apprehend  the  power  and  possibilities 
of  man  when  governed  by  the  Christ-mind,  but  the 
misunderstandings  and  misrepresentations  which  this 
occasioned  decided  our  people  not  to  consummate 
the  purchase.  It  was  not  deemed  wise  to  proceed 
further  in  this  hour.  The  contract  or  option  was 
disposed  of  without  loss,  and  the  money  which  poured 
in  freely,  has  been  returned  to  the  contributors.  We 
shall  wait  on  God.  Christ  will  command  the  waves. 
The  "Peace,  be  still"  will  be  heard  and  understood; 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  205 

then  the  children  of  Israel,  with  diviner  conceptions 
gained  through  this  experience,  will  hear  the  voice  of 
Love,  will  go  forward  to  reveal  the  "Church  Tri- 
umphant," in  the  beauty,  outline,  form,  color  and 
substance  of  divine  Mind.1  I  recall  your  words  in 
Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  145 — "the  time  cometh 
when  the  religious  element,  or  Church  of  Christ,  shall 
exist  alone  in  the  affections,  and  need  no  organization 
to  express  it.  Till  then,  this  form  of  godliness  seems 
as  requisite  to  manifest  its  spirit,  as  individuality 
to  express  Soul  and  substance. "  The  words  of  the 
poet  come  to  my  mind  right  here: 

Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O  my  Soul, 

As  the  swift  seasons  roll ! 

Leave  thy  low-vaulted  past ! 
Let  each  new  temple,  nobler  than  the  last 
Shut  thee  from  heaven  with  a  dome  more  vast, 

Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  outgrown  shell  by  life's  unresting  sea ! 2 

Following  your  teachings  in  Christian  Science,  our 
spiritual  sense  is  revealing  phenomena,  which  are 
based  on  Principle.  When  Christian  Science  is  not 
understood,  phenomena  are  misinterpreted,  and  false 
beliefs  and  finite  personal  sense  behold  their  own 
conceptions.  Physical  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  hath 
physical  ear  heard,  the  phenomena  of  Soul.  You, 
dearest,  are  opening  our  spiritual  eyes  to  behold  man 
and  the  universe — one  God  from  whom  all  phenomena 

*  Later  it  was  revealed  to  us,  that  we  had  made  a  final  demonstration 
of  a  material  or  church  militant,  and  that  we  must,  in  response  to 
Mrs.  Eddy's  request,  begin  to  build  on  "a  wholly  spiritual  foundation" 
which  reveals  the  Church  Triumphant. 

2  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 


206  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

proceed,  and  who  is  expressed  in  spiritual  man  and  the 
spiritual  universe.  Spiritual  sense  is  revealing  the 
divine  possibilities  of  man  and  heaven  here  on  earth. 
The  false  forms  of  personal  sense  or  material  phenomena 
are  fast  fading  under  the  searchlight  of  Truth  and  the 
radium  of  divine  Love.  Your  patient  waiting  on  God, 
until  humanity  awakes  from  the  dream  of  mortal 
mind,  is  an  example  for  all  your  true  followers.  Truth 
can  afford  to  wait :  "  The  eternal  years  of  God  are  hers." 
The  changing  phenomena  which  progress  unfolds  reveal 
Christian  Science  moving  on  the  face  of  the  waters, 
forming  divine  concepts,  radiating  spiritual  phenomena. 
Love  reveals  Her  presence  to  all  who  obey  Her  laws. 
You,  beloved  of  the  Father,  have  demonstrated  Love's 
power,  Love's  affluence,  Love's  wisdom,  and  Her 
eternal  justice  and  mercy. 

When  I  recall  the  experiences  of  twenty-five  years 
of  listening  for  your  voice,  "Lest  my  footsteps  stray" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  398),  and  contemplate 
your  loving  watch-care  of  me  and  mine,  and  of  all 
mankind, — when  I  realize  that  you  are  still  continuing 
your  tireless  vigil  over  Israel's  army — I  cry  aloud  my 
gratitude  to  God  for  His  great  gift  to  humanity,  our 
precious  Leader;  then  I  press  on  in  this  line  of  light 
and  love  which  you  have  opened  for  the  world,  having 
yourself  traveled  every  step  of  its  rugged  way,  until 
you  stand  on  the  summit  of  holiness,  and  call  from  the 
heights  of  eternal  Love. 

May  we  and  all  your  faithful  followers  press  onward 
to  demonstrate  the  capacities  of  immortal  Mind,  which 
is  "God  with  us,"  manifesting  omnipotent,  omniscient, 
and  omnipresent  Love. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  207 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City. 
March  12, 1909. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I  think  it  is  needless  to  tell  you  that  during  the 
twenty-three  years  of  my  work  in  this  city,  I  have 
never  attended  places  of  amusement  nor  participated 
in  social  functions.  During  this  time  I  have  heard  one 
opera,  witnessed  two  theatrical  performances,  twenty 
years  ago,  and  have  attended  several  oratorios  and 
symphony  concerts.  While  I  never  attend  the  theatre, 
I  am  much  interested  and  pleased  to  note  the  efforts 
of  the  playwrights  to  elevate  the  stage  and  to  attain 
to  higher  ideals. 

To  the  many  invitations  which  I  receive,  I  reply 
that  I  have  not  sufficient  time  in  which  to  do  the  work 
demanded  by  our  Cause.  I  feel  that  I  have  realized 
the  meaning  of  the  words  of  our  Master:  "If  any  man 
love  the  [material]  world  [with  its  dream-shadows  or 
false  concepts,  its  false  images  and  falser  claims  to 
life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  them],  the  love  of 
the  Father  is  not  in  him." 

I  was  recently  invited  by  a  dear  student — a  composer 
of  music,  to  attend  a  private  rehearsal  of  his  orchestra, 
which  consisted  of  eighty  fine  musicians.  Christian 
Science  found  this  student  demonstrating  harmony 
in  music,  and  to-day  he  is  working  faithfully  to  attain 
higher  standards,  and  to  be  a  consistent  Christian 
Scientist  in  his  field  of  labor.  I  accepted  his  invitation 
to  the  rehearsal  and  spent  a  most  profitable  hour. 
I  was  greatly  impressed  with  the  object  lesson  and  its 
application  to  Christian  Scientists;  and  may  I  tell  you, 
dearest,  how  I  read  it?  If  I  am  trespassing  on  your 
time,  just  forgive  me  and  put  this  letter  out  of  mind. 

As  I  entered  the  hall,  the  musicians  were  engaged 
in  tuning  their  instruments.     Eighty  men  were  intent 


208  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

upon  securing  the  pitch  A.  The  scraping  of  the  bows 
over  violins,  violas,  violoncellos,  bass  viols,  and  all 
stringed  instruments;  the  tooting  and  twanging  of 
flutes,  harps,  clarinets,  cornets,  French  and  English 
horns,  kettledrums,  bassoons,  etc.,  were  confusion  worse 
confounded.  Each  man  seemed  unconscious  of  the 
other,  and  intent  only  upon  getting  his  own  instrument 
up  to  the  standard  pitch  A.  The  din  of  it  all  gave  rise 
to  wonder  as  to  how  they  could  get  the  key  in  such  a 
bedlam  of  noises.  Then  the  pitch  was  given  by  the 
oboe,  and  all  united  in  working  for  the  true  tone  and 
key. 

I  noticed  that  there  was  one  musician  in  authority 
over  the  violinists,  who  was  called  concert  master;  also, 
over  each  class  of  instruments  there  was  one  who 
seemed  responsible  for  the  musicians  in  his  care.  Each 
attended  to  his  own  department,  and  no  one  appeared 
to  be  aware  of  the  presence  of  any  but  his  own  men. 
I  noticed  the  discipline  and  obedience  of  each  body 
of  men,  and  their  recognition  of  authority  and  accep- 
tance of  correction.  Above  them  all  stood  the  leader 
or  conductor  of  the  orchestra.  He  gave  the  word. 
Each  instrument  in  perfect  tune,  each  player  intent 
only  upon  his  own  work  and  closely  watching  every 
movement  of  the  leader,  furnished  a  lesson  which 
confirmed  my  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  obedience 
to  law,  and  the  observance  of  order  and  discipline, 
which  I  have  always  felt  were  indispensable  to  the 
success  of  Christian  Science,  as  in  every  other  under- 
taking. 

As  the  music  proceeded,  the  leader,  with  a  keen 
sense  of  harmony,  quickly  detected  discord.  Then 
all  work  was  suspended  while  harmony  was  being 
restored    in    some   particular   instrument.     This   was 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  209 

frequently  repeated  when  a  discordant  note  or  error 
was  discovered,  until  all  became  one  harmonious 
whole.  I  observed  that  while  all  were  guided  by  the 
leader  of  the  orchestra,  the  head  of  each  class  of 
musicians  took  care  that  his  own  men  were  obedient 
to  the  leader. 

The  tuning-fork  is  always  correct  pitch,  and  is  the 
only  instrument  which  is  perfectly  independent  of 
climatic  influences.  Neither  heat  nor  cold  ever  af- 
fects the  true  tone  of  the  tuning-fork.  I  saw  in  this 
the  principle  of  music,  as  we  see  in  Christian  Science 
the  Principle  of  being,  which  is  never  affected  by  the 
opinions  or  traditions  of  men.  Always  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love,  it  cannot  be  influenced  by  the  illusion  called 
mortal  mind,  and  its  embodiment,  mortal  man — so- 
called.  Governed  by  Principle,  and  recognizing  and 
obeying  its  highest  manifestation,  we  are  held  in  spirit- 
ual law  and  order.  This  brings  us  into  harmony  with 
God,  who  is  law,  the  creator  and  governor  of  all  that 
is  real  and  eternal.  The  manifestation  of  God,  Christ, 
His  idea,  voices  and  expresses  the  beauty  of  creative 
Mind,  the  immutable  and  perfect  man  and  universe. 

All  this  ran  through  my  mind  as  I  listened.  After 
patient  drilling,  corrections,  instructions,  and  reproofs, 
unity  was  attained,  the  grand  melody  burst  forth,  and 
the  orchestra  seemed  like  one  individual,  with  every 
quality  of  harmony  pouring  forth  the  sweet  symphony 
of  Soul — type  and  symbol  of  the  great  organ  and 
universal  orchestra  or  universe,  the  expression  of  God, 
and  each  idea  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ.  I 
recognized  the  value  of  the  leader,  whose  superior 
knowledge  of  music  was  guiding  and  training  the 
members  of  his  orchestra.  I  noted  the  obedience 
of  the  men,  and  their  readiness  and  willingness  to 
14 


210  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

admit  and  correct  a  mistake.  Then  your  words  came 
to  my  mind  {Science  and  Health,  p.  213):  "Mental 
melodies  and  strains  of  sweetest  music  supersede 
conscious  sound:"  and  from  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
page  106:  "Music  is  the  harmony  of  being;  but  the 
music  of  Soul  affords  the  only  strains  that  thrill  the 
chords  of  feeling  and  awaken  the  heart's  harpstrings; " 
and  also  on  page  116: 

Are  we  filling  the  measures  of  life's  music  aright,  emphasiz- 
ing its  grand  strains,  swelling  the  harmony  of  being  with 
tones  whence  come  glad  echoes?  As  crescendo  and  di- 
minuendo accent  music,  so  the  varied  strains  of  human 
chords  express  life's  loss  or  gain, — loss  of  the  pleasures  and 
pains  and  pride  of  life :  gain  of  its  sweet  concord,  the  courage 
of  honest  convictions,  and  final  obedience  to  spiritual 
law. 

As  I  continued  to  interpret  the  lesson,  I  saw  you, 
beloved,  in  your  early  days  in  Christian  Science.  As 
your  hand  swept  over  the  human  heartstrings,  the 
tuning  must  have  produced  for  a  time  great  discord. 
You  have  graphically  described  this  in  Science  and 
Health,  page  559:  "The  inaudible  voice  of  Truth  is,  to 
the  human  mind,  '  as  when  a  lion  roareth.'"  As  your 
divine  hand  sweeps  over  the  many  instruments,  or 
human  thoughts,  each  must  catch  the  chord  of  Christ, 
the  true  pitch — love,  and  attune  himself  to  the  harmony 
of  divine  Mind.  Each  must  respond  to  the  law  of 
Spirit  until  perfect  melody  and  harmony  are  attained. 
This  work  is  going  on  under  your  divine  direction, 
through  your  true  students,  each  of  whom,  looking 
faithfully  to  you,  obeys  your  counsel  as  expressed  in 
the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  iqoq  (Art.  xxvi., 
Sect.  2,  in  regard  to  teachers): 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  211 

A  teacher  shall  not  assume  personal  control  of,  or  at- 
tempt to  dominate  his  pupils,  but  he  shall  hold  himself 
morally  obligated  to  promote  their  progress  in  the  under- 
standing of  divine  Principle,  not  only  during  the  class 
term  but  after  it,  and  to  watch  well  that  they  prove 
sound  in  sentiment  and  practical  in  Christian  Science.  He 
shall  persistently  and  patiently  counsel  his  pupils  in  con- 
formity with  the  unerring  laws  of  God,  and  shall  enjoin 
them  habitually  to  study  the  Scriptures  and  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  a  help  thereto. 

Thus  listening  to  the  voice  of  wisdom,  through  you, 
their  hearts  are  attuned  to  the  unity  of  good  and 
spiritual  love.  Thus  Love,  through  Her  chosen  One, 
is  touching  and  compelling  into  action  each  individual 
with  whom  error  seems  to  have  place  or  power.  May 
we,  your  true  students,  recognize  you  as  God's  messen- 
ger, and  respond  to  your  application  of  the  law  of 
Love,  and  may  each  student  who  has  taken  upon 
himself  or  herself  the  solemn  responsibility  of  teacher, 
follow  your  unselfed  example  of  "patient  obedience  to 
a  patient  God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  242),  by  line 
upon  line  and  precept  upon  precept,  that  we  may  aid 
our  students  to  escape  the  evil  that  is  in  the  material 
world,  and  that  we  may  bring  them  at  last  to  the 
Great  Shepherd. 

Let  me  continue  to  follow,  and  obey  and  adore  the 
white  Christ,  fall  at  the  feet  of  Love,  and  leave  behind 
me  all  that  is  false  and  unreal.  So  may  I  stand  in 
these  latter  days,  invulnerable  to  the  arrows  of  the 
adversary.  The  triumphal  song  of  victory  over  all  evil 
will  be  sung  by  all  who  "came  out  of  great  tribulation, 
and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white. " 
These  are  thee  and  thine,  beloved.  The  kingdom  of 
our  God  and  the  power  of  His  Christ   is  come,  and 


212  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

throughout  the  universe  shall  be  heard  the  never  ending 
and  harmonious  song  of  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  sung  in 
the  presence  of  the  King  by  the  Prince  of  peace  and 
righteousness. 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

i  West  96TH  Street, 
May  23,  1909. 

Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Chestnut  Hill,  Brookline,  Mass. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

I  have  read  with  deep  appreciation  your  amended 
By-Law,  Article  xxiii,  Section  10,  and  am  moved  to 
write  you  my  understanding  of  democratic  government 
as  applied  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist. 

Christ  being  the  Head  of  the  Church,  "the  govern- 
ment shall  be  upon  his  shoulder."  "But  the  body 
is  of  Christ"  and  "the  Head,  from  which  all  the  body 
by  joints  and  bands  having  nourishment  ministered, 
and  knit  together,  increaseth  with  the  increase  of  God" 
(Col.  ii.,  19),  "for  Christ,  God's  idea,  will  eventually 
rule  all  nations  and  peoples — imperatively,  absolutely, 
finally — with    divine    Science"   {Science   and  Health, 

P-  565). 

The  definition  of  the  word  "people,"  as  given  by 
the  Standard  Dictionary,  is  "All  the  human  beings 
under  the  same  government,  speaking  the  same 
language,  or  being  of  the  same  blood. "  Webster 
defines  democracy  as  "a  form  of  government  in  which 
the  supreme  power  is  retained  by  the  people  and 
directly  exercised  by  them."  Christ  being  the  "su- 
preme power"  works  through  every  member  of  his 
body,  "For  it  is  God  which  worketh  in  you  "   (Phil. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  213 

ii.,   13).     The  highest  visible  manifestation  of  Christ 
governs  in  the  temporal  realm. 

Again  quoting  Webster's  definition:  "A  form  of 
government  in  which  the  supreme  power  [Christ] 
is  retained  [dwelleth]  by  the  people."  For  "Know 
ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God?"  (1  Cor.  iii.,  16). 
Thus  every  member  of  the  body  moves  in  accord  with 
the  power  which  resides  in  the  whole,  for  Christ  and 
his  church  is  one.  In  Acts  xvii.,  26,  we  read  that  he 
"hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to 
dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth."  Created  by  the 
one  Mind,  every  member  of  the  body  is  one  blood — 
life.  They  speak  the  same  "language"  and  manifest 
the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  the  glory  of  God.  The  follow- 
ing Scriptural  passages  confirm  this: 

For  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and 
all  the  members  of  that  one  body,  being  many,  are  one 
body:  so  also  is  Christ. 

For  by  one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one  body, 
whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or 
free;  and  have  been  all  made  to  drink  into  one  Spirit 
(1  Cor.  xii.,  12,  13). 

Also  from   Science   and  Health,  p.    125:    "Reflecting 
God's  government,  man  is  self -governed.  " 

Under  the  true  democratic  government  which  your 
teachings  have  established,  the  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  must  continually  increase  in  spiritual  power 
and  "never-ending  success"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  The  adversary  cannot  prevail  against 
it,  "And  there  shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  it  [this 
wholly  spiritual  consciousness  or  Church  Triumphant] 
anything  that  defileth,  neither  whatsoever  worketh 
abomination,  or  maketh  a  lie:  but  they  which  are 
written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life"  (Rev.  xxi.,  27). 


2i4  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

In  the  light  of  this,  your  latest  amendment,  the 
path  becomes  brighter  and  brighter  unto  the  perfect 
day.  The  same  divine  right  by  which  you  have  ex- 
ercised the  spiritual  autocracy,  the  wisdom  and  power 
of  God,  enables  us,  as  your  followers,  to  exemplify  the 
divine  democracy,  wherein  all  men  are  equal  in  the 
sight  of  God. 

In  this  particular  branch  of  The  Mother  Church, 
we  have  had  many  special  proofs  of  your  wise  leader- 
ship and  protecting  care,  and  we  may  say  with  Paul 
that  "if  the  root  be  holy,  so  are  the  branches"  (Ro- 
mans xi.,  1 6).  For  twenty  consecutive  years  we  have 
never  had  a  divided  vote  nor  a  dissenting  voice  at  any 
of  our  annual  or  church  meetings.  Certainly  this 
unity  is  a  fulfilment  of  the  ideal  democracy,  in  which 
the  understanding  or  "power  resides  ultimately  in  the 
whole  [healed]  people. "  Recognizing  you,  our  beloved 
Leader,  as  the  head  of  the  Church,  may  we  further  quote 
the  words  of  Paul.  Now  we  "are  the  body  of  Christ, 
and  members  in  particular.  And  God  hath  set  some 
in  the  church,  first  apostles,  secondarily  prophets, 
thirdly  teachers,  after  that  miracles,  then  gifts  of 
healings,  helps,  governments,  diversities  of  tongues" 
(i  Cor.  xii.,  27,  28).  Thus  we  discern  the  "Adorable 
One"  whose  name  is  forever  hallowed,  and  whose 
kingdom  is  come. 

Let  me,  dearest,   close  with  your  inspiring  words: 

Fed  by  Thy  love  divine  we  live, 
For  Love  alone  is  Life.1 

Ever  and  forever, 

Your  grateful,  loving  child. 

Augusta. 

1  Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  388. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  215 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  10,  1909. 

My  precious  Leader; — 

I  have  just  this  morning  received  these  letters  and 
the  box  from  twenty-five  practitioners  in  our  church 
Reading  Room.  They  were  a  great  surprise  to  me, 
and  were  written  hurriedly  at  the  suggestion  of  one 
student.  No  one  knew  what  the  others  had  written. 
I  have  had  Mr.  H.  .  .  copy  these  letters  and  the 
students  have  signed  them.  Thus  you  may  read  them 
more  readily.  They  make  a  letter  which  you  will 
appreciate  as  demonstration  of  the  one  Mind;  all  of 
"one  accord  in  one  place."  They  were  sent  to  me  as 
expressions  of  loving  gratitude  the  day  before  our 
Communion  service.  I  feel  they  belong  to  you,  dearest, 
and  are  your  fruit;  for  without  your  divine  instruction 
and  Christly  guidance  I  should  not  have  had  them, 
so  I  send  this  copy  of  the  dear  letters  to  you,  with  the 
type  of  the  gold  of  human  character  which  is  fast 
melting  into  spiritual  understanding  in  each  of  these 
students. 

You  asked  me  years  ago  this  question,  "Augusta, 
lovest  thou  me?"  I  answered,  "Yes,  beloved  Leader, 
I  love  you."  Again  you  repeated  the  query,  "Lovest 
thou  me?"  and  again  I  replied,  "Yes,  I  love  you,  my 
Leader,  Teacher,  and  Guide  to  eternal  Life."  Then 
you  said,  "Feed  my  sheep."  I  have  earnestly  and 
prayerfully  endeavored  to  do  this.  These  are  thine, 
holy  One;  I  trust  they  are  all  strong  in  Christ,  and  are 
armored  with  spiritual  understanding  and  love  to  meet 
the  tests  that  are  before  them  in  this  crucial  hour. 
They  are  daily  going  forth  to  battle  with  the  beast 
and  the  false  prophet,  confident  that  Christ  goes  before 
them  to  destroy  the  claim  of  lust  and  hypocrisy,  and 
to  reveal  God  and  His  body — the  spiritual  universe. 


216  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

May  none  fall  away!  They  desire  to  honor  you,  our 
great  forever  Leader;  they  have  come  up  out  of  great 
tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes. 

I  feel  that  my  prayers  and  my  alms  are  come  up 
before  God.  We  are  observing  your  advice  in  the 
Manual,  Art.  xxx.,  Sect.  7,  and  are  rejoicing  that 
"the  devils  are  subject  unto  us  through  thy  name." 
These  are  evidences  of  the  preparation  made  in  the 
"large  upper  room,"  where  the  last  supper  may  be 
eaten,  when  we  are  ready  to  receive  the  ascended  One 
coming  to  his-her  own  never  to  depart. 

During  our  Communion  service  to-morrow  we  shall 
look  for  the  "reappearing"  of  our  Lord,  and  shall 
silently  "commune  with  the  divine  Principle,  Love" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  35). 

Precious  Leader,  my  love  for  you  is  inexpressible. 
God  grant  my  constant  prayer  that  I  may  be  worthy 
to  be  called 

Your  faithful,  obedient,  loving  child, 

Augusta. 

THE  COMPOSITE  LETTER 
AND  ITS  SPIRITUAL  SIGNIFICANCE 

Wherefore  henceforth  know  we  no  man  after  the  flesh:  yea,  though 
we  have  known  Christ  after  the  flesh,  yet  now  henceforth  know  we  him 
no  more. — 2  Corinthians  v.,  1 6. 

Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the  perfect  man,  who  appeared  to  him  where 
sinning  mortal  man  appears  to  mortals.  In  this  perfect  man  the 
Saviour  saw  God's  own  likeness,  and  this  correct  view  of  man  healed 
the  sick. — Science  and  Health,  pp.  476,  477. 

The  following  letters  were  written  by  the  students 
from  their  spiritual  concept  of  me  and  of  all  mankind, 
in  response  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  request  to  begin  "to  build 
.  .  .  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation  "  {Christian  Science 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  217 

Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390)  which  is  that  man  was,  is,  and 
eternally  will  be  immortal, — that  the  so-called  mortal  or 
fleshly  man  is  not  the  man  of  God's  creating,  therefore 
is  to  be  regarded  as  a  myth,  dust  to  dust,  nothingness. 
To  read  these  letters  through  the  lens  of  so-called 
mortal  mind,  sinning  mortal  man  appears.  Read 
through  the  lens  of  divine  Science,  man  is  revealed 
as  God's  own  likeness.  Christian  Scientists  to-day 
rejoice  in  the  light  which  unveils  the  perfect  man 
where  once,  to  the  unillumined  sense,  sinning  mortal 
man  appeared.  When  Christian  Scientists  arrive  at 
this  point  of  spiritual  development  and  their  divinity 
appears  real,  they  will  perceive  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being,  and  will  understandingly  argue  from  the  basis  of 
absolute  Christian  Science,  viz. :  "that  man  is,  not  shall 
be,  perfect  and  immortal"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  428). 

They  will  not  contend  for  their  mortal  concept  of 
man,  but  will  follow  Christ  Jesus  who  "beheld  in 
Science  the  perfect  man,  who  appeared  to  him  where 
sinning  mortal  man  appears  to  mortals."  Then  they 
will  begin  "to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion," and  will  be  ready  to  meet  the  antagonism  of  the 
materially  minded  who  always  oppose  the  appearing  of 
the  spiritual  idea.  They  will  rejoice  in  the  destruction 
of  the  false  senses,  and  will  gain  spiritual  illumination 
which  reveals  man  as  immortal  here  and  now,  never  in 
nor  of  materiality. 

The  Directors  exhibited  a  letter  at  this  time  from 
Mrs.  Eddy  in  which  she  said:  "Act,  and  act  quickly. 
Handle  these  letters  according  to  Science  and  Health, 
and  The  Mother  Church  Manual."  When  Jesus's  hour 
of  exaltation  or  further  development  of  spiritual  power 
came,  he  used  about  the  same  language:  "That  thou 
doest,  do  quickly." 


218  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

The  "handling"  of  these  letters,  written  from  the 
standpoint  of  absolute  Christian  Science,  tested  the 
spiritual  understanding  of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church.  They  agreed  that  my  interpretation  of  Science 
and  Health  and  The  Mother  Church  Manual  was  incor- 
rect; and  published  it  as  "pretended"  Christian 
Science  and  not  in  accord  with  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings. 
My  authority  to  teach  and  practise  Christian  Science 
was  revoked  and  my  name  was  dropped  from  The 
Mother  Church,  and  my  emergence  from  material 
organization  was  scientifically  accomplished. 

The  excerpts  marked  "A"  are  the  portions  of  the 
letters  which  appeared  in  the  Editorial  in  the  Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  950. 

I  publish  only  ten  letters  from  which  the  extracts  were 
taken. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  July  10,  1909. 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D., 

1  West  96th  Street,  New  York  City. 
Beloved  Teacher: — 

In  grateful  acknowledgment  of  your  example  and  teach- 
ing, we,  as  members  of  your  body  [student-body],  desire 
to  offer  this  evidence  of  our  intelligent  loyalty.  For 
many  years  you  have  been  fitting  us  to  fill  our  respective 
places  in  our  Leader's  (Christ's)  Body,  and  during  the  past 
six  months  you  have  daily  fed  us  with  the  bread  of  heaven 
and  the  wine  of  inspiration  which  you  have  inherited  from 
your  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy. 

We  bring  you  our  first-fruits  in  this  joyous  harvest  hour, 
knowing  that,  as  we  bring  our  tithes  into  the  storehouse, 
God  will  pour  out  His  unlimited  blessing.  As  the  children 
of  Israel  stood,  staff  in  hand,  ready  for  their  journey  out 
of  Egypt,  on  the  paschal  night,  so  we  have  been  prepared 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  219 

and  equipped  through  your  discipline  and  instruction  for 
the  final  journey  out  of  the  house  of  bondage  of  material 
sense  into  the  promised  Land  of  spiritual  freedom. 


A.  In  grateful  acknowledgment  of  your  example  and 
teaching,  we,  as  members  of  your  body,  desire  to  offer  this 
evidence  of  our  intelligent  loyalty. 


You  have  led  us  to  heights  of  spiritual  understanding 
where,  as  our  beloved  Leader  tells  us,  "the  mortal  concept 
...  is  obliterated"  (Message,  1902).  May  a  purified  life 
attest  the  endless  gratitude  I  feel  for  the  manifestation 
of  the  Christ  you  have  given  us,  while,  with  Mary  of  old 
I  cry,  Rabboni — Teacher. 


A.  May  a  purified  life  attest  the  endless  gratitude  I 
feel  for  the  manifestation  of  the  Christ  you  have  given  us, 
while,  with  Mary  of  old  I  cry,  Rabboni — Teacher. 


Your  unselfish  life,  fast  approaching  the  perfect  idea 
of  Love,  is  to  my  hungry  sense  for  Truth,  "the  bread  of 
heaven  and  the  water  of  Life."  Eating  this  bread  and 
drinking  this  water  is  to  me  eating  the  body  of  Christ,  and 
drinking  his  blood.  Loving  obedience  to  your  guiding 
thought  as  my  teacher  has  given  me  our  precious  Leader, 
the  forever  presence  of  the  living  God.  In  this  I  have 
found  my  life  "with  Christ  in  God,"  as  a  whole  member 
of  His  Body.  My  gratitude  to  you  is  the  burning  lamp 
I  lovingly  and  joyfully  tend. 


A.  Your  unselfish  life,  fast  approaching  the  perfect 
idea  of  Love,  is  to  my  hungry  sense  for  Truth,  "the  bread 
of  heaven  and  the  water  of  Life."  Eating  this  bread 
and  drinking  this  water  is  to  me  eating  the  body  of  Christ, 
and  drinking  his  blood. 


220  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

In  this  hour  of  revelation,  the  life  of  Truth  and  Love, 
which  you  have  reflected  to  us,  has  so  illumined  our  con- 
sciousness that  "the  real  heaven  and  the  real  earth"  are 
appearing.  We  behold  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  revealed  to  our  waking  thought  as  eternal  Life, 
and  you,  our  blessed  teacher,  as  the  manifestation  of 
Truth.  We  behold  each  other  "born,  not  of  blood,  nor 
of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God, " 
even  the  "'male  and  female'  of  God's  creating"  (S.  &  H., 
p.  249),  and  the  whole  universe  as  the  compound  idea  of 
Spirit,  each  individual  member  partaking  of  the  whole 
nature  of  God,  "in  which  passion  has  no  part"  (5.  &  H., 
p.  64).  "Old  things  are  passed  away:  behold,  all  things 
are  become  new."  Our  hearts  are  filled  with  gratitude  and 
awe  as  we  see,  in  you,  Christian  Science  demonstrated. 
"This  is  the  new  understanding  of  spiritual  Love.  It  gives 
all  for  Christ,  or  Truth.  It  blesses  its  enemies,  heals  the 
sick,  casts  out  error,  raises  the  dead  from  trespasses  and 
sins,  and  preaches  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  the  meek  in 
heart"  (5.  fir  H.,  p.  33). 


A.  And  you,  our  blessed  teacher,  as  the  manifestation 
of  Truth.  .  .  .  Our  hearts  are  filled  with  gratitude  and  awe 
as  we  see,  in  you,  Christianity  demonstrated. 


Here,  "with  the  upper  chambers  of  thought  prepared 
for  the  reception  of  Truth"  (Mary  Baker  Eddy),  the  voice 
of  the  Father- Mother  God  is  ever  speaking  through  you. 
Every  one  that  is  of  the  Truth  heareth  and  answereth  with 
increasing  joy  and  gratitude.  Thus  the  light  of  Life,  Truth, 
and  Love  illumines  not  only  us  but  the  entire  universe, 
unto  the  perfect  day  of  Christ,  "  of  the  increase  of  his 
[whose]  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end. "  Thus 
is  fulfilled  the  prophecy  and  promise  of  our  beloved  Leader 
— "never  ending  success"  in  demonstration  of  Emmanuel. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  221 

A.  The  voice  of  the  Father-Mother  God  is  ever  speaking 
through  you. 

Ever  on  upward  wing,  your  flight  in  supernal  order  has 
been  so  far  above  all  touch  of  the  finite,  that  I  hear  the 
echo  of  response  through  the  invisible  choir  singing,  "Well 
done,  good  and  faithful"  teacher;  "enter  thou  into  the  joy" 
prepared  by  our  Leader  for  you, — a  patient,  steadfast 
watcher,  "  watching  out. " 

A.  Ever  on  upward  wing,  your  flight  in  supernal  order 
has  been  so  far  above  all  touch  of  the  finite,  etc.,  etc. 


Your  teaching,  demonstrated  by  us,  your  body  [student- 
body],  constitutes  the  true  furnishing  of  the  "upper  room," 
at  this  paschal  meal,  in  "the  dawn  of  a  new  light  "  (S.  &  H. 
P-  35). — the  appearing  of  the  masculine  and  feminine  of 
God's  creating, — the  spiritual  idea,  the  perfect  man. 


A.  Your  teaching,  demonstrated  by  us,  your  body, 
constitutes  the  true  furnishing  of  the  "upper  room,"  at 
this  paschal  meal,  in  "  the  dawn  of  a  new  light  "  (S.  &  H., 
p.  35) , — the  appearing  of  the  masculine  and  feminine  of 
God's  creating, — the  spiritual  idea,  the  perfect  man. 


You  are  known  to  us,  our  beloved  teacher,  by  words 
which  make  "  our  hearts  burn  within  us,"  and  we,  your  body 
[student-body],  quickly  and  gratefully  respond.  In  the 
words  of  our  beloved  Leader,  "Glory  be  to  God,  and  peace 
to  the  struggling  hearts !  Christ  hath  rolled  away  the  stone 
from  the  door  of  human  hope  and  faith,  and  through  the 
revelation  and  demonstration  of  life  in  God,  hath  elevated 
them  to  possible  at-one-ment  with  the  spiritual  idea  of 
man  and  his  divine  Principle,  Love"  (S.  &  II.,  p.  45). 


A.  You  are  known  to  us,  our  beloved  teacher,  by  words 
which  make  "our  hearts  burn  within  us,"  and  we,  your 
body,  quickly  and  gratefully  respond. 


222  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

Dear  teacher,  your  teaching  has  revealed  to  me  that, 
to  be  a  true  Christian  Scientist,  is  to  so  purify  my  own 
thought  that  I  can  be  subject  to  the  Head  of  the  Body  of 
God,  as  reflected  by  you.  Gratitude  is  expressed  only  as 
we  become  instantaneous  in  our  response  to  your  mental 
touch.     "God  spake,  and  it  was  done." 


A.  Dear  teacher,  your  teaching  has  revealed  to  me 
that,  to  be  a  true  Christian  Scientist,  is  to  so  purify  my 
own  thought  that  I  can  be  subject  to  the  Head  of  the  Body 
of  God,  as  reflected  by  you.  Gratitude  is  expressed  only 
as  we  become  instantaneous  in  our  response  to  your  mental 
touch.     "God  spake,  and  it  was  done. " 


In  the  unity  of  Love,  as  children  of  the  one  Father, 
members  of  the  one  spiritual  Body,  we  recognize  the 
wealth  of  inspiration  that  you  have  imparted  to  us  from  the 
highest  plane  of  consecration  and  discernment  of  Truth, 
the  radiation  of  the  "  Sun  of  righteousness."  Nothing  can 
measure  the  sublime  importance  of  the  real,  the  contact 
with  "the  deep  things  of  God,"  the  understanding  of 
Man's  relation  with  the  divine  Principle.  You  bear  always 
the  standard  of  Christian  Science  aloft,  and  urging  our 
advance  into  more  light  and  greater  attainment,  so  follow- 
ing our  Leader  as  she  follows  Christ.  Our  sincere  appre- 
ciation of  your  grand  work  of  self-sacrifice  and  devotion, 
steadfast  courage  and  power  is  slightly  expressed  in  the 
accompanying  offering  which  we  ask  you  to  accept  with 
our  warmest  love  and  loyalty. 

Edwin  F.  Hatfield. 
Chairman  of   Board  of    Trustees,   First  Church  of 

Christ,    Scientist,    New    York    City,    and     Mrs. 

Stetson's   student  for   twenty-one   years. 


A.     We  recognize  the  wealth  of  inspiration  that  you  have 
imparted  to  us    from  the   highest  plane  of   consecration 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  223 

and  discernment  of  Truth,  the  radiation  of  the  "  Sun  of 
righteousness." 


All  except  six  of  these  students  whose  letters  were 
sent  to  Mrs.  Eddy  adhered  to  absolute  Christian  Science, 
and  were  ready  to  begin  to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual 
foundation," — to  suffer  persecution,  ostracism,  and 
contumely  that  they  might  follow  Christ,  emerge  from 
material  organization,  and  win  the  crown  of  immor- 
tality. Nineteen  stoutly  defended  absolute  Christian 
Science  in  response  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  invitation  to  begin 
to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation,"  and  at 
this  hour  stand  immovable  on  the  rock,  Christ. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
July  12,  1909. 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,1 

New  York  City. 

Beloved  Student: — I  have  just  finished  reading  your  inter- 
esting letter.  I  thank  you  for  acknowledging  me  as  your 
Leader,  and  I  know  that  every  true  follower  of  Christian 
Science  abides  by  the  definite  rules  which  demonstrate  the 
true  following  of  their  Leader ;  therefore,  if  you  are  sincere 
in  your  protestations  and  are  doing  as  you  say  you  are, 
you  will  be  blessed  in  your  obedience. 
•  The  Scriptures  say,  "Watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not 
into  tempation. "  You  are  aware  that  animal  magnetism 
is  the  opposite  of  divine  Science,  and  that  this  opponent 
is  the  means  whereby  the  conflict  against  Truth  is  engen- 
dered and  developed.  Beloved!  you  need  to  watch  and 
pray  that  the  enemy  of  good  cannot  separate  you  from 
your  Leader  and  best  earthly  friend. 

You  have  been  duly  informed  by  me  that,  however 
much  I  desire  to  read  all  that  you  send  to  me,  I  have  not 
the  time  to  do  so.  The  Christian  Science  Publishing 
Society  will  settle  the  question  whether  or  not  they  shall 

1  Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  313. 


224  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

publish  your  poems.     It  is  part  of  their  duties  to  relieve 
me  of  so  much  labor. 

I  thank  you  for  the  money  you  send  me  which  was  given 
you  by  your  students.  I  shall  devote  it  to  a  worthy  and 
charitable  purpose. 

Mr.  Adam  Dickey  is  my  secretary,  through  whom  all 
my  business  is  transacted. 

Give  my  best  wishes  and  love  to  your  dear  students  and 
church. 

Lovingly  your  teacher  and  Leader, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Brookline,  Mass., 
July  23,  1909. 
My  dear  Student: — " 

Awake  and  arise  from  this  temptation  produced  by 
animal  magnetism  upon  yourself,  allowing  your  students 
to  deify  you  and  me.  Treat  yourself  for  it  and  get  your 
students  to  help  you  rise  out  of  it.  It  will  be  your  de- 
struction if  you  do  not  do  this.  Answer  this  letter 
immediately. 

As  ever,  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  replied  immediately  in  the  following  letter: 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  24,  1909. 

Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Chestnut  Hill,  Brookline,  Mass. 
My  precious  Leader: — 

Your  dear  letter  of  to-day  is  before  me.  I  thank 
you  for  your  continued  watch-care  during  this  perilous 
passage  (through  material  sense  to  Soul)  from  the  will 
of  the  flesh,  or  human  energy,  which  embodies  itself 
in  physical  personality,  to  the  will  of  God,  or  divine 

1  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  130. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  225 

energy,  which  dissolves  finite  personality  together 
with  all  the  phenomena  of  the  carnal  mind,  and  reveals 
Spirit,  God,  as  the  only  creator,  and  man  as  His  image 
and  likeness,  the  compound  idea  or  divine  personality, 
the  reflection  of  the  infinite  Person. 

In  your  Message  to  The  Mother  Church  for  iqoi, 
page  41, 1  read: 

Do  Christian  Scientists  believe  in  personality?  They  do, 
but  their  personality  is  defined  spiritually,  not  materially — 
by  Mind,  not  by  matter.  We  do  not  blot  out  the  material 
race  of  Adam,  but  leave  all  sin  to  God's  fiat— self-extinc- 
tion, and  to  the  final  manifestation  of  the  real  spiritual 
man  and  universe.  We  believe,  according  to  the  Scriptures, 
that  God  is  infinite  Spirit  or  Person,  and  man  is  His  image 
and  likeness:  therefore  man  reflects  Spirit,  not  matter. 

I  have  always  tried  to  teach  my  students  to  differen- 
tiate between  finite  and  infinite  personality,  between 
the  physical  personality,  which  is  the  image  of  the 
beast  or  so-called  mortal  mind,  specifically  named 
animal  magnetism,  and  the  divine  personality,  which 
is  the  image  of  God — the  spiritual  idea  or  Christ. 
By  failing  to  discern  this  difference  some  of  my  stu- 
dents in  the  past  have  lost  "the  way."  "Jesus  de- 
monstrated Christ"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  332).  He 
showed  the  way  by  which  humanity  could  escape  from 
the  bondage  of  fleshly  personality;  he  designated  the 
Christ  as  "  the  way  "  when  he  said,  "No  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father,  but  by  me,"  and  "he  that  hath  seen 
me  [the  spiritual  idea  or  my  individuality]  hath  seen 
the  Father. " 

The  sensuous  world  refused,  and  continues  to  refuse, 
to  follow  and  obey  the  impersonal  Christ  which  Jesus 
and   you,  my  beloved   Leader,  have  declared.     They 


226  Letters  to  Mrs.  tiddy 

held  him  in  the  bonds  of  personal  sense.  The  wise 
see  you  to-day  as  the  Messiah,  or  the  Anointed  of  God 
to  this  age,  fulfilling  the  law  of  Love.  They  do  not 
deify  your  human  personality,  but  will  not  lose  sight  of 
your  spiritual  individuality,  or  God  with  us.  Although 
all  of  my  students  have  been  taught  this,  doubtless 
some  have  not  assimilated  it. 

In  your  letter  to  me,  which  was  published  in  the  Senti- 
nel of  July  17th,  you  thanked  me  for  acknowledging  you 
as  my  Leader.  I  have  always  delighted  to  revere,  fol- 
low, and  obey  you  as  my  Leader,  to  whom  I  pay  loving, 
loyal  allegiance.  I  am  abiding  by  the  divine  rules  laid 
down  in  your  writings,  and  am  following  your  Christly 
example  so  far  as  Love  reflected  in  love  illumines  the 
way.  This  sincere  endeavor  to  possess  the  Mind  of 
Christ  must  bring  its  blessing.  Your  comforting  assur- 
ance that  I  am  "  aware  that  animal  magnetism  is  the 
opposite  of  divine  Science "  {Christian  Science  Journal, 
vol.  xxvii.,  p.  313)  gives  me  renewed  courage  to  wield  the 
two-edged  sword  of  Truth  and  Love  with  intent  to  de- 
capitate this  opponent,  the  beast  and  false  prophet ;  for 
the  lie,  lust,  and  hypocrisy,  which  contend  against  inno- 
cence and  truth — the  Lamb  of  Love,  shall  not  continue 
to  engender  and  develop,  for  God  worketh  with  us. 

Precious  Leader,  I  am  watching  and  praying  that 
"the  enemy  of  good"  cannot  "separate"1  me  from 
you,  my  Leader  and  Teacher.  "For  I  am  persuaded, 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities, 
nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come, 
nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall 
be  able  to  separate  us  [me]  from  the  love  of  God,  which 
is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord" — and  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
my  beloved  Leader,  "and  best  earthly  friend.  "x 

1  See.  Mrs.  Eddy's  letter,  page  223. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  227 

I  have  always  taught  my  students  to  love  and 
reverence  you  as  the  one  whom  God  has  appointed 
to  voice  His  word  to  this  age. 

My  students  know  that  I  am  endeavoring  to  obey 
your  teaching  and  demonstrate  Christ,  and  for  this 
reason  they,  in  turn,  have  confidence  in  me  as  a  teacher 
and  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science.  For  twenty- 
five  years,  "the  enemy  of  good"  has  been  using  every 
subtle  suggestion  to  separate  me  from  the  Christ  which 
you  represent,  and  are  demonstrating,  but  it  has 
signally  and  utterly  failed.  If  my  students  have 
shown  more  zeal  than  wisdom  in  expressing  their 
love  for  their  Leader,  and  for  their  teacher,  I  will  try 
still  further  to  warn  them  of  the  danger  of  deifying 
physical  personality.  I  believe,  however,  that  they 
are  clear  on  the  fact  that  "none  is  good,  save  one,  that 
is,  God,"  and  His  idea,  and  that  "I  can  of  mine  own 
self  [material  self]  do  nothing,"  "But  the  Father  that 
dwellethinme  [in  my  spiritual  individuality],  He  doeth 
the  works." 

As  you  continue  to  demonstrate  the  "infinite 
calculus  defining  the  line,  plane,  space,  and  fourth 
dimension  of  Spirit"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  22), 
may  wisdom  enable  me  to  maintain,  through  you,  God's 
idea,  the  consciousness  of  my  unity  with  Him.  This 
I  believe  I  have  always  done  in  the  letter,  and  in  an 
ever  increasing  degree  in  the  spirit.  I  have  taught  my 
students  to  look  straight  at  and  through  the  brazen 
serpent  of  false  personality,  and  to  behold  the  im- 
mortal idea,  man,  where  the  mortal  seems  to  be.  Ma- 
licious animal  magnetism  still  persists  in  its  efforts,  by 
its  indiscriminate  denunciation  of  personality  in  general, 
to  slay  the  spiritual  idea,  Christian  Science,  to  which 
you  have  given  birth.     I  understand  your  teachings 


228  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

to  mean  that  we  must  judge  righteous  judgment,  and 
discern  between  the  false  and  the  true,  so  that,  when 
bidden  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  we  may  bind  the 
tares  into  bundles  to  be  burned,  while  we  gather  the 
wheat  into  the  garner.  No  man  can  serve  two  mas- 
ters, but  every  man  must  serve  one  master,  Christ. 

The  Scriptures  show  us  that  in  every  age  God  has 
spoken  through  a  person.  Abraham,  Moses,  Samuel, 
David,  Jesus,  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  are  some  of  the 
human  names  by  which  God's  chosen  representatives 
have  been  known  in  history.  You  refer  to  this  fact 
in  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  308,  "personal  revela- 
tors  will  take  their  proper  place  in  history,  but  will 
not  be  deified. " 

Beloved  Leader,  you  are  ever  speaking  to  my  heart, 
"Awake!"  and  I  reply, 

I  will  listen  for  Thy  voice, 

Lest  my  footsteps  stray; 
I  will  follow  and  rejoice 

All  the  rugged  way. x 

Your  loving  child, 

Augusta, 
telegram 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  26, 1909. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

"For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  [me]  from  the  love 
of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord" — andMary 
Baker  Eddy,  my  "best  earthly  friend."2 

*  Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  398. 

2  Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  313. 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  229 

With  ever  increasing  love,  and  unspeakable  gratitude 
for  your  precious  gift  of  Christian  Science,  I  am, 

Your  child, 

Augusta. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  2,  1909. 

My  precious  Leader: — l 

The  words  of  your  sweet  poem  are  a  comfort  to  me 
in  this  hour: 

0  make  me  glad  for  every  scalding  tear, 
For  hope  deferred,  ingratitude,  disdain! 

Wait,  and  love  more  for  every  hate,  and  fear 
No  ill, — since  God  is  good,  and  loss  is  gain. 

Beneath  the  shadow  of  His  mighty  wing; 

In  that  sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way, 
Seeking  and  finding,  with  the  angels  sing: 

"Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway," — watch  and  pray. 

Love  will  fulfil  Her  perfect  work  in  me  and  mine, 
and  nothing  can  separate  me  from  my  Leader  and 
"best  earthly  friend."  I  love  you  beyond  the  power  of 
pen  or  tongue  to  express,  and  "I  know  whom  I  have 
believed. " 

Precious  Leader,  I  am  strong,  and  a  peace  that 
passeth  understanding  convinces  me  that  I  am  under 
the  shadow  of  Love's  mighty  wing,  safe  in  the  arms 
of  my  Father-Mother  God.  Earth's  shadows  cannot 
hide  me  from  you,  beloved,  nor  will  I  lose  sight  of 
my  guide  to  eternal  Life — my  Leader  and  Teacher. 

With  forever  love, 

Your  child, 

Augusta. 

1  This  letter  was  written  and  sent  to  Mrs.  Eddy  during  the  trial 
incidental  to  my  radical  stand  for  absolute  Christian  Science. 


230  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  16,  1909. 

My  precious  Leader,  Teacher,  and  Guide: — 

I  have  heard  your  dear  voice  in  your  letter  which 
appeared  in  the  Sentinel  of  October  16th.  I  shall 
withdraw  from  personal  participation  in  my  church 
management,  for  the  present. 

In  carrying  out  this  decision,  I  am  to-day  send- 
ing in  my  resignation  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City.  I  am  also  notifying  the  Secretary 
of  my  Students'  Association  that  I  shall  not  attend 
the  approaching  Annual  Meeting.  I  am  request- 
ing the  Secretary  to  notify  my  students  •  that  I  de- 
sire them  to  assemble  as  usual,  in  accordance  with 
the  By-Law,  Article  xxvi.,  Section  6,  as  published 
in  the  Sentinel  of  October  16th,  and  to  be  governed 
thereby. 

I  shall  strictly  not  oppose  the  orders  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  as  officially  communicated  to  me 
by  the  Secretary  of  that  Board  on  September  25th, 
1909. 

I  am  apprehending  more  and  more  the  meaning  of 
"wholly  spiritual"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi., 
p.  390)  building,  which  you  enjoined  upon  me  and  my 
church  in  your  letter  in  the  Sentinel  of  January  16th. 
Thus  I  shall  be  able  to  draw  nearer  to  you  spiritually, 
and  rise  with  you  to  the  demonstration  of  immortal 
consciousness — my  oneness  with  infinite  Love,  "And  I, 
if  I  be  lifted  up  .  .  .  will  draw  all"  whom  the  Father 
giveth  me. 

It  is  your  wisdom  and  love  expressed  in  your  words 
following : 


Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy  231 

Love  looseth  thee,  and  lifteth  me, 

Ayont  hate's  thrall: 
There  Life  is  light,  and  wisdom  might, 

And  God  is  All.  \ 

My  gratitude  and  love  for  my  precious  Leader  are 
beyond  all  that  human  language  can  express. 

Your  faithful  child, 

Augusta. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
Saturday,  Midnight,  October  16,  1909. 

My  precious  Leader; — 

Since  writing  you  my  letter  of  this  morning,  and 
before  mailing  the  letter  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of 
my  Students'  Association,  I  received  a  communication 
from  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church. 

In  view  of  this,  I  will  not  mail  the  letter  originally 
written  to  the  Secretary,  but  I  will  simply  notify  her 
that  I  will  not  convene  nor  attend  the  approaching 
annual  meeting  of  my  Students'  Association. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  your  child, 

Augusta. 

7^West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  13,  1909. 

My  precious  Leader: — 2 

Just  a  few  lines  of  devoted  love  to  you,  beloved. 
I  opened  my  Bible  just  now,  and  my  eyes  rested  upon 
the  tenth  verse  of  the  sixth  chapter  of  Ephesians: 

Finally,  my  brethren,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
power  of  His  might. 

Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to 
stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil. 

For  we  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against 

1  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

"This  letter  was  written  two  days  before  my  trial  in  Boston  in 
November,  1909. 


232  Letters  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  dark- 
ness of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places. 

Wherefore  take  unto  you  the  whole  armour  of  God, 
that  ye  may  be  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and 
having  done  all,  to  stand. 

Stand  therefore,  having  your  loins  girt  about  with 
truth,   and   having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness; 

And  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel 
of  peace; 

Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall 
be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked. 

And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God: 

Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the 
Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and 
supplication  for  all  saints ; 

And  for  me,  that  utterance  may  be  given  unto  me, 
that  I  may  open  my  mouth  boldly,  to  make  known  the 
mystery  of  the  gospel. 

I  read  to  the  twentieth  verse,  and  from  Science  and 
Health,  page  426:  "The  struggle  for  Truth  makes  one 
strong  instead  of  weak,  resting  instead  of  wearying  one." 
And  on  page  540 : 

In  Isaiah  we  read:  "I  make  peace,  and  create  evil.  I 
the  Lord  do  all  these  things;"  but  the  prophet  referred  to 
divine  law  as  stirring  up  the  belief  in  evil  to  its  utmost, 
when  bringing  it  to  the  surface  and  reducing  it  to  its 
common  denominator,  nothingness  .  .  .  but  we  ought  to 
know  that  God's  law  uncovers  so-called  sin  and  its  effects, 
only  that  Truth  may  annihilate  all  sense  of  evil  and  all 
power  to  sin. 

I  send  my  forever  and  forever  love  to  my  "Leader 
and  best  earthly  friend." 

Your  child, 

Augusta. 


CHAPTER  IV 
LETTERS  OF   ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  STUDENTS 

Have  not  I  commanded  thee  ?  Be  strong  and  of  a  good  courage;  be 
not  afraid,  neither  be  thou  dismayed:  for  the  Lord  thy  God  is  with 
thee  whithersoever  thou  goest. — Joshua  i.,  9. 

Divine  Love  is  our  hope,  strength,  and  shield.  We  have  nothing  to 
fear  when  Love  is  at  the  helm  of  thought,  but  everything  to  enjoy  on 
earth  and  in  heaven. — Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  113. 

40  Dartmouth  Street,  Winter  Hill,  Mass., 
August  14, 1892. 

My  dear  B.  .  .  : — 

Does  the  sun  shine  brightly  for  you  to-day?  Are 
you  saying,  "Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
Him"?  Have  you  perceived  the  silver  lining  to  the 
cloud?  Do  you  know  that  you  "cannot  drift  beyond 
His  love  and  care"  ?  All  these  experiences,  while  at 
the  time  they  seem  not  joyous  but  grievous,  bring  forth 
the  peaceful  harmony  which  comes  from  absolute 
reliance  upon  divine  Mind,  our  Father  and  Mother, 
God. 

If  we  will  only  trust,  dearest,  not  human  help,  nor 
sympathy,  but  the  unseen  spiritual  power  of  all- 
creative  Mind,  much  would  vanish  that  now  seems 
real.  Remember  that  our  God  is  Love,  and  that 
Love  sustains  its  ideas. 

233 


234  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

"  He  who  clothes  the  lilies 

And  notes  the  sparrow's  fall 
Will  tenderly  care  for  His  little  one, 

For  He  loves  and  leads  us  all. 
And  so  when  weary  and  burdened 

And  I  know  not  which  way  to  go 
I  know  that  He  lovingly  leads  me 

And  't  is  all  that  I  need  to  know." 

This  should  be  our  song  every  hour  through  this 
tempestuous  dream.  Be  no  trembler,  for  error  has 
no  power.  The  true  light  will  dawn,  and  the  dove 
of  peace  will  sing  in  my  heart  when  my  dear  B.  .  . 
can  see  the  smile  of  our  Father  again.  S.  .  .  will 
be  your  strong  help,  dear.  She  is  gold  with  little 
dross. 

My  tender  love  to  you  and  all  your  family. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
June  6,  1895. 

Dear  and  faithful  F.  .  .  : — 

I  am  getting  away  from  close  office  work,  and  am 
trying  to  brush  off  the  mental  dust  which  has  accumu- 
lated during  the  weeks  when  patients  did  their  best 
to  impress  me  with  the  reality  of  disease.  We  have 
risen  above  all  the  arguments  of  the  adversary,  so  far, 
and  error  will  have  to  work  to  devise  new  wiles  and 
methods  to  entrap  us.  We  are  in  our  house,  spiritual 
thought,  with  locked  doors,  and  evil  cannot  enter. 
False  suggestions  clamor  outside  and  sometimes  make 
us  tremble  with  undestroyed  fear,  lest  the  door  of  our 
thought  is  not  barricaded  strong  enough  to  resist  them. 
When  we  find  that  God  is  our  sure  defense,  this  under- 
standing destroys  the  fear — illusion — and  we  see  that 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  235 

it  was  only  our  belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  God  that 
gave  us  apprehension. 

Give  my  love  to  A.  .  .  and  G.  .  .  and  the  little 
one,  and  with  love  untold  and  eternal, 

Ever  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  12,  1901. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  see  you  standing  firm  at  your  post  of  duty.  Then 
with  the  eye  of  faith  I  look  further  and  see  you  all 
at  rest  in  the  home  of  the  redeemed,  no  longer  in  battle 
array,  but  wearing  the  royal  robes  of  victory,  clad  and 
resting  from  turmoil  and  strife.  We  must,  shall  see 
this  hour,  and  all  fears  and  beliefs  will  have  forever 
passed  from  our  consciousness.  I  rest  in  this  hope. 
Never  did  I  see  so  clearly  that  only  those  "who  have 
washed  their  robes  white  in  obedience  and  suffering" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  572)  will  free  themselves  from 
false  material  sense,  and  gain  the  spiritual  sense,  in 
which  is  no  discord  or  disease.  The  end  cannot  be 
far  off:  the  night  is  far  spent.  Prophecy  is  fast  being 
fulfilled,  "God  shall  help  her  [us],  and  that  right  early. " 
Error  is  wild  and  must  soon  consume  itself  in  its  own 
malice  and  revenge.  Be  strong  and  of  good  cheer. 
We  shall  win  our  crown  of  immortal  consciousness. 

My  gratitude  to  you  and  to  dear  Mrs.  B.  .  .  is 
inexpressible.  Please  give  her  my  tender  love.  I  have 
had  much  to  meet  here,  and  you  and  every  one  in  the 
Rooms  have  helped  me  to  carry  the  cross.  I  shall 
soon  be  at  home  with  you. 

With  faithful  love, 

Your  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


236  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  8,  1902. 

My  dear  D.  .  .  : — 

I  have  been  to  your  apartment  and  told  them  to 
send  your  machine  to  the  American  Express  Office. 
I  then  went  there  myself  and  found  a  man  who  could 
crate  it  ready  for  shipment,  Monday  morning,  to 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  New  Hampshire. 

I  am  so  glad  that  you  are  appreciating  the  great 
privilege  of  serving  our  beloved  Leader  and  Mother 
in  Israel,  and  I  pray  that  you  will  keep  in  the  one  Mind, 
that  she  may  be  helped  in  her  wardrobe,  which  should 
be  perfect,  comfortable,  and  harmonious,  the  ex- 
pression of  spiritual  thought.  I  am  sure  you  will 
give  her  your  whole  attention,  and  will  be  careful 
that  your  thoughts  are  right,  that  you  may  not 
disturb  her  with  a  discordant  tone.  We  are  all  so 
earthy,  and  she  is  so  heavenly.  She  is  so  patient  and 
loving  with  us,  else  we  could  not  stand. 

I  know  that  you  will  get  time  to  read  and  commune 
with  God,  and  handle  every  suggestion  of  error  that 
would  take  you  into  chaos.  I  have  taught  you  by 
precept  and  example  to  conquer  error,  and  to  love  all. 
You  have  had  a  wonderful  blessing  in  going  to  Mother 
and  her  household.  I  know  you  will  strive  to  be 
worthy. 

Give  my  love  to  dear  C.  .  .  ,  L.  .  .  ,  and  P.  .  .  ,  my 
beloved  sisters,  and  to  dear  Mr.  P.  .  .  ,  who  is  one  of 
the  best  men  on  earth  to-day,  because  he  has  guarded 
our  darling  Leader  all  these  years.  Remember  me 
kindly  to  Mr.  M.  .  .  and  his  wife. 

I  do  not  send  love  to  Mother,  for  I  would  not  ask 
you  to  trouble  her,  and  I  am  now  writing  her.  She 
knows  that  I  love  her  better  than  all  the  world, 
and  there  is  nothing  that  I  would  not  do  for  her,  but 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  237 

I  do  not  ask  the  dear   ones   to   trouble   her   with   a 
message. 

Now  dear,  dear  D.  .  .  ,  watch  and  work  and  pray. 
Do  all  carefully,  and  be  sure  that  you  make,  every- 
thing comfortable  for  our  dear  Leader.  Make  all  to 
suit  her.  She  knows  what  she  wants,  and  if  you  study 
to  please  her,  you  can. 

Love  to  you,  dear.  Now  know  that  you  can  make 
everything  exactly  as  she  wants  it;  there  is  no  power 
but  Mind,  and  Mind  governs  you.     Love  will  help  you. 

Ever  lovingly, 

Always  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
July  15,  1903. 
Dearly  Beloved: — 

"Stem  the  tide;  walk  triumphant  on  the  shores 
of  immortal  consciousness,  and  rest  beside  the  still 
waters  on  the  '  Plains  of  Peace.'  "  These  words  I  saw 
mentally  last  night,  and  as  the  letters  came  out  and 
I  spelled  them,  I  took  them  as  a  promise  and  send 
them  to  you.  You  have  nothing  to  do  but  reflect 
Truth  and  Love.     All  power  is  of  God. 

Give  my  love  to  my  dear  student,  Mr.  H  .  .  .  ,  and 
tell  him  to  ponder  this  vision.  It  is  of  God,  and  for 
each  of  my  faithful  students.  Give  much  love  to  the 
dear  ones  in  the  Reading  Room.  I  cannot  write  more 
to-day;  I  must  detach  myself  from  home  cares  and 
rise  to  a  more  exalted  comprehension  of  the  eternal 
real.  Take  care  of  the  lambs.  Let  each  love  more  and 
be  more  Christly  meek.  This  will  make  them  mighty, 
and  reflect  omnipotent  Love,  which  destroys  all  sin. 
Lovingly  ever,  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


238  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

1  West  96TH  Street, 
November  1,  1903. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

Last  evening  you  must  have  had  a  baptism  of  the 
Spirit.  I  was  with  you,  uniting  my  thought  with  yours 
in  prayer  and  song,  and  the  dear  ones  here  all  united 
for  one  hour  in  your  prayer  and  praise.  It  was  a  season 
of  impersonal  unity,  and  I  know  the  voices  were 
heard  by  the  dear  Love  as  they  were  wafted  to  heaven's 
portals.  You  are  growing  like  the  flowers  of  spring, 
and  the  dews  of  divine  Love  fall  on  you,  distilling  their 
perfume  and  power  as  you  rise  to  your  spiritual  con- 
sciousness, and  feel  and  taste  the  life  which  is  eternal, 
and  the  love  which  is  bliss  and  affluence,  beauty  and 
harmony.  Do  not  falter  in  your  upward  flight,  but 
soar  and  sing,  and  drown  the  noise  of  battle,  which  is 
only  the  death  of  the  false  material  senses.  Love  has 
chosen  each  of  you,  and  shown  you  that  you  are 
immortal.  Then  act  and  speak  as  possessing  authority, 
and  manifest  the  Christ  in  every  word  and  deed.  You 
are  true  and  faithful,  and  all  things  will  be  yours,  when 
the  clouds  roll  by. 

You  have  been  learning  to  find  me  in  Mind,  and  the 
impersonal  presence  is  leading  you.  My  love  is  ever 
with  you  all.  The  false  claim,  malicious  animal 
magnetism,  has  no  power  to  disturb  our  harmony. 

Our  new  church  edifice  is  finished.  It  has  always 
been  an  idea  in  divine  Mind.  We  are  only  now  begin- 
ning to  reveal  it  and  must  see  it  unfold  into  the  Church 
Triumphant. 

Love  to  you  all, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  239 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  1,  1904. 

My  dear  Student: — 

In  reply  to  the  question  in  your  letter  regarding 
my  recent  case  of  healing,  I  am  glad  to  confirm  the 
report.  I  have  just  sent  an  account  of  this  case, 
with  a  box  containing  the  gall-stone, l  to  our  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy.  Several  physicians,  to  whom  I  have 
shown  this,  say  that  the  removal  of  this  stone  with- 
out the  surgeon's  knife  and  with  no  rupture  attending 
it,  is  beyond  their  understanding.  But  they  admit  the 
fact  and  have  requested  me  to  give  them  the  stone. 
This  I  cannot  do. 

I  shall  convince  many  of  the  healing  power  of  Truth 
by  exhibiting  this  objectified  material  thought,  typify- 
ing hardness,  obstruction,  belief,  etc.,  which  Truth  and 
Love  expelled.  I  will  give  you  the  measurements  of 
the  gall-stone  which  I  trust  will  not  deceive  you  as 
to  its  seeming  reality. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  28,  1904. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

You  are  learning  to  see  and  hear  God's  voice  in 
nightly  dreams  as  well  as  in  the  day  dreams.  The 
visions  of  Daniel  and  others  came  in  dreams,  and  you 
can  often  trust  the  nightly  visitants  to  convey  the 
messages  from  good.  I  send  out  every  moment 
thoughts  which  I  find  floating  in  the  mental  spiritual 

1  Measurements  of  gall-stone: 
Greater  circumference — 5^2  inches. 
Lesser  circumference  — 3!        " 
Greater  diameter        — 2  " 

Lesser  diameter  — irV      " 


240  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

atmosphere,  when  Spirit  forces  its  messages  to  me,  and 
lifts  me  out  of  sense  into  Soul. 

I  am  sure  that  you  and  my  precious  lambs  all  hear 
and  feel  my  mental  influence,  or  reflection  of  Love  and 
Truth.  There  is  much  to  be  done  to  divest  ourselves 
of  self,  but  there  is  enough  of  self  dissolved  already  to 
give  us  glorious  glimpses  of  our  eternal  oneness  with 
omnipotent  Love.  I  can  see  the  work  to  be  done  to 
open  the  windows  of  heaven.  I  am  striving  for  victory 
over  self,  and  my  efforts  are  as  much  for  those  I  love 
as  for  myself. 

God  is  good.  We  must  be  more  grateful  for  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  love  her  more  and 
more  while  we  thank  God  for  her.  Keep  close  to  God, 
and  follow  the  teachings  and  example  of  Christ  Jesus 
and  our  Leader.  This  will  keep  us  close  together  in 
the  bonds  of  Love — loving  each  other  and  blessing  all 
by  our  reflection  of  Love. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

i  West  96TH  Street, 
July  24,  1904. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  am  overwhelmed  with  the  abundance  of  joy  and 
peace  which  seem  to  flow  to  me  like  a  river.  I  must 
write  you  a  few  lines,  because  I  feel  that  you  are 
appealing  mentally  to  me,  and  I  am  conscious  of  your 
presence.  I  believe  that  God  has  a  message  for  you 
to-day  which  I  must  convey  to  you.  Oh!  the  wisdom 
and  the  riches  of  this  knowledge  of  our  God  and  His 
Christ.  Oh!  the  deep  love  and  boundless  gratitude 
which  we  feel  for  our  beloved  Leader,  Teacher,  and 
Mother,   Mrs.   Eddy,  who  has  saved  us  from  belief, 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  241 

and  led  us  to  "  Immanuel,  or  God  with  us"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  34).  Surely,  all  who  profess  to  be  her 
followers  have  not  caught  the  chord  of  Christ,  or 
they  would  be  on  wings,  whenever  she  bids  them  to  a 
spiritual,  or  communion  feast.  They  would  make  the 
welkin  ring  with  hosannas  whenever  she  appears, 
and  the  stones  would  cry  out  if  they  did  not  proclaim 
her  as  the  one  chosen  of  God  in  this  age  to  save 
men,  and  to  lead  them  to  eternal  Life  in  the  Christ- 
mind. 

We  have  only  to  love  God  more,  and  love  and  obey 
our  beloved  Leader,  to  destroy  all  false  sense,  and  be 
found  in  eternal  Life — in  our  true  consciousness — 
home — heaven.  We  must  not  count  our  bleeding 
footsteps  as  we  climb  the  rugged  hill  of  Christian 
Science,  but  we  must  rejoice  to  know  that  error  is 
dying,  and  we  live.  Nothing  that  ever  lives  can  die. 
We  have  always  lived,  because  God  is  our  Life.  Divine 
Love  is  sure  to  cast  out  all  fear.  We  do  not  live  in 
matter.  Unity  and  power  are  not  in  an  atom,  nor  in 
dust,  the  dust  image.  Man  is  immortal  consciousness. 
"Strength  is  in  man,  not  in  muscles"  {Christian 
Science  Journal,  vol.  xxii.,  p.  259).  We  win  our  vic- 
tories by  meekness  and  love,  and  we  are  safe  as  mem- 
bers of  the  body  of  Christ,  God's  manifestation. 

I  am  always  striving  to  reflect  Truth  and  Love 
to  you.  You  are  now  perfect  and  eternal  ideas  of 
God,  harmonious  substance- ideas.  You  are  not  ma- 
terial, there  is  no  matter.  Do  not  listen  to  error 
which  argues  for  itself  and  for  substance  in  matter 
which  is  not  man,  nor  you. 

Love  untold  to  you  both, 

Fondly  and  faithfully  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
16 


242  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  24,  1904. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  have  little  time  to  write  you,  my  many  duties  are 
so  pressing,  but  I  will  steal  a  few  moments,  and  send 
you  a  loving  greeting.  My  heart  is  always  throbbing 
in  unison  with  the  great  heart  of  Christ,  for  there  is 
no  other  presence  and  we  are  consciously  moved  by 
the  divine  impulse,  and  recognize  the  reflection  of 
Love.  God  is  good  to  us,  is  He  not?  He  is  never  good 
and  evil,  but  always  good.  I  am  working  as  usual  with 
self.  The  warfare  is  grand,  and  I  see  daily  evidence 
of  the  destruction  of  the  human  and  the  revealing  of 
my  real,  divine  selfhood. 

If  I  only  could  see  you  and  dear  M.  .  .  I  could  tell 
you  much  which  I  cannot-  take  time  to  write.  I  am 
very  happy  to  know  that  you  are  having  such  educa- 
tional advantages  and  that  you  will  be  useful  to  our 
Cause,  and  will  serve  our  Leader  so  much  more  effectu- 
ally as  you  develop  in  the  true  mental.  God  has 
guided  you,  and  His  love  is  protecting  you.  You  are 
covered  with  His  feathers,  and  you  have  only  to  lean 
more  trustingly  on  the  infinite.  Make  your  demands 
on  your  Father-Mother  God,  dearest,  and  know  that 
error  cannot  prevent  you  from  getting  your  dominion 
over  all  false  thoughts — if  you  cling  to  Christ,  and 
abide  by  the  Golden  Rule.  We  have  nothing  to  fear. 
There  is  no  defeat  for  a  true  Christian  Scientist. 

Mark  Twain  remarked  at  a  dinner  last  week,  that 
in  the  near  future  Christian  Science  would  be  the 
only  religion,  and  so  it  will.  Watch  and  pray  and  love 
and  demonstrate  your  Science,  and  God  will  do  the 
rest. 

I  love  you,  dear,  and  I  know  that  you  are  rising  in 
the  Truth  and  will  have  a  happy  year.      It   rejoices 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  243 

me  to  hear  from  Dr.  L.  .  .  of  your  good  work  in  your 
school. 

I  must  close  and  write  a  few  lines  to  dear  M.  .  . 
Remember,  Love  is  flowing  to  you  always  from  its 
infinite  source! 

God  be  with  you  every  moment  and  bless  you  in  all 
your  Christian  Science  efforts  to  be  true  to  Principle 
and  idea. 

Ever  lovingly  and  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  3,  1905. 
My  beloved  Student: — r 

I  am  not  with  you  in  person  to-day,  but  I  enfold  you 
in  my  heart,  and  feel  that  I  am  not  separated  from  you. 
There  is  no  space  in  Mind,  and  there  is  no  division  of 
Love's  ideas,  so,  dear  heart,  you  are  with  us,  and  only 
a  belief  is  taking  a  trip  in  belief,  while  Love  keeps  us 
close  together,  singing  Her  sweet  songs  of  joy  and 
gladness  as  we  soar  and  soar  beyond  the  dream  and  the 
dreamer,  holding  sweet  converse  with  God  and  with 
each  other. 

We  are  both  developing  in  Truth,  which  will  finally 
set  us  free  from  the  fetters  of  the  fleshly  mind.  We 
shall  reveal  the  eternal  verities  of  our  individuality, 
until  having  dissolved  this  "too  solid  flesh"  of  belief 
of  substance-matter,  we  shall  awake  in  God's  likeness 
— ever-present  and  eternal  man.  To  our  real  individ- 
uality there  is  no  separation.  You  have  much  to 
anticipate  of  pleasure  and  profit  this  summer,  and  with 
your  Science  you  can  enjoy  the  sweet  promise  which 
nature  and  the  material  universe  afford — a  foretaste 
of  the  new  heaven   and  the  new  earth  which  your 

1  Steamer  letter  to  a  student. 


244  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

spiritual  sense  will  reveal.  God  will  keep  you  on 
upward  wing,  my  dear  student.  Love  will  cover  you 
with  Her  feathers  and  bring  you  Her  blessings  as  fast 
as  you  make  yourself  ready  to  receive  them.  Now 
be  happy,  dearest,  and  return  to  us  in  possession  of 
more  wisdom,  grace,  and  goodness  gained  from  travel 
and  experience.  With  many  loving  thoughts  for  you 
and  dear  R.  .  .  and  our  precious  jewel,  Miss  D.  .  .  , 
I  am  ever  yours  in  bonds  of  divine  love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  8,  1905. 

My  precious  Student : — 

Your  dear  letter  gave  me  peace  and  joy.  I  am  glad 
you  are  having  such  a  restful,  quiet  time.  I  know 
that  you  must  feel  like  a  mariner  who  has  sailed  the 
seas  over,  outridden  the  storm,  passed  the  breakers 
and  the  hidden  reefs,  and  anchored  in  the  peaceful 
haven,  strong  and  rich  with  experience,  and  ready  to 
advise  others  of  the  dangers  of  the  deep,  and  to  mark 
out  for  them  the  lighthouse  stations,  the  bell  buoys, 
and  the  magnetic  currents  which  must  be  known  for 
the  safety  of  the  ship  of  Christian  Science  and  its 
passengers,  en  route  for  the  haven  of  immortality. 

You  will  do  great  work  this  season.  We  are  all  un- 
folding in  meekness  and  divine  love,  and  these  are  the 
forces  which  destroy  error.  We  are  all  rising  gradually 
but  surely  "unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure 
of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ. "  We  are  as- 
similating ourselves  to  Truth  and  Love,  therefore  we 
arouse  the  carnal  within  and  without,  but  we  know 
that  our  Christ  will  set  us  free.  Love  never  fails. 
Anything  that  calls  itself  love,  and  fails,  is  not,  never 
was,  and  never  can  be  love. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  245 

I  am  learning  to  lean  more  confidingly  on  God,  and 
I  find  I  need  to  feed  my  lambs  with  meat,  since  many 
of  them  are  rising  spiritually  and  are  able  to  digest  it. 
I  send  you  inexpressible  love,  dear  one,  and  never 
cease  to  pray  for  you.  Please  remember  me  to  your 
brother. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  12,   1905. 

My  beloved  Student : — 

Just  a  few  words  which  are,  I  am  sure,  all  that  is 
necessary.  Love  is  casting  out  self,  and  sense  material, 
in  us  all,  and  it  means  suffering  mentally  or  physically 
or  both.  We  shall  some  day  get  into  our  "holy 
habitation"  (wholly  spiritual  consciousness),  and  our 
thoughts  will  blend  with  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  Then 
the  irresistible  conflict  between  the  Christ  and  the 
carnal  will  have  forever  ceased,  and  our  peace  will 
flow  like  a  river.  The  battle  is  on — the  meeting  of  the 
Teachers'  Association  is  approaching,  and  all  the  army 
of  Israel  must  be  in  "the  secret  place  of  the  most 
High"  for  the  blessing  which  must  follow  this  meeting 
of  our  Leader's  soldiers.  I  am  sure  that  all  will  be 
refreshed  by  this  opportunity  to  get  into  their  books  and 
hold  silent  communion  with  Love.  I  am  clinging  to 
Christ  against  mental  arguments  which  would  deafen 
me  if  possible,  but  can  never  convince  me  that  evil  is 
real.  I  know  in  whom  I  trust,  and  that  He  is  able  to 
protect  and  deliver  me  and  mine  from  the  jaws  of  the 
lion,  and  the  fiery  furnace. 

Give  my  dearest  love  to  M.  .  .  .  I  love  you  both 
with  a  love  beyond  the  human,  and  which  will  never 
fail. 


246  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

Please  pardon  haste — if  I  do  not  get  this  off  now  I 
shall  perhaps  not  soon  get  another  chance  to  write 
you. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  7,  1906. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

Such  love  as  I  bear  to  you  can  never  find  expression 
in  tongue  nor  pen.  The  gratitude  I  feel  to  my  Father 
for  giving  me  the  priceless  treasure  of  your  steadfast 
loyalty  to  Principle,  to  our  holy  Mother  in  Israel, 
and  to  me,  her  student,  can  never  be  conveyed  in  words. 
I  bow  before  our  God,  and  sit  in  silent,  voiceless  prayer, 
asking  for  more  divine  love,  that  I  may  reflect  to  you 
the  power  which  will  aid  you  and  all  my  dear  ones  to 
arise  and  show  forth  more  and  more  the  glory  of 
Omnipotence. 

Our  precious  Leader's  resurrection  must  also  be  ours. 
As  she  rises,  we  who  are  watching  with  her  will 
rise  also.  We  must  hear  her  voice,  and  follow  and 
obey  her  example  and  teachings,  which  will  make  us 
heirs  of  the  inheritance  which  she  has  revealed  to  us, 
and  bids  us  redeem.  I  am  always  praying  for  those 
whom  God  has  given  me;  and  that  prayer  is  to  realize 
my  oneness  with  God,  and  to  manifest  the  potency  of 
my  spiritual  thought — the  Christ-mind,  which  is  but 
reflecting  the  one  and  only  cause  or  Mind.  This 
force  must  reach  each  dear  member  of  my  student- 
body,  and  quicken  thought  and  increase  his  earnest 
endeavor  to  put  off  the  old  material  sense,  and  to  put 
on  the  Christ-mind,  which  is  God  manifest  in  idea. 
We  are  kings  and  heirs  of  God,  possessing  authority 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  247 

to  speak  for  God,  and  having  spiritual  power  to  de- 
stroy all  that  is  opposed  to  eternal  Life,  Love,  and 
Truth.  Let  us  go  on  to  final  victory  over  the  material 
world,  the  flesh,  and  the  claim  of  evil,  and  awake  in 
His  likeness.  We  are  united  in  the  bonds  of  divine 
Love,  and  are  inseparable  from  our  God  and  His 
anointed,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  This  we  know,  and  to 
know  this  is  eternal  Life. 

Ever  devotedly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

1  West  96TH  Street, 
February  28,  1906. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

The  eternal  flow  of  love  which  I  send  you  as  I  think 
of  your  faithful  service  in  Christian  Science  during  the 
many  years  since  you  enlisted  as  soldiers  of  Christ,  "to 
lessen  evil,  disease,  and  death"  (Science  and  Health, 
p.  450),  cannot  be  expressed  in  words.  The  language 
at  my  command  can  never  convey  my  heart's  deep  love 
and  appreciation  of  your  fidelity  to  Principle,  to  our 
holy  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  to  me,  and  the  brethren  who 
labor  with  us  for  the  establishment  of  the  kingdom 
of  God,  good,  on  earth.  You  all  have  indeed  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things.  You  will  be  made  rulers 
over  many  things,  if  you  continue  to  the  end,  steadfast, 
brave  and  untiring  in  the  service  of  Truth.  A  closer 
link  has  bound  us,  and  we  clasp  hands  more  firmly  as 
we  sacrifice,  for  each  other  and  for  humanity,  our 
time,  our  labors,  our  personal  ease,  to  benefit,  or  cheer, 
or  encourage.  If  we  open  our  hearts  and  become 
channels  for  Love  and  Truth,  God  will  use  us  to  convey 
His  manifold  benefits  to  His  children.     And  who  gains 


248  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

most  from  the  river  of  Life  and  Love  that  courses 
through  the  heart?  Surely,  there  must  be  a  "purifi- 
cation of  sense  and  self"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  324), 
and  the  action  of  Spirit-force  must  widen  the  channel 
until  it  offers  no  resistance,  and  all  is  Love  and  Love's 
ideas  composing  the  body  of  Christ.  The  "material 
pigment"  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  79),  must 
dissolve,  and  leave  the  substance-idea. 

I  am  keeping  my  eyes  to  the  heaven  of  Soul  and  my 
face  to  the  material  blast,  as  I  meet  the  claims  of  error ; 
but,  like  the  bird  on  the  topmost  branch  of  the  tree 
that  sways  and  bends  to  the  angry  tempest,  so  I  sing 
and  rejoice  and  fear  nothing,  knowing  that  I  can  soar 
on  the  wings  of  faith,  understanding,  and  divine  love, 
when  the  branch  bends  and  rebounds.  So,  dearly 
beloved,  let  us  stand  in  the  bonds  of  love  and  gradually 
merge  into  the  real  and  eternal,— the  Mind  of  Christ. 
Error  has  no  place,  no  power,  no  presence  where  the 
true  consciousness  is  understood,  and  we  are  awake 
to  the  Truth  which  sets  us  free  from  any  claim  to  an 
opposite  mind. 

Your  unselfed  love  is  manifest  in  the  symbol  of  the 
mansion  my  Father  is  revealing  to  me,  of  the  many 
His  dear  Son  promised  those  who  would  worship  Him 
in  spirit  and  in  truth.  The  unity  of  my  students  has 
been  so  blended  in  their  gifts  that  their  love-light  will 
be  reflected  in  color,  form  and  utility.  It  is  all  the  gift 
of  our  heavenly  Father,  through  His  anointed,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  whose  Christly  mental  influence  found 
avenues  in  you,  her  faithful  followers,  "to  prepare  a 
place  for"  me  where  I  could  work  more  efficiently  for 
God  and  for  His  own. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  249 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

1  West  96TH  Street, 
March  i,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

Truly  has  it  been  said,  "They  that  sow  in  tears  shall 
reap  in  joy. "  I  have  sown  the  seed  in  the  soil  of  your 
honest  hearts,  and  labored  to  water  that  seed.  Some- 
times my  eyes  were  filled  with  tears  of  discouragement 
as  I  counted  the  lambs  who  had  strayed  on  the  mountain 
beyond  my  teacher-voice,  and  again  tears  of  joy 
welled  up  as  I  found  the  faithful  ones  gazing  stead- 
fastly on  the  goal,  nor  counting  their  weary  footsteps 
as  they  scaled  the  rugged  heights  of  Christian  Science 
towards  the  haven  of  Truth  and  Love. 

Often  I  have  heard  the  lone  mountain  lambs'  piteous 
cry  as  they  were  pierced  by  many  a  thorn,  and  I  have 
sought  for  them,  to  carry  them  in  my  arms  back  to 
the  fold. 

This  is  the  sowing,  but  never  has  one  of  you  caused 
me  one  moment  of  grief. 

I  love  to  recall  your  faithful  adherence  to  Principle, 
your  loyal  devotion  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs  Eddy, 
your  Christly  characters,  and  your  firm,  unfaltering 
step  as  you  journey  "On  the  way  there,"  with  your 
eyes  to  the  goal  and  your  faces  to  the  contending 
forces. 

You  have  encountered  many  a  storm  on  the  tem- 
pestuous-ocean  of  false  belief.  Hidden  reefs  and  roar- 
ing breakers  threatened  to  wreck  your  barque,  but  you 
have  been  brave  and  dauntless  mariners.  You  stood 
at  the  helm,  and  heeded  not  the  dashing  wave,  nor  the 
tempest's  mad  roar. 

Your  great  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  has  launched 
you  upon  the  waters,  and  given  you  the  chart,  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  with  which  to 


250  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

work  your  passage  through  the  trackless,  treacherous 
sea  of  mortal  mind. 

You  are  nearing  the  shore  of  eternal  consciousness. 
You  already  hear  the  sweet  voice  of  our  Father-  Mother 
God,  welcoming  you  home.  You  will  soon  cast  anchor 
in  the  haven  of  ever-conscious  Love. 

God  will  make  a  short  time  of  it  "for  the  elect's 
sake. "  He  is  faithful  to  His  promise.  He  keeps  His 
tryst  with  His  own,  and  the  harvest  hour  is  now. 

Rich  and  rare  are  the  garners  prepared  for  those  who 
have  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day.  Sweetest 
songs  ring  out  from  the  grape  gatherers,  as  they  bring 
in  the  rich  clusters  of  love,  and  peace,  and  joy, — the 
fruits  of  spiritual  achievement. 

The  wise  virgins  have  their  lamps  (consciousness) 
rilled  with  oil  (understanding).  They  await  the  call 
of  the  bridegroom.  The  fine  linen  robes  (spiritual 
thoughts)  of  the  righteous  are  appearing,  and  the 
gold  of  human  character  is  fast  dissolving  under  the 
solvent  of  Love  which  reveals  the  real  man  of  God's 
creating. 

It  is  the  white  heat  of  divine  Love  which  is  separating 
the  dross,  and  leaving  only  the  pure  substance  men- 
tality. This  is  our  glad  harvest  hour.  Our  holy 
Mother  in  Israel,  Mrs.  Eddy,  is  revealing  the  Church 
Triumphant,  and  will  finally  gather  in  the  faithful  to 
the  heavenly  fold.  Those  having  ears  will  hear  her, 
and  will  feel  her  sweet  presence,  as  the  power  of  her 
mighty  love  rests  upon  the  waiting  hearts  which  will 
meet  in  that  sacred  Sanctuary  of  Truth  and  Love. 

I  am  rejoicing  in  a  bountiful  harvest,  spiritual 
understanding.  My  dear  students  walk  beside  me 
towards  the  goal  of  immortal  consciousness.  Their 
dear  love  and  tender  care  of  my  temporal  necessities 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  251 

are  comforting.     I  recall  their  long  and  faithful  march 
side  by  side,  heart  to  heart  with  me  during  many  years. 

My  love  is  beyond  the  power  of  tongue  or  pen  to 
express,  dearly  beloved.  You  will  know  it  by  the 
influence  it  sheds,  for  it  is  the  reflection  of  divine 
Love. 

You  will  soon  see  the  home  into  which  you  are  already 
built.  Your  love  will  brighten  it,  and  thus  the  different 
students  will  speak  from  ceiling  to  floor. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  for  your  loving  remembrance 
of  me,  and  I  pray  for  you  from  a  heart  overflowing 
with  grateful  love. 

Tenderly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  2,  1906. 
My  dear  Friend: — x 

You  say  that  fear  makes  it  difficult  for  you  to  sing. 
You  can  sing  without  fear.  Mind  is  the  source  of 
music.  There  is  but  one  Mind.  That  Mind  is  pure 
harmony;  it  is  unlimited  in  range  and  power.  It 
sustains  itself,  for  it  is  omnipotence  and  omnipresence. 
It  has  its  instruments,  its  agents  or  reflectors.  Pure 
Mind  keeps  its  representative  always  attuned.  Any 
other  theory  than  this  is  a  suppositional  god  or  belief, 
which  we  know  has  no  influence  over  Mind  or  Mind's 
ideas. 

You  know  that  you  live  because  you  manifest  exist- 
3nce.  You  know  that  you  voice  harmonious  being, 
and  have  perfect  ability  to  express  melody.  You  can- 
not be  touched  by  any  fear,  nor  do  you  admit  another 
power  than  the  one  harmonious  Father- Mother  God. 

1  To  a  professional  singer. 


252  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

Love  gives  tone  and  color  to  thought.  Be  not  afraid 
of  fear.  There  is  no  such  claim  in  God  and  God  and 
His  idea  is  all.  Love  is  supreme,  and  you,  as  an  indi- 
vidual idea,  are  Love's  voice.  You  do  not  depend  upon 
God's  idea  to  give  you  support  in  your  church  work, 
you  rely  upon  Principle.  I  feel  that  it  is  time  for  you 
to  try  your  wings,  and  W.  .  .  is  better  away  than  with 
you,  since  there  may  be  danger  of  personal  contagion — 
her  fears  for  you  which  influence  you  to  fear.  Trust 
Truth  to  give  you  the  wisdom  which  is  necessary  to 
carry  on  the  work.  We  cannot  tarry  too  long  in  one 
state  of  realization  and  demonstration,  but  we  must 
progress,  and  this  means  struggle  to  rise  higher. 

Now,  dear,  sing  as  you  should.  You  can  never 
fail  while  you  know  that  pure  Mind  governs  your 
throat.  When  you  know  this,  it  will  not  seem  hard  to 
sing,  it  will  be  a  joy.  The  same  Mind  governs  you 
that  governs  the  song-birds.  Like  them  "soar  and 
sing." 

The  thought  back  of  the  composition  can  only  be 
a  God-thought,  because  there  is  only  one  Mind.  Let 
Spirit  govern  your  every  thought,  and  Love  will  give 
richness  to  your  tones. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Oswego,  N.  Y., 
June  18,  1906. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  had  to  demonstrate,  since  we  arrived  here 
Saturday  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  that  all  of  me  is 
here.  You  have  become  such  a  factor  in  the  Oswego 
vacation  that  I  miss  you.  However,  I  feel  your  mental 
presence,  your  real,  incorporeal  self,  and  heart  beats  to 
heart  in  the  reciprocity  which  testifies  to  our  divine 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  253 

individuality.  You  are  a  tender  child,  faithful  and 
intelligently  obedient  to  Principle,  and  your  spiritual 
intuitions  guide  you  to  follow  and  rejoice  "All  the  rugged 
way. "  You  must  be  gaining  a  glorious  experience  from 
the  Word  which  went  forth  at  our  Communion.  Love 
is  a  mighty  solvent,  and  already  has  begun  to  melt  and 
purify  even  the  gold  of  human  character.  Soon  the 
dross  will  disappear,  and  the  ideal  substance-man  will 
stand  forth  clothed  in  the  might  and  glory  of  celestial 
being.  Our  beloved  Leader  is  in  the  light,  whose  radi- 
ance must  dispel  all  darkness  or  mortal  concepts.  She 
is  approaching  the  third  stage,  as  defined  in  "Pond 
and  Purpose"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  205) — how 
near  to  the  "omnipotent  act"  which  "drops  the  cur- 
tain" no  one  knows,  nor  should  we  contemplate  it, 
but  she  will  some  day  solve  the  problem  of  material 
sense  and  reveal  herself  as  did  our  Master,  Christ 
Jesus.  We  must  watch  with  her,  and  listen  more 
intently  for  her  voice,  if  we  would  learn  its  tone,  and 
recognize  the  spiritual  ideal  woman  whose  mental 
touch  is  unmistakable,  and  whose  guidance  will  be 
throughout  eternity.  I  am  going  to  work  here  in  this 
lovely  quiet  home,  and  prepare  for  the  future,  when 
I  shall  need  much  truth,  and  faith,  and  divine  love  to 
stand  and  work  out  my  own  salvation,  helping  my 
dear  students  to  work  out  theirs.  It  is  peacefully 
sweet  here.  We  all  speak  of  you  often,  and  wish  you 
were  here.  N.  .  .  has  made  a  good  demonstration, 
and  was  so  happy  to  see  her  daughter.  I  am  gratified 
that  our  young  girls  are  unfolding  spiritual  qualities. 
There  are  enough  in  my  church  to  evangelize  the  city  if 
they  continue  to  rise  spiritually.  I  shall  find  much  help 
in  them  in  the  future,  in  their  reflection  of  omnipotent 
Mind,  the  Christ- mind  which  destroys  evil. 


254  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

Give  my  dear  love  to  your  mother  and  to  every  one 
in  your  family,  and  with  deepest  love  to  you  I  am, 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
Central  Park  West  and  96TH  Street, 
July  26,  1906. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

You  are  learning,  my  dear  student,  a  salutary 
lesson,  viz.,  that  you  cannot  lean  on  an  earthly  staff. 
You  had  arrived,  when  you  were  in  New  York  City, 
at  a  point  in  your  experience  where  you  were  called 
to  choose.  I  was  quite  sure  that  you  were  trusting 
to  an  earthly  arm.  Had  Mr.  A.  .  .  been  a  Christian 
Scientist  and  taken  his  stand,  he  would  not  have  left 
New  York.  God  is  here,  as  well  as  there,  and  he  would 
have  found  Him  here. 

The  dear  man  may  wander  till  error  punishes  him  so 
severely  that  he  will  cry  out  to  his  Father- Mother  God 
who  will  hear  and  answer  him.  Oh,  why  do  some  have 
to  be  so  severely  punished  by  error  before  they  turn  to 
God?  God  is  so  good.  He  supplies  His  children  so 
bountifully.  His  love  feeds  and  fills  the  famished 
affections  and  supplies  every  human  need.  Why  did 
we  ever  listen  to  false  arguments?  Why  did  we  love 
ease,  and  rest  in  silly  peace  in  material  environments? 

When  shall  we  all  awake  and  be  individual,  doing 
our  own  work  in  healing,  and  trust  in  Truth  to  provide 
for  our  few  temporal  needs?  When  we  do,  Love  will 
fill  our  treasure-house,  and  no  good  thing  shall  we  miss. 
I  know  that  you  will  see  this  lesson,  dear  S.  .  .  You 
will  know  in  whom  to  trust,  and  that  you  cannot  do 
another's  work.  Our  Leader  says,  "We  lose  a  per- 
centage due  to  our  activity  when  doing  the  work  that 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  255 

belongs  to  another"  (Message  to  The  Mother  Church, 
iqoo,  p.  26).  I  am  not  at  all  surprised,  but  I  am  sorry 
for  dear  Mr.  A.  .  .  He  will  find  God  as  we  have.  He 
should  call  while  here.  I  would  be  glad  to  help  him. 
God  will  show  you  the  way,  dearest,  and  out  of  the 
gloom  will  come  the  glory.  You  have  not  lost  the 
chord  of  Christ.  For  a  moment  error  seems  to  keep 
you  on  minor  key,  but  Love  will  finally  attune  your 
harp  to  Her  perfect  harmonious  will,  and  cause  you  to 
praise  His  Holy  Name,  for  this  leading.  I  love  you. 
God  will  lead  you.  Do  not  turn  to  physical  personality 
but  cling  to  Principle  and  its  idea,  and  let  God  furnish 
His  own  avenues,  spiritual  individualities,  to  bless  and 
cheer  you.  Love  will  never  forsake  you.  You  may 
forget  or  divide  your  worship,  Love  never  will.  Give 
my  affectionate  regards  to  Mr.  A.  .  .  and  dear  little 
H.  .  .  and  with  much  love  to  you,  my  dear  S.  .  .  , 
I  am, 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  31,   1906. 

My  beloved  N.  .  .  ,  M .  .  .  ,  and  W.  .  .  : — 

I   have   just   written   to  the  other  three  children, 

who  are  wandering  in  foreign  lands,  and  I  must  not 

repeat  my  letters  as  I  write  you,  but  I  must  put  in  what 

you  all  need  as  you  read  each  other's  letters. 

The  moments  of  silent  communion  with  God  find  me 

breathing  a  prayer  for  you  all,  and  this  is  so  tangible 

to  me,  that  I  feel  I  am  with  you. 

The  weather  has  been  very  warm  and  very  humid. 

It  seems  to  be  the  aroused  consciousness  of  animal 

natures.     We  are  meeting  and  mastering  these  lies, 

which  have  no  right  to  declare  their  presence,  since 


256  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

they  do  not  exist  in  God's  universe,  and  are  unreal  to 
all  who  have  spiritual  understanding  of  the  unreality 
of  belief.  We  are  rising  daily  to  see  that  Mind  is  God, 
and  that  there  is  but  one  Mind.  We  reflect  this  Mind. 
Every  so-called  mortal  thought,  every  carnal  sense  or 
desire  must  yield  to  Truth.  Our  consciousness  must 
know  only  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Then  we  live,  we 
love;  we  are  unchangeable  in  Truth,  always  sub- 
stance-idea, forever  reflecting  our  Principle.  This  true 
spiritual  consciousness  is  our  divinity.  It  is  our 
Christ- mind,  and  our  power  over  sin,  disease  and  death. 
I  long  for  the  fulness  of  Love  which  fulfils  the  law  of 
Spirit. 

You  must  know  that  our  beloved  Leader  is  making 
her  great  demonstration.  It  seems  like  the  latter 
days.  She  will  break  the  bonds  of  sin  and  death,  and 
all  the  faithful  will  rise  with  her  into  the  light  of  spiritual 
consciousness.  Her  resurrection  will  be  our  resurrection. 
We  shall  have  part  in  the  first  resurrection,  and  over 
us  the  second  death  will  have  no  power.  We  who  have 
suffered  with  her  will  reign  with  her.  All  who  have 
struggled  to  overcome  physical  sense,  and,  through 
spiritual  sense  have  wrestled  with  mortal  mind  to 
destroy  it,  will  never  fear  the  suggestion  of  death. 
Disease  has  lost  its  power  over  us.  We  have  God's 
promises,   and  they  can  never  fail. 

I  have  only  heard  from  Mr.  T.  .  .  once,  but  I  feel 
sure  that  he  is  all  right,  since  Mr.  O.  .  .  writes  he  is 
fine  in  Christian  Science. 

I  am  convinced  N.  .  .  ,  dear,  that  you  will  gain  much 
growth  in  the  impersonal  by  this  temporary  separa- 
tion. You  will  find  each  other  in  the  spiritual  mental, 
and  will  not  be  losing,  but  gaining  your  true  individual 
selfhood. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  257 

I  send  much  love  to  M.  .  .  She  is,  I  trust,  making 
you  all  happy  by  forgetting  personal  self  and  thus 
blessing  you  and  others. 

If  we  had  only  known  in  the  past  the  secret  of  living, 
loving  unselfishly  and  doing  for  others  who  are  worthy 
and  truly  needy,  how  great  would  be  our  spiritual 
power  and  how  much  stronger  we  should  be  to-day 
to  heal  the  sick  and  sinful. 

I  am  going  to  meet  you  at  the  steamer  when  you 
arrive  here  unless  some  call  prevents  me.  Watch  and 
pray  without  ceasing,  for  you  know  not  when  your 
Leader,  the  impersonal  Christ-idea,  will  come  mentally 
to  you,  and  you  must  not  be  found  in  the  mortal 
thought,  asleep  in  the  material  senses. 

Love  untold  to  you  all. 

Ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  15,  1907. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  felt  it  was  hardly  necessary  to  write  you. 
Spiritual  thought  is  a  mighty  power.  We  should 
strive  to  gain  this  divine  impersonal  impress  as  fast 
as  possible  and  abandon  material  methods  of  conveying 
our  mental  messages  or  thoughts.  I  hope  you  are 
realizing  the  powerlessness  of  error  to  limit  you;  to 
keep  away  your  patients,  or  to  prevent  God's  word 
from  healing  through  your  reflection  of  Truth  and 
Love.  You  know  no  fear.  You  are  the  expressed 
image  of  intelligence  and  Life,  and  no  subtle  so-called 
mortal  mind  argument  can  come  as  a  cloud  between 
you  and  Principle,  which  is  your  affluence. 

Know  that  error  is  but  a  cloud — a  dream.  Hold 
tenaciously  to  the  real  and  eternal  in  Truth.     You 


258  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

must  work  and  break  the  mesmeric  efforts  of  mortal 
minds  to  shut  off  your  supply.  The  sinner  and  the 
sufferer  will  come  to  you  to  be  healed.  As  you  handle 
error  in  yourself  and  for  others,  you  will  not  be  a 
channel  for  discouragement  or  fear.  God  fills  all 
space,  and  you  are  in  Him. 

I  shall  soon  be  with  you.     Oh!  may  I  be  free  next 
season  from  the  constant  demands  of  so  many  upon 
my  time,  who  keep  me  from  more  important  work. 
Yet  I  feel  that  God  will  use  me  as  He  desires. 
Lovingly, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  11,  1907. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  know  that  I  need  not  write  you  to  assure  you  of 
my  steadfast  love  for  you,  and  my  constant  labors 
that  I  may  so  rise  in  the  spiritual  as  to  help  you  and 
all  my  lambkins  to  exalt  the  Christ -consciousness  in 
themselves.  I  am  penning  a  few  lines  only  because 
I  feel  that  you  may  hear  me  perhaps  a  little  clearer 
if  I  give  you  ocular  evidence  of  my  close  proximity. 
You  may  say,  I  do  not  need  material  evidence  of  pen 
and  paper.     If  so,  I  am  glad. 

The  spiritual  mental  telephone  must  some  time 
replace  the  old  outgrown  and  cumbersome  method  of 
conveying  thought.  If  we  sit  at  a  telephone,  but  can- 
not hear  the  message,  the  instrument  is  of  no  use  to 
us.  Let  us  then  study,  practise  and  demonstrate  the 
spiritual  mentality  or  mental  telephone  which  will 
reveal  ever-present  Love  and  Her  ideas,  and  over 
which  no  false  mortal  thought  can  be  sent. 

In  Truth  there  is  no  mortal  mind,  therefore  there  is  no 
mortal,  matter  body.     There  is  a  seeming  terrestrial 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  259 

body,  which  is  not  substance,  and  which  the  light 
of  Truth  is  fast  dissolving.  The  celestial  body,  or  the 
body  of  spiritual  sense,  is  eternal  substance,  and  this, 
through  faith  and  understanding,  we  are  discerning. 
Some  day  the  scales  will  fall  from  our  flesh- veiled  eyes, 
and  we  shall  see  face  to  face.  Let  us  run  with  patience 
the  race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking  to  Christ,  who  will 
demonstrate  to  our  longing  sense  the  male  and  female 
of  God's  creating, — the  ideal  man,  who  has  always 
existed  in  the  bosom  of  Life,  Love  and  Truth. 

You  are  experiencing  just  what  you  need  to  exalt 
you  Christ-ward,  dear  M.  .  .  God  is  good.  He  sent 
His  angels,  and  they  ministered  to  your  necessities. 
I  have  had  more  true  happiness  from  this  than  you  can 
conceive,  and  no  one  will  receive  as  much  reward  as 
the  angel  friends  who  obeyed  the  voice  of  Love  and 
gave  you  the  cup  of  cold  water  in  Christ's  name.  Thus 
He  gives  His  angels  charge  concerning  us. 

My  love  to  you  and  the  dear  ones  whom  God  is 
blessing. 

All  send  much  love. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July    17,    1907. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  have  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  write 
you  since  you  left,  but  this  morning  I  am  up  before  the 
others  have  awakened,  and  shall  get  this  letter  off 
to-day. 

There  is  nothing  new  to  write  you.  The  "same 
subject  continued, "  would  express  it  all.  What  more 
is  necessary  than  to  pray  without  ceasing,  to  watch, 
and  to  work  for  the  Mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus? 


260  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

This  will  work  out  our  salvation,  and  free  us  from  the 
claim  of  sin  and  physical  self.  I  long  to  burst  the  fetters  of 
finite  sense,  and  feel  the  wings  of  faith  and  understand- 
ing lifting  me  to  conscious  power  over  error,  and  oneness 
with  the  Father.  I  want  the  ' '  dominion  .  .  .  over  all 
the  earth"  which  God  has  promised  to  His  children, 
and  which  must  be  the  result  of  the  Christ-mind. 

Jesus  demonstrated  his  mental  might  over  the  false 
carnal  senses,  and  he  said  "that  they  may  be  one 
[with  the  Father],  as  we  are."  Let  us  strive  for  the 
perfect  model,  and  listen  to  our  Way-shower  who  bids 
us  be  "perfect,  even  as  your  [our]  Father  which  is  in 
heaven  is  perfect. "  It  is  a  warfare  with  the  fleshly  mind, 
but  we  are  sure  of  victory,  and  some  day  we  will  be 
able  to  say,  "I  have  overcome  the  world"  (the  material 
senses).  Then  we  will  rejoice  in  "  dominion"  over  all 
error,  which  spiritual  sense  imparts. 

The  dear  church  is  as  strong  as  the  Rock  of  Ages. 
The  "gates  of  hell"  cannot  prevail  against  it.  Love 
is  lifting  us  all  above  the  fear  and  error  of  this  Adam- 
dream,  into  the  freedom  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
God.  I  rejoice  daily  that  I  see  a  marked  change  in 
every  student,  in  the  line  of  spiritual  development.  It 
is  the  hour  when  the  law  of  Love  must  be  fulfilled. 
We  must  never  sink  into  the  night  of  sensualism  and 
lose  our  light.  "They  that  sleep  sleep  in  the  night." 
We  "are  of  the  day" — therefore  we  must  put  off  the 
things  of  the  flesh — the  old  man  (mortal  thoughts) ,  and 
put  on  the  Christ. 

I  am  glad  that  you  are  with  your  family.  It  is  good 
to  renew  the  old  ties  and  take  sweet  counsel  with  those 
who  are  looking  to  Christ,  and  following  on  to  know 
God.  You  need  not  limit  your  visit.  There  is  not  the 
slightest  need  to  do  so. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  261 

My  three  maids  are  the  same  good  girls,  and  my 
chauffeur  and  house  man  are  improving.  H.  .  .  and 
C.  .  .  leave  to-morrow.  I  shall  miss  them — they  are 
such  dear,  happy  children.  We  are  all  as  usual,  very 
happy  and  rejoicing  in  the  work  of  unselfed  love. 

Please  remember  me  to  your  family,  and  with  much 
love  to  you,  dear  M.  .  .  ,   I  am, 
Ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  15,  1907. 

My  dear  S.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  must  be  answered  immediately,  or  I 
shall  not  get  time  to  tell  you  how  happy  I  was  to 
read  your  strong  words  of  scientific  heart-to-heart 
communion.  I  was  particularly  pleased  with  your 
recognition  of  my  relation  to  dear  H.  .  .  in  whose 
thought  I  had  sown  the  seed  of  Truth  and  Love — 
literally  turned  up  the  fallow  ground,  and  planted  the 
true  substance,  which  ever  lives  by  its  own  vitality. 
You,  dear  one,  have  carefully  weeded  and  watered  the 
garden,  and  you  and  I  will  see  the  fruit  of  our  labors, 
our  tears,  toils,  and  prayers.  H.  .  .  will  develop 
into  the  ideal  man,  for  God  is  claiming  His  people 
and  our  beloved  Leader  is  drawing  us  God-ward — 
away  from  material  sense  into  the   spiritual. 

The  material  manna  has  fed  us  long  on  our  wilder- 
ness journey.  Our  fathers  ate  of  it,  and  are  dead. 
We  must  rise  and  follow  Christ  in  the  regeneration, 
and  find  the  Word  of  God — the  bread  that  cometh  down 
from  heaven — the  substance  which  alone  feeds  and 
satisfies  the  immortal  cravings.  To-day  the  call  of 
our  Leader  is  "Choose  ye."  I  am  striving  to  find  my 
Christ-thought  or  mind  sufficient  for  every  need.     I 


262  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

cannot  tell  you,  dear  S.  .  .  ,  the  joy  and  peace  which 
are  mine,  nor  can  I  tell  you  the  necessity  I  see  before 
me  to  "put  off  the  old  man"  (mortal  mind)  and  put 
on  the  new.  I  desire  no  longer  to  "eat  and  drink  with 
the  drunken, "  but  to  partake  of  the  bread  of  God,  of 
which  if  a  man  eat  he  shall  live  forever.  As  mortals 
require  material  food  and  drink,  so  do  immortals  de- 
mand immortal  food — love,  peace,  joy — the  fruits  of 
which  are  eternal  life. 

Are  we  willing  "to  leave  the  false  landmarks"? 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  324.)  Do  we  experience  joy 
as  we  "see  them  disappear"?  The  work  before  us  is 
apparent.  God  demands  our  entire  obedience  to  the 
law  of  Spirit.  Are  we  beginning  to  eat  of  the  heavenly 
manna? 

I  am  hoping  that  you  may  visit  New  York  during 
the  Association.  You  have  always  a  loving  welcome. 
The  password  is  love — unselfed,  and  loyal  to  God, 
to  our  holy  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  her  loving 
loyal  followers  who  labor  for  unity  in  the  bonds  of  the 
Spirit.  I  know  that  your  dear  boy  will  be  a  man  and 
stand  for  his  Christ,  in  the  school  at  Exeter. 

Deepest  love  to  you,  my  dear  S.  .  . 
Faithfully  yours  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  27,  1907. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Because  I  hear  from  you  so  frequently  through  A.  .  . 
I  almost  feel  that  you  are  with  us,  and  so  delay  writing. 
You  are  always  with  me  in  these  hours  of  your  growth 
in  grace.  I  am  sure  that  you  must  feel  the  love  which 
I  reflect  to  you  and  dear  Mr.  E.  .  .     This  test  of  your 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  263 

faith  and  understanding  is  lifting  you  to  demonstrate 
the  mighty  power  and  presence  of  Truth. 

I  know  that  the  God  whom  you  serve  continually 
will  lead  you  safely,  and  will  draw  you  into  such  close, 
tender  oneness  with  Himself,  that  you  will  some  day 
rejoice  that  you  were  so  blessed  as  to  meet  the  sorrow- 
ful experiences  which  exalt  you.  Love  comes  so  near, 
and  is  so  dear  when  the  claims  of  error  attack  and 
crucify  us.  Then  God  delivers  us.  Evil  tortures 
us  until  we  rise  into  spiritual  power,  which  casts  out 
error  and  leaves  us  free  as  birds,  to  soar,  and  sing  of 
God's  goodness  and  love. 

After  each  victory,  the  lying  senses  have  less  of  the 
carnal  or  mortal.  This  process  must  continue  until 
material  sense  gives  place  to  spiritual  concepts,  and 
we  see  God  in  man  and  the  universe.  The  process  of 
destruction  is  not  agreeable.  While  Truth  and  Love 
are  reconstructing  the  body,  we  shrink  from  the  chisel 
and  the  hammer,  which  the  great  Maker  and  Builder 
uses  in  making  us  fit  temples  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  I, 
like  Paul,  have  learned  to  rejoice  in  persecutions  and 
in  infirmities. 

I  trust  that  dear  Mr.  E.  .  .  is  rejoicing  in  the  death 
of  a  false  sense.  I  am  sure  he  knows  the  nothingness 
of  the  belief,  and  does  not  fear  it.  All  disease  and 
discord  are  from  the  false  material  senses,  which  are 
dreams  and  illusions.  We  must  awake  and  come 
forth,  and  (when  we  have  suffered  awhile)  Christ  will 
give  us  light.  "If  we  suffer  [with  Christ],  we  shall 
also  reign  with  him."  Let  us  stand  firm  as  an  anvil 
when  beaten  upon,  and  Love  will  lift  us  above  all  the 
illusions  called  mental  and  physical  discord.  God  is 
omnipotent.  There  is  no  other  power,  no  other 
presence.     Keep  your  eyes  fixed  on  the  goal  of  im- 


264  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

mortality,  and  sing  as  you  journey  on,  knowing  that 
you  will  "reap,  if  we  [you]  faint  not. " 

My  love  is  always  going  out  to  you.  I  know  that 
you  are  strong  in  Christ.  Give  my  affectionate  regards 
to  Mr.  E.  .  .  Tell  him  to  hold  steadfastly  to  Truth 
and  demand  and  finally  redeem  his  birthright — perfect 
health,  holiness,  and  immortal  manhood. 

With  my  dearest  love  to  you  and  to  H.  .  .  ,  I  am, 
Ever  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November   13,    1907. 

Dearly  Beloved,  my  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing: — J 

If  love  and  gratitude  could  be  measured,  mine  would 
outweigh  the  universe.  Indeed,  it  would  fill  all  space, 
and  embrace  you  in  the  heaven  and  earth  of  Spirit — 
entirely  separate  from,  beyond  and  above  the  jarring 
elements  of  finite  conception.  There,  close  nestled 
in  the  arms  of  Love,  in  the  sweet  secret  of  the  most 
High,  I  would  listen  for  your  response  to  the  pulsations 
of  the  great  Heart,  our  Father- Mother  Mind.  There 
would  I  lead  you  and  there  we  would  tarry.  There  we 
would  see  face  to  face.  There  would  we  hear  the  voice 
and  see  the  substance- image  of  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy.  There  we  would  partake  of  the  feast 
which  Love  has  prepared  for  us,  and  our  hungry  long- 
ings for  substance,  Truth,  would  be  satisfied  with  living 
bread.  There  we  would  rejoice  in  boundless  bliss,  and 
chant  praises  to  God,  our  creator  and  King,  throughout 
endless  cycles  of  eternal  unfoldment. 

Shall  we  press  forward  shoulder  to  shoulder,  heart 
responding  to  heart,  reciprocally  strengthened,  as  we 

1  To  my  Student-body  Association. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  265 

soar  above  earth's  illusions,  into  the  pure  atmosphere 
of  spiritual  consciousness?  There  is  but  one  reply. 
Then,  beloved  of  the  Father,  let  us  gird  on  the  armor 
of  love  more  securely,  as  we  press  toward  the  mark 
of  the  prize — perfect  spiritual  being,  reflecting  our 
Principle,  Love  and  Truth. 

God  bless  you  until  your  cup  of  blessings  overflows, 
and  you  exclaim,  "I  am  satisfied,  my  'life  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.'  " 

Ever  your  faithful,  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  5,  1908. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  am  again  reminded  of  your  continued  fidelity  to 
Principle,  to  our  beloved  Leader,  and  to  me,  your 
teacher,  in  this  latest  expression  of  your  loyal  love. 

You  are  standing  firmly  at  your  posts,  guarding  the 
citadel  of  your  thoughts,  and  it  goes  without  saying  that 
you  admit  no  one  who  has  not  the  password — divine 
Love.  No  disloyal  mental  waif  can  pass  the  guard  and 
find  lodgment  in  the  temple  of  God — your  spiritual 
thought.  This  is  evidenced  by  frequent  tests  of  your 
faith.  You  have  been  steadfast  soldiers  of  Christian 
Science  walking  with  me  while  I  have,  as  teacher  and 
under-shepherd,  led  you  to  the  Great  Shepherd — Christ. 
The  enemy  has  always  found  you  clad  in  invincible 
armor.  To-day  I  rejoice  in  your  abiding  faith  and 
wisdom,  which  assure  me  of  your  growth  in  grace, 
and  in  the  demonstration  of  the  Mind  of  Christ. 

I  love  to  think  of  you  all  as  lilies  unfolding  in  the 
garden  of  Love.  My  heart  goes  out  to  you  unceasingly, 
that   you   may   rise   to   spiritual   understanding   and 


266  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

dominion  over  all  error.     Love  must  and  will  fulfil 
Her  law  in  you  and  in  me. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

. 

TELEGRAMS1 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  5-18-08. 

There  is  but  one  union,  God  and  man.  Good 
governs  every  moment,  and  compels  obedience  to  the 
law  of  Love.  There  is  no  power  opposed  to  Love. 
Handle  the  belief  of  opposition  to  God,  and  His  idea. 
Prove  your  Principle.     Letter  en  route. 

A.  E.  S. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  5-21-08. 

Right  will  prevail.  Justice  is  omnipotent.  The 
one  Mind  decides  all  questions.  God  and  man  co- 
exist and  cooperate.  The  law  of  Spirit  is  the  only 
law.  Error  never  had  a  voice  nor  a  presence.  Truth 
and  Love  fill  all  space. 

A.  E.  S. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  5-22-08. 

You  reflect  eternal  Life,  and  are  panoplied  in  Love's 
invincible  armor.  There  is  no  power  opposed  to  you. 
Reflect  omnipotence — Christ,  Truth,  and  anarchy  will 
flee  before  God's  idea — your  spiritual  self. 

A.  E.  S. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  18, 1908. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Union  with  God  is  the  only  union.  In  Christian 
Science,  Spirit  governs,  and  there  is  no  other  presence, 
nor  power.     Error  may  seem  to  have  power,  but  Christ 

1  To  a  business  man,  during  a  strike. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  267 

is  there,  and  you  reflect  him.  You  do  not  doubt  your 
Principle.  You  know  that  the  false  claim  malicious 
animal  magnetism,  the  carnal  qualities  of  the  human 
mind,  is  stirred  by  Truth  in  this  hour,  and  you  also 
know  that  you  have  the  opportunity  to  prove  your 
sword,  the  Word  of  God.  He  works  with,  and  through 
you,  and  you  will  see  the  mighty  power  of  God,  as  He 
manifests  His  ever  presence  to  you,  His  representative, 
as  you  labor  to  uplift  that  type  of  consciousness.  Do 
not  give  malicious  animal  magnetism — evil — the  lie — 
any  power.  This  condition  is  not  real.  It  is  error  de- 
stroying itself.  It  must  go  out  under  the  power  which 
God  reflects  through  man.  You  have  dominion  as 
God's  idea. 

I  am  strong  in  the  battle  for  the  unity  of  good.  It 
is  God  who  demands  that  we  rise  in  realization  to 
make  null  and  void  the  seeming  claim  to  another  power 
and  presence.  "The  dragon  cannot  war"  with  us 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  567).  He  is  already  "stung  to 
death  by  his  own  malice"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  569), 
and  of  course  his  angels  must  be  destroyed  with  him, 
for  Michael  and  his  angels  must  prevail  against  the  false 
claim  called  the  dragon. 

Love  alone  will  fulfil  the  law.  Love  is  omnipotent. 
Every  man  in  that  field  is  God's  child.  Every  lie  and 
every  liar  is  impersonal  evil  and  its  personification,  and 
"is  neither  person,  place,  nor  thing,"  says  our  Leader 
[Science  and  Health,  p.  71).  This  condition  of  anarchy 
is  not  real.  Greed,  avarice,  and  resistance  to  God's 
law  never  were  true.  No  one  ever  believed  that  he  was 
opposed  to  right — to  law  and  order — because  Life,  Love, 
and  Truth  are  all.  I  am  with  you  in  spirit.  God  will 
surely  deliver  you.  Never  doubt  this.  God  and  you 
are  one   as   divine   Mind   and   Mind's  manifestation. 


268  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

This  will  work  out  all  right,  and  will  prove  how  great 
is  our  God,  who  governs,  by  His  perfect  law  of  Truth 
and  Love,  the  universe,  including  man.  Rest  in  in- 
finite Love  and  see  the  effect  of  trusting  Truth,  and 
having  no  other  trust. 

Affectionately,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  May  29,  1908. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

The  claim  of  witchcraft  and  rebellion  has  no  power. 
Anarchy  is  uncovered,  and  when  seen  as  a  false  claim 
can  be  destroyed  by  our  reflection  of  Truth  and  Love. 

God  reigns,  and  He  will  deliver  you  from  all  these 
avenues  for  the  belief  of  evil.  If  you  make  so-called 
evil  unreal,  Truth  and  Love  will  soon  drive  out  the 
evil  doers  and  in  their  places  you  will  discern  the  real 
man.  Evil  doers  will  cease  to  trouble  you  when  you 
learn  that  mortal  so-called  mind  and  matter  are 
illusions.     Such  lawlessness  is  short-lived.     God  reigns. 

Give  my  love  to  all.  Handle  the  claim  of  witch- 
craft, rebellion,  and  anarchy, — the  separating  thought, 
— with  your  reflection  of  the  Word  of  God.  Love  will 
deliver  you.  Work  to  free  all  from  error.  Untold 
love  to  J.  .  .  andM.  .  .  and  yourself . 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  12, 1908. 

My  beloved  Student: — 5 

I  am  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  know  that  you 
are  appreciating  the  opportunity  to  pioneer  in  that 

1  Written  to  a  student  who  was  working  among  the  coal  miners. 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  269 

plane  of  belief.  Some  beliefs  are  better  than  others. 
I  often  realize  that  I  am  entering  a  slum  mentality, 
while  sense  testimony  declares  for  refinement,  and 
money  covers  corporeality  with  purple  and  fine  linen, 
gold  and  precious  stones.  But  all  the  same  it  is  a  slum 
consciousness,  though  on  Fifth  Avenue,  and  needs  to  be 
cleansed  of  its  impurity. 

I  am  sure  that  you  can  do  much  for  others  there, 
but  far  more  for  yourself,  beloved,  if  you  can,  with 
Christian  Science,  and  through  the  lens  of  Love,  behold 
the  idea  of  God  in  those  people.  This  experience  will 
exalt  you,  and  will  teach  you  what  my  pioneer  work 
taught  me — to  see  the  utter  falsity  and  unreality  of  mor- 
tal man  and  the  material  universe ;  to  be  glad  to  destroy 
false  material  concepts,  and  to  labor  to  find  the  image  of 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth  in  my  brother  and  sister. 

Do  not  be  deceived  by  the  evidence  of  the  material 
senses.  God  and  His  universe  and  man  are  every- 
where, and  through  spiritual  sense  you  can  pierce  the 
veil  and  find  the  true  man.  The  earth  and  its  riches 
must  be  revealed.  It  is  all  mental.  Look  for  the 
treasures  in  Mind,  and  your  spiritual  thought  will 
evolve  the  true  object. 

The  thought  of  the  people,  as  it  is  elevated  and 
turned  to  good,  will  change  the  place,  and  the  people, 
and  the  earth,  in  that  location. 

I  am  sure,  my  dear  student,  that  you  will  be  more 
grateful  for  all  the  comforts  you  enjoy  when  you  share 
the  hardships  of  self-sacrifice  and  deprivations  which 
dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  has  undergone  to  provide  comforts 
and  luxuries  for  you  and  his  family.  You  and  he  will 
get  rich  reward  for  your  kindness  to  me. 

When  you  get  home  I  want  to  read  to  you  some 
letters  of  our  Leader,  that  you  may  see   what   your 


270  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

reward  will  be  for  having  been  the  reflector  of  God  to 
me  during  the  days  when  the  enemy  was  determined  to 
crush  me  with  the  burden  of  the  cross. 

I  know  that  you  will  be  here  for  the  Association. 
I  have  met  and  risen  above  a  claim  in  the  past  few 
days,  and  I  am  now  ready  to  lift  my  student-body 
higher. 

Judge  Hanna  lectured  here  last  evening.  It  was  a 
fine  lecture,  and  three  thousand  people  are  said  to  have 
heard  it.  Every  inch  of  space  was  covered.  Extra 
seats  were  put  in,  and  those  who  stood  were  perfectly 
quiet,  and  seemed  not  to  mind  standing. 

I  must  close  now,  dear.  I  am  so  pressed  with  work 
and  for  lack  of  time  I  am  not  able  to  accomplish  all  I 
would.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  , 
and  tell  him  I  am  always  striving  to  aid  him  in  his 
work  of  revealing  and  taking  possession  of  the  earth  of 
God's  creating.  I  am  sure  you  know  how  fast  I  am 
writing  to  get  this  off  before  the  next  patient,  or 
impatient  appears. 

Love  untold  to  you,  dearest. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  3, 1909. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

You,  as  God's  idea,  are  reflecting  the  power  and 
presence  of  Principle,  Truth,  and  Love,  and  all  must 
obey  the  word  of  the  Christ- man,  as  God  gives  it  to 
His  idea,  His  image,  and  likeness.  There  can  be  no 
opposition  to  the  divine  man,  who  is  God's  glory  and 
who  reflects  His  will,  and  there  is  no  other  man.  To 
understand   the   oneness   of   God   and   His   idea,    the 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students   271 

spiritual    universe — generic    man — reveals    His    indi- 
vidual ideas,  the  members  of  His  body. 

Understanding  and  possessing  God-qualities,  we 
find  that  we  are  in  our  place  and  are  governed  by  the 
mighty  power  of  creative  Mind,  before  which  beliefs 
and  the  false  claims  of  life  and  intelligence  in  mortal 
mind  and  its  corporeal  body  must  disappear.  Here  is 
the  secret  of  the  power  of  God's  child,  and  he  thus 
compels  recognition  and  demonstrates  divine  Mind. 
Light  dispels  darkness.  When  one's  eye  is  single  the 
whole  body  is  full  of  light. 

The  knowledge  of  God's  allness  is  the  eye  which  is 
single,  and  your  whole  body  is  full  of  light  so  that 
beliefs  disappear  before  the  white  Christ  who  is  the 
man  in  God's  image.  You  will  lighten  the  load  of 
error  for  every  one  and  will  reveal  the  ideal  man  when 
your  spiritual  sense  dispels  the  illusions  in  your  busi- 
ness. When  you  realize  the  spiritual  origin  of  man, 
you  will  see  your  employees  as  your  brothers,  and 
spiritual  sense  will  destroy  your  false  concept  of  them. 
Then  unity  of  action  and  prosperity  in  Truth  will  follow. 
Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  6,  1909. 
My  beloved  N.  .  .  : — 

Doubtless  you  are  rejoicing  in  happy  anticipation  of 
the  meeting,  in  person,  with  your  dear  husband  and 
the  reunion  of  the  family,  which  will  be  a  sweet  reward 
for  your  long  separation.  The  Truth  of  being  declares 
there  is  but  one  Mind,  one  universe — generic  man — 
that  we  are  individual  members  of  the  body  of  Christ, 


272  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

and  that  we  are  never  separated.  "  Let  God  be  true, 
but  every  [material]  man  a  liar"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  471).  We  must  hush  this  lie  of  personal  sense,  and 
escape  from  the  bondage  and  limitations  of  belief,  if  we 
would  reflect  and  manifest  the  man  to  whom  God 
gave  dominion  over  all  things. 

We  are  fast  bursting  the  bonds  of  belief,  and  are 
exercising  man's  prerogative — the  power  and  presence 
of  infinite  Mind.  Wisdom  and  intelligence  will  find 
expression  in  us  when  our  spiritual  sense  dominates 
belief.  Light  disperses  darkness.  Arise  then,  beloved, 
and  let  your  light  shine.  The  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
His  idea,  and  His  arm  is  encircling  you,  His  child, 
and  is  bestowing  upon  each  individual  idea  blessings 
infinite.  The  dark  shadows  of  corporeal  sense,  finite 
belief  and  illusions,  are  fast  fading  before  the  Christ- 
idea,  who  is  God  manifest. 

I  long  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  real  and  eternal 
universe  and  man,  and  to  tarry  in  my  divine  selfhood 
until  I  can  grasp,  and  retain  the  divine  image.  This 
vision  which  must  finally  come  will  give  energy  to 
endeavor.  No  longer  will  we  be  deceived  by  the 
delusive  senses,  nor  sigh  over  idols  and  the  images  of 
Adam's  generation — sin  and  sickness,  sorrow  and 
death. 

In  this  divine  consciousness  to  which  we  journey 
there  is  only  ever-present  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  God's 
dear  children  each  reflect  the  fatherhood  and  mother- 
hood of  Love.  Each  is  whole,  reflecting  the  compound 
idea,  the  male  and  female  of  Life  and  Love.  Thus 
we  are  whole,  not  half.  In  this  compound  spiritual 
consciousness  we  have  dominion.  God  is  reflected, 
and  our  oneness  is  made  with  our  Father,  the  Principle 
of  being.     I  am  constantly  occupied   with  work,  but 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  273 

I  never  forget  you,  dear.     My  love  flows  to  you  con- 
tinually. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  August  11,  1909. 

My  dear  Student: — 

There  is  deliverance  for  dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  Put  your 
trust  in  God.  Christ  will  never  fail  in  his  promise,  '  I  Lo, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end."  The  test 
of  our  faith  in  divine  Love  and  Truth,  our  heavenly 
Father,  as  the  only  presence  and  power,  must  come  to 
all,  sooner  or  later,  and  we  pray  that  we  may  always 
be  ready  to  meet  the  demands  of  Truth. 

The  material  world,  the  phenomena  of  the  will  of 
the  flesh,  must  not  deceive  us.  The  will  of  God  must 
be  recognized  and  obeyed,  if  we  would  escape  the  ills 
to  which  flesh  is  heir. 

All  must  sooner  or  later  plant  themselves  on  the 
rock,  Christ,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  flesh  will  finally 
turn  all  to  divine  Love.  Either  through  suffering  or 
Science,  or  both,  we  must  learn  the  utter  nothingness 
of  matter  and  material  phenomena,  the  allness  of  God 
and  our  relation  to  Him  and  the  phenomena  of  Spirit. 
We  cannot  admit,  and  dwell  in  thought  on  the  reality 
of  matter,  and  expect  Spirit  to  form  our  spiritual 
concept. 

Let  us  be  true  to  Principle,  follow  our  beloved 
Leader  out  of  matter  into  Mind,  and  thus  behold  the 
real  substance-idea,  or  the  reality  of  our  dear  ones, 
who  are  tarrying  in  belief,  till,  awakened  by  suffering, 
they,  like  us,  seek  the  Truth  which  sets  free  from 
material   illusions. 


274  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

You  can  help  dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  only  as  you  deny 
material  sense  testimony,  and  declare  for  her  oneness 
with  God.  I  am  sure  that  you  are  meeting  your  own 
problem  in  this  experience,  and  you  will  rise  according 
to  your  adherence  to  Truth.  That  "All  flesh  [mortal 
mind  and  its  material  embodiment]  is  grass"  (Isa. 
xl.,  6)  seems  true  to  me.  Mind  is  substance,— indi- 
viduality. The  material  body  is  a  mirror  reflecting 
what  mortal  mind  impresses  upon  it.  Let  the  Christ 
now  be  manifest  on  the  flesh.  Keep  the  true  image 
ever  before  you,  and  thus  help  her,  and  free  yourself 
from  false  mental  pictures.  We  must  be  true  to 
Christ  in  our  thought.  Keep  your  mind  filled  with 
Truth  and  Love.  I  am  writing  just  a  line  to  Mrs.  H.  .  . 
for  you  to  give  her  when  she  is  permitted  to  hear  from 
her  friends.  God  is  with  you.  This  lesson  will  exalt 
you.  There  is  no  room  for  earth's  idols.  God  and 
His  ideas  alone  are  real. 

Ever  your  affectionate,  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  22,  1909. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

"God  is  our  refuge  and  strength"  (Psalm  xlvi.,  1). 
I  am  in  the  "secret  place  of  the  most  High"  working, 
watching  and  praying  to  rise  to  the  demands  of  Truth 
and  Love,  in  this  hour.  The  dross  is  being  consumed 
and  the  gold  appears.  I  see  that  only  by  the  experi- 
ences of  the  refining  furnace  can  the  fleshly  mind  be 
consumed.  The  conflict  with  material  mentalities, 
through  which  I  have  recently  passed,  has  burned  out 
much  of  the  human  self. 

I  shall  work,  watch,  and  pray  alone  with  God  and 
for  Him,  till  I  rise  to  do  the  work  of  healing  the  sick 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  275 

and  sinful  as  true  Christian  Scientists  should  heal,  in- 
stantaneously in  every  case,  by  destroying  sin,  the  cause 
of  all  disease.  I  am  following  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  shall  stand  in  the  power  of  God,  until  purified  as  by 
fire.  I  like  to  feel  that  I  am  strong  in  faith  to  meet 
all  that  Love  sends  me.  Love  to  you  both,  dear  ones, 
and  to  your  parents. 

Faithfully  yours  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  10,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

God  is  good.  I  am  rejoicing  in  the  peace  which 
only  spiritual  sense  can  give.  The  hour  is  momen- 
tous. Only  faith  and  spiritual  understanding  can 
meet  it.  Truth  and  Love  will  deliver  all  who  put  their 
trust  in  divine  Mind.  Never  have  I  had  such  a  firm 
grasp  of  my  Father's  hand,  nor  such  love  for  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  I  am  on  the  rock,  Christ, 
and  I  pray  that  you  and  dear  M.  .  .  are  there  also, 
forever.  Love  untold  to  you  all.  I  cannot  come  in 
person  but  am  with  you  in  spirit.  "God  is  sifting 
out  the  hearts  of  men  before  His  judgment  seat." 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City  , 
June  15, 1910. 

Beloved  Students: — 

"Wait,  and  love  more"  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  389)  with  our  beloved  Leader,  and  you  will  reap 
the  reward  of  loving,  and  working  alone  with  God  and 
for  Him.  The  light  is  shining  in  our  hearts,  and  the 
way  is  luminous  with  life  and  love.     I  see  the  demon- 


276  Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students 

stration  of  divine  Science  more  clearly  every  moment. 
Self-immolation  reveals  the  ever-present  ideal  man  and 
universe.  Who  can  stand  the  test?  Only  they  who 
discern  and  demonstrate  Truth. 

I  never  believed  that  I  should  be  teaching  universal 
consciousness,  as  I  am  doing  to-day  by  proving  to 
the  world  the  power  of  spiritual  understanding  to 
annul  the  false  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism 
to  destroy  me  mentally  and  physically.  Yet  this 
is  God's  way,  and  the  silent  influence  of  spiritual  love 
reaches  untold  numbers,  and  uplifts  me  and  mine  and 
all  who  are  ready  to  rise  Spirit- ward. 
Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  31, 1910. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  few  lines  to  tell  you  that  I  appreciate  our 
blessed  Leader's  words,  "Love  is  reflected  in  love" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  17),  and  that  you  are  one  of 
Love's  love  to  me.  Your  thorough  work  in  character 
building,  and  efforts  to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual 
foundation"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390) 
will,  if  you  continue  to  stand  in  Truth,  and  endure  to  the 
end  of  all  beliefs  in  a  physical  self,  crown  your  life  with 
success. 

When  any  one  struggles  for  the  Mind  of  Christ,  and 
strives  to  bring  every  thought  into  obedience  to 
Truth,  he  is  building  the  "house  [consciousness]  not 
made  with  hands. ' '  It  will  be  !  <  eternal  in  the  heavens ' ' 
(harmony).  I  think  of  you  often.  S.  .  .  writes  that 
you  are  so  brave  and  strong,  and  have  done  so  much 
for  our  Cause.     She  says,   "K.  .  .  C.  .  .  is  a  rock, 


Letters  of  Encouragement  to  Students  277 

in  steadfast  allegiance  to  Truth  and  such  a  student  is 
worth  teaching  and  working  for.  She  will  be  and  is 
a  strong  support  to  you  as  you  come  to  be  known  for 
what  you  are. "     I  endorse  what  she  says. 

Stand  firm  in  Truth  and  Love.  Be  faithful  to  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  you  will  be  true  to 
yourself,  to  me,  and  to  all. 

Please  give  my  love  to  dear  Miss  J.  .  . 
Lovingly  ever, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

- 


CHAPTER  V 
LETTERS  TO  PATIENTS 

For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word,  but  in  power. 

i  Corinthians  iv.,  20. 
Truth  is  as  "the  still,  small  voice,"  which  comes  to  our  recognition 
only  as  our  natures  are  changed  by  its  silent  influence. 

No  and  Yes,  Introduction. 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
April  21,  1896. 

My  dear  E.  .  .  : — 

I  am  sure  that  if  you  knew  how  often  I  send  you 
strong,  loving  thoughts  to  make  unreal  to  you  your 
seeming  false  condition,  you  would  know  how  faithful 
is  my  love,  and  how  much  I  have  to  meet  in  sharing 
this  experience  with  you.  I  know  the  hour  will  come 
when  you  will  see  that  all  things  work  together  to  wean 
us  from  the  objects  of  material  sense,  and  you  will 
rise  to  your  Christ-consciousness  with  purer  desires 
for  that  which  is  immortal.  I  do  not  believe  that  we 
can  enter  the  kingdom  of  spiritual  consciousness  until 
we  have  been  made  ready  through  self-abnegation, 
suffering,  and  the  purifying  process  of  the  destruction 
of  material  sense  and  sin,  or  the  belief  of  matter  as 
sentient  substance. 

Let  the  beasts  (human  beliefs)  roar;  they  only 
devour  and  destroy  themselves,  and  leave  the  pure 
Christ — our  immortal  being.    You  know,  dear  one,  that 

278 


Letters  to  Patients  279 

shadows  are  not  substance.  You  know  that  mortal 
thoughts  are  but  the  false  and  fleeting,  and  not  the 
reality.  Then  they  do  not  deceive  you,  nor  make  you 
suffer.  Your  divine  self  is  ever  denying  material  sense 
testimony.  God  is  ever  with  you,  and  Love  is  holding 
you  in  tender  embrace  above  all  that  would  cause  you 
to  falter.  Lean  more  trustingly  upon  Him.  Nestle 
more  closely  to  Principle  and,  so  far  as  you  can,  reflect 
divine  Love  upon  your  dear  husband,  who  appears  to 
your  finite  sense  to  be  suffering.  God  is  good  and 
good  is  all. 

Ever  yours  lovingly, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


40  Dartmouth  Street,  Winter  Hill,  Mass., 
July  2,  1896. 
My  dear  Mr.  H.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  is  most  welcome.  I  am  glad  to  learn  that 
you  understand  that  all  material  evidence  is  false, 
that  it  is  only  the  "old  man"  trying  to  assert  himself, 
and  claiming  to  possess  life  and  intelligence.  "  The 
blood,  heart,  lungs,  brain,  etc.,  have  nothing  to  do 
with  Life"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  151).  Your  life  is 
in  Mind.  You  are  not  material,  and  mortal  mind, 
with  its  mortal  phenomenon,  matter  body,  is  but  a 
shadow.  It  cannot  be  either  sick  or  well.  It  is  but 
a  belief. 

The  Spirit,  Truth  and  Love,  are  moving  upon  the 
face  of  the  waters  of  false  sense,  purifying  you  and 
dispelling  the  illusions  which  have  so  long  held  you  in 
bondage.  You  possess  the  courage  born  of  under- 
standing, which  God  imparts,  and  which  nothing  can 
destroy.  Exercise  it.  Belief  is  not  power.  It  is 
not  real  and  is  but  a  dream.     You  know  that  you  are 


280  Letters  to  Patients 

awaking  from  the  protracted  nightmare  of  fear,  to 
learn  that  you  have  always  been  the  image  and  likeness 
of  God, — your  only  creator  or  Principle,  whom  you 
represent.  Before  ever  the  false  sense  obtained,  as  a 
false  claim,  you  existed  in  Mind,  and,  when  all  material 
sense  has  vanished,  and  the  remembrance  of  the  dream 
has  departed,  you  will  still  continue  to  manifest  om- 
nipotence— intelligence — God,  and  exist  in  Life,  Love 
and  Truth,  which  evolve  health,  joy,  peace  and 
immortality. 

Do  you  not  see  the  utter  falsity  of  this  claim  as  able 
to  overcome  omnipotent  Mind,  or  its  idea?  Mind  is  your 
refuge.  Spirit  heals  by  expelling  the  lie  that  mortal 
sense  can  create  or  destroy.  Jesus  said,  "  '  Destroy  this 
temple  [body],  and  in  three  days  I  [Spirit]  will  raise  it 
up'  "  {Science  and  Health,  p.  27).  So  may  we,  when 
we  understand  more,  and  possess  more  of  Truth  which 
reconstructs  the  body  by  removing  the  belief  that  any 
organ  can  be  inflamed,  ache  or  disappear.  And  why? 
Because  matter  has  no  sensation,  no  intelligence,  no 
life,  no  substance,  and  this  understanding  of  Truth 
will  conquer  the  falsehood,  which  is  the  foe.  Fear  is 
to  be  overcome  by  Love.  Love  is  All  and  ever-present, 
filling  all  space;  therefore  there  is  no  room  for  fear. 
There  is  no  one  to  fear,  for  you  are  God's  image  and 
likeness,  and  so  are  all.  Substance  is  Mind,  and  you 
are  substance-idea.  Love  and  Truth  are  substance, 
and  are  everywhere  manifested  in  objects.  You  cannot 
lose  your  God,  and  your  God  cannot  lose  you.  God 
cannot  lose  a  member  of  His  (Christ's)  body,  and  you 
are  indissolubly  connected  with  God  and  His  Christ — 
an  individual  member  of  the  body  of  Christ. 

There  is  no  power  opposed  to  God.  He  is  the  only 
cause  and  creator.     We  are  in   His  beautiful  world 


Letters  to  Patients  281 

now.  We  are  His  loving,  perfect  children  now.  John 
says:  "Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God."  He  is  the 
only  God,  and  beside  Him,  I  acknowledge  none  other. 
There  is  no  mortal  man;  matter  is  a  myth.  Let  us 
enter  so  far  into  this  consciousness  that  we  lose  our 
fear  of  what  mortal  sense  claims  it  can  do.  Then  we 
shall  gain  our  victory  over  error.  We  may  as  well 
do  it  here.  The  struggle  for  the  supremacy  of  Mind 
over  matter  must  go  on  until  Truth,  here  or  hereafter, 
casts  out  all  material  thoughts  which  are  manifest  in 
disease,  discord  and  death. 

I  am  writing  with  my  paper  on  a  book,  as  I  sit  on  the 
porch,  with  the  wind  blowing  hard,  so  you  must  pardon 
the  writing.  I  am  determined  to  finish  this  before 
any  one  interrupts  me.  I  am  trying  to  get  rid  of  the 
echo  of  disturbed  mortals,  and  you  are  the  only  patient 
I  carry  to-day.  I  know  that  you  have  gained  suf- 
ficient understanding  to  realize  that  you  are  not  sick, 
nor  ever  were.  A  dream  has  been  broken;  an  halluci- 
nation is  being  overcome,  and  you  will  prove  that 
Truth  sets  you  free  from  illusions. 

I  do  not  charge  you  anything.  In  fact,  I  do  not 
remember  my  visits,  and  I  do  not  want  anything 
more.  You  have  paid  me  enough.  Let  me  be  in  your 
debt, — only  of  loving  gratitude,  that  God  has  manifested 
His  power  in  raising  you  up  from  suffering  where  you 
can  see  how  omnipotent  is  Mind,  and  how  powerless 
and  false  is  disease.  I  trust  you  will  be  strong  in 
Christ.  Now  be  happy.  Have  no  fear.  Rejoice  in  your 
dominion.  All  disease  is  the  result  of  false  mentality, 
and  so  false  that  it  must  go  when  Love  and  Truth  are 
present.  There  is  no  matter.  You  know  that  God  is 
All,  and  that  Mind  is  health,  holiness,  and  immortality. 
He  who  sees  this  has  eternal  life,  and  will  never  see 


282  Letters  to  Patients 

death  as  real.     Death  is  a  farce,  the  fear  of  nothing. 
Love  casts  it  out. 

Give  my  love  to  your  precious  wife.  Tell  her  to  be 
glad  and  rejoice  that  her  husband  has  found  Christ, 
and  is,  with  her,  solving  the  problem  of  human  exist- 
ence, entering  into  the  mystery  of  eternal  Life.  Write 
when  you  feel  like  it. 

Tenderly  and  truly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
August  29,  1896. 

My  dear  Mr.  L.  .  .  : — 

You  are  now  immortal.  Thank  God  that  Love  is 
ever-present  and  omnipotent.  The  Love  that  has 
turned  aside  the  arrow  that  had  wounded  the  dove  is 
pouring  into  the  wound  the  healing.  Love  will  not 
fail  to  restore  you  to  health.  There  is  no  other  exist- 
ence but  the  spiritual.  God  is  All,  and  man  is  His 
image.  Of  course  you  know  this  in  the  letter,  but 
you  must  gain  the  spiritual  sense.  This  spiritual 
understanding  is  Life,  and  Life's  manifestation,  man. 
Matter  is  not  you,  nor  are  you  in  matter. 

Man  is  outside  the  shadow  cast  by  mortal  belief, 
and  mortal  belief  cannot  prevent  Spirit  from  destroying 
the  shadow,  with  the  pain  and  discord  of  personal 
sense,  which  is  a  falsehood.  Who  suffers?  God  and 
His  idea?  No.  Then  no  one  suffers,  and  you  are 
above  fears  and  hallucinations.  Awake,  and  never 
yield  to  the  falsity  that  Love,  Life,  and  Truth,  your 
creator  whom  you  express,  cannot  conquer  a  lie. 
Love  is  healing  you  by  destroying  fear. 

Love  to  your  dear  wife. 

Ever  yours  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  to  Patients  283 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
November  19,  1896. 

My  dear  F.  .  .  : — 

Do  you  remember  the  effect  of  your  first  treatment? 
The  heavy  chemicalization  which  followed  the  condi- 
tion then,  is  now  the  same.  Your  recent  experience  must 
have  cast  to  the  surface  the  error,  or  fear,  and  its 
phenomenon,  or  pain,  followed,  which  is  all  that  error 
can  do — cast  itself  to  the  surface  for  self -extinction. 
You  met  it  bravely  with  Truth  and  Love,  and  you  have 
conquered.  Do  you  remember  how  you  came  up 
after  that  experience? 

You  will  rise  again  into  newness  of  life  after  this 
victory  over  a  false  sense  of  life  in  matter.  Your 
life  is  in  God,  Mind.  You  cannot  lose  your  God  nor 
yourself  as  a  mental  reflector  of  God.  He  is  your 
strength,  your  existence,  and  you  must  conquer  all 
beliefs  that  matter  or  blood  is  anything  but  illusion — 
a  ghost,  having  no  power. 

Now  take  new  hope  and  strength,  and  rise  to  see 
that  there  is  only  Life  eternal  from  whence  you  derive 
your  life.  God  is  with  you,  fear  nothing.  Love  is 
your  peace  and  strength.  Eat  and  drink  of  the  bread 
and  the  wine  of  Life  and  Love,  and  know  that  you  can 
eat  whatever  is  necessary  to  satisfy  the  demands  of 
the  belief  or  material  senses,  until  Spirit  feeds  and 
satisfies  the  immortal  cravings. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72D  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  24,  1899. 
My  beloved  V.  .  .  ; — 

Your  life  is  yours  to  defend  and  enjoy.     You  proceed 

from   the   great   Principle,    eternal    Life.     Never   lose 

this  consciousness.     You  are  not  in  matter — Love  is 


284  Letters  to  Patients 

ever  holding  you  safe  from  all  illusion  of  false  substance. 
The  only  substance  is  Mind,  and  you  can  never  be 
separated  from  this  only  substance,  eternal  Life.  Do 
not  believe  material  sense  testimony.  There  is  nothing 
to  fear.  Love  is  all,  and  you  are  safe  in  this  ever- 
present  divine  Love.  Let  us  be  reflectors  of  good, 
voice  our  Father- Mother  God,  and  never  admit  evil 
as  a  reality.  Evil  should  not  have  a  witness.  May 
God  make  us  conscious  of  our  great  power  to  rise 
superior  to  all  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Give  my  tender  love  to  dear  L.  .  .  and  M.  .  . 
and  Mrs.  D.  .  .  ,  my  precious  jewels,  whom  I  am 
helping  to  apprehend  the  real  and  eternal  facts  of 
being.  If  you  feel  like  going  so  far,  it  would  be  pleasant 
for  you  to  visit  the  Christian  Science  church  near  you. 
It  is  strong  in  Christian  Science  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
S.  .  .  are  splendid,  meek,  loving  reflectors  of  Truth 
and  Love. 

Be  strong,  dear.  It  is  a  battle  with  error,  but  you 
will  win,  and  rest  like  the  dove,  in  the  arms  of  omni- 
potent Love. 

Ever  your  loving,  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72D  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  12,  1900. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  do  not  think  that  you  know  how  my  heart  has 
gone  out  to  you  since  you  so  bravely  took  up  the  work 
of  Christ,  to  relieve  a  dear  little  sufferer,  and  to  carry 
divine  Love  into  the  home  made  unhappy  by  the 
belief  that  matter  has  life  and  intelligence.  Now, 
my  precious  soldier,  put  on  the  full  armor  of  Love  and 
Truth.  Forget  self,  and  the  material  environments 
which  are  only  type  and  symbol  of  the  real  and  eternal, 


Letters  to  Patients  285 

and,  with  eyes  fixed  on  the  white  Christ,  and  often 
on  bended  mental  knee,  implore  the  dear  Father- 
Mother  God  to  fill  your  thought  with  such  spiritual 
realization  of  the  perfect  child,  God's  own  idea,  His 
image  and  likeness,  that  the  claim  of  discord  and  dis- 
ease in  your  patient  will  vanish  like  darkness  before 
light. 

Our  blessed  mission  is  to  relieve  suffering  humanity. 
Your  present  efforts  are  to  restore  this  child  of  your 
dear  friend's  to  health,  and  his  divine  harmony.  God 
is  with  you.  You  know  that  He  never  made  disease, 
and  the  spiritual  identity  of  this  child  is  God's  own 
reflection.  Error  has  clouded  us  all  in  the  past,  and 
all  have  suffered  from  ignorance  of  the  Science  of 
being.  It  is  now  time  for  all  to  awake  and  put  on 
their  strength.  We  are  convinced  that  none,  much 
longer,  can  resist  the  onward  march  of  Mind.  All 
will,  ere  long,  open  their  eyes  to  see  the  cause  of  all 
sickness  and  death.  Then  humanity  will  arise  and 
refuse  to  submit  to  the  false  thoughts  which  produce 
suffering.  Mankind  will  choose  the  mental  spiritual 
consciousness,  and  find  the  dominion  and  joy,  health 
and  peace  which  are  man's  birthright.  Just  a  touch 
of  this  divine  power,  which  is  inherent  in  each  of  us, 
is  a  foretaste  of  heaven. 

As  I  look  out  upon  suffering  humanity,  I  see  before 
it  the  inevitable  diseases  and  disappointments,  sorrows 
and  separations  of  loved  ones  by  the  cruel  deceiver, 
so-called  death.  I  behold  the  helplessness  of  humanity 
to  avert  such  conditions,  and  to  preserve  its  health 
and  God's  manifold  blessings.  Then  I  cry  out  for 
wisdom  and  Love  to  aid  me  more  speedily  to  bring  the 
world  to  see  the  Truth ;  that  all  is  Mind,  and  that  there 
is  but  one  Mind  who  made  the  universe,  pure,  perfect, 


286  Letters  to  Patients 

and  eternal  — and  who  made  man  to  enjoy,  not 
to  suffer — to  love,  not  to  hate — to  live,  never  to 
die. 

Thus  the  "way"  Jesus  marked  out  is  becoming 
clearer  to  us  all,  viz.:  that  man  must  see  himself  as 
spiritually  mental.  Life,  Love,  and  Truth  are  all. 
What  seems  to  our  finite  sense,  matter,  sin,  sickness, 
and  death,  is  but  the  action  of  a  false  sense,  and  not 
the  reality  of  life.  The  physical  is  but  the  manifesta- 
tion of  the  so-called  mortal  thought,  which  the  im- 
mortal divine  Mind  will  destroy,— first,  its  pains  and 
beliefs  will  disappear,  then,  as  the  false  mentality 
dissolves,  the  real  and  ideal  man  will  appear. 

Let  your  demonstration  of  spiritual  power  appear 
in  awakening  the  child  to  health  and  harmony.  Talk 
to  him,  and  teach  him  his  power  of  resistance  to  error. 
He  must  be  ready  for  Truth.  The  physical  conflict 
which  is  going  on  is  evidence  of  Truth's  appearing  to 
him.  A  little  child  may  lead  the  parents  into  the  Science 
of  Life  and  Love.  Oh!  if  they  only  knew  the  wonder- 
ful work  which  is  theirs  to  do  in  the  near  future!  All 
are  coming  into  that  Light,  whose  radiance  is  even  now 
flooding  the  world.  If  they  only  knew  what  health, 
and  joy  and  peace  there  are  in  Christian  Science,  they 
would  turn  their  thoughts  to  the  contemplation  of 
the  real  and  eternal!  I  shall  be  in  Boston  the  sixth, 
seventh,  and  eighth  of  November.  Now,  dear  student, 
heal  your  patient.  Watch  carefully  and  prayerfully 
with  the  child.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  your 
friends,  Mrs.  and  Mr.  J.  .  .  ,  and  with  ever-increasing 
love  to  you,  dear,  I  am, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
[The  child  was  healed.] 


Letters  to  Patients  287 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
July  10,  1900. 

My  dear  M  .  .  .  : — 

You  know  that  there  is  but  one  God,  whose  voice 
you  recognize  and  obey.  You  cannot  hear  error 
through  any  avenue.  You  have  no  fear,  for  Love  is 
your  shield,  and  Love  enfolds  you.  False  mental 
suggestions  or  hypnotic  influences  cannot  use  you. 
You  can  rise  and  dispel  false  suggestions,  and  the 
lying  arguments  of  the  carnal  mind.  The  only  reality 
is  divine  Mind.  Mind  creates  and  controls  the  uni- 
verse, including  man.  The  material  body  and  the 
material  universe  are  the  phenomena  of  false  sense. 
They  must  vanish,  and  the  real  body  and  the  real 
universe  must  appear.  "  The  earth  is  the  Lord's  and 
the  fulness  thereof."  He  made  and  governs  all.  Let 
us  be  consciously  controlled  by  divine  Mind,  or  Spirit, 
and  rest  in  the  understanding  that  we  are  safe  in  the 
arms  of  our  Mother-God,  Love.  You  can  see  how 
powerless  is  weak  human  belief,  and  how  it  appears 
and  disappears.  The  claim,  fear,  is  a  tyrant,  and 
until  we  break  the  fetters  of  belief  of  life  in  a  matter 
body,  we  are  subject  to  fears  which  end,  as  we  have 
seen,  in  discord  and  disaster.  So  rejoice  that  you 
trust  in  God. 

Give  much  love  to  dear  H.  .  .  and  A.  .  .  and  the 
family.  Be  firm  in  regard  to  the  position  your  sisters 
take  against  Christian  Science.  Let  Truth  and  Love 
be  your  defense.  Read  our  Leader's  recent  address, 
and  rise  and  demonstrate  over  all  error. 

I  shall  be  with  you  to-morrow  in  spirit  as  you  meet 
the  test  of  your  faith  and  understanding.  M.  .  . 
did  what  she  pleased  with  her  own,  and  no  one  even 
dreamed  what  she  was  thinking  until  she  had  worked 
out  with  God  her  decision  to  give  part  of  her  money 


288  Letters  to  Patients 

to  the  church.  Neither  would  I,  to  whom  she  con- 
fided this  in  order  to  execute  it,  offer  one  suggestion. 
I  refused  to  do  this,  and  positively  forbade  her  to  give 
me  in  her  will  the  $5000  as  she  had  planned  to  do. 
I  knew  she  was  able  to  judge  what  was  best  for  the 
church,  and  this  was  between  her  and  God.  She  is 
to-day  looking  higher  than  money  for  her  support,  and 
she  realizes  that  God  supplies  every  want,  even  as  He 
clothes  the  lilies  and  feeds  the  sparrows.  Day  by  day 
the  manna  must  fall  for  us,  before  we  rise  above  all 
material  things. 

My  heart  goes  out  to  you,  dear  M.  .  .  Your  sister 
was  my  valued  student.  My  "cup"  has  been  to  part 
with  her,  and  to  crush  the  human  longings,  and  refuse 
to  yield  to  the  belief  that  she  has  left  us.  She  lives 
and  acts  in  God's  universe.  Be  strong — she  is  in  our 
midst,  just  beyond  the  veil. 

God  bless  you  and  yours. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48TH  Street,  January  3,  1901. 

My  dear  J.  .  .  : — 

I  know  you  understand  that  I  am  often  thinking  of 
you,  although  I  do  not  write  frequently.  Love  is  your 
refuge,  and  you  realize  how  surely  error  is  destroying 
itself.  It  cannot  turn  you  for  one  moment  from  your 
trust  in  omnipotent  Truth,  nor  compel  you  to  admit 
that  anything  is  disturbed  but  the  false  senses  which 
Truth  is  destroying.  Let  Christ  operate  and  recon- 
struct the  body.  "When  a  false  sense  suffers,  the 
true  sense  comes  out"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  276) 
are  the  words  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.     You 


Letters  to  Patients  289 

are  rising  to  a  higher  sense  of  your  divine  image,  and 
your  heart  must  sing,  as  you  soar  into  heights  beyond 
the  surging  sea  of  human  sense  testimony. 

As  you  cling  to  Christian  Science  and  rise  to  meet  the 
irresistible  conflict  between  Christ  and  the  so-called  car- 
nal mind,  you  are  surely  grasping  the  eternal  verities  of 
true  spiritual  being.  Love  will  remain  your  high  tower 
into  which  you  can  flee  from  mental  and  physical  pain 
and  fear.  •  You  know  the  allness  of  Mind,  and  that 
you  are  meeting  the  claim  of  false  mortal  mind,  which 
Christ  will  destroy.  Be  brave,  and  trust  and  know 
that  suffering  does  not  last  forever,  but  only  until  it 
destroys  a  false  sense  of  life  in  matter.  Whatever 
may  seem  to  be  defeat,  as  you  work  in  Truth  and  Love, 
is  not  failure,  but  is  Love's  way  of  delivering  us,  as 
we  merge  from  sense  to  Soul.  Life  is  all  and  ever- 
present. 

I  send  you  all  deep,  forever  love,  and  I  know  that  you 
are  working  out  a  problem  for  yourself,  and  your 
changed  thought  will  help  all.  God  will  comfort  and 
support  you. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48TH  Street,  January  12,  1901. 

My  dear  C  .  .  .  •' — 

Love  is  Life,  joy,  peace,  and  strength.  Love  is 
God,  and  God  is  All:  there  is  naught  else.  Rejoice 
that  you  know  this,  and  that  there  is  but  one  God  and 
His  ideas.  God  is  your  Father  and  Mother.  You 
know  that  you  love  God  because  you  love  your  parents. 
You  know  that  you  are  God's  image  and  likeness,  and 
so  are  they.     You  are  happy  in  the  dear  home  which 


290  Letters  to  Patients 

Love  has  given  you.  Love  gives  you  Her  gifts  through 
the  dear  father  and  mother — God's  ideas.  Only  to 
false  sense  are  they  seemingly  your  material  father 
and  mother. 

You  are  happy  and  free  and  there  is  no  confusion. 
You  do  not  want  to  think  of  self.  Think  of  them, 
and  see  what  you  can  do  to  make  them  happy.  Make 
some  return  for  all  they  do  for  you.  Sing  and  dance 
and  ride  a  wheel  and  play  like  a  happy  child.  Do 
not  sit  and  pore  over  your  books  all  the  time,  but 
read  a  page  and  then  go  and  demonstrate  what  you 
have  read. 

Love  to  your  parents  and  much  love  to  you, — also 
to  each  of  the  dear  girls. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48TH  Street,  August  19, 1901. 

My  dear  L  .  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  received.  You  will  fear  no  evil  when 
you  know  that  the  conflict  is  only  the  death  of  personal 
sense  and  not  the  death  of  organic  matter.  Let  us 
see  it  for  just  what  it  is,  lust,  hypocrisy,  and  malicious 
mortal  mind — the  material  senses.  You  know  that 
the  carnal  senses  in  all  must  die.  Our  dear  Leader 
says,  "Waking  to  Christ's  demand,  mortals  experience 
suffering  "  {Science  and  Health,  p.  22).  Spirit  is  mov- 
ing upon  the  error,  and  the  beast,  our  human  senses, 
must  yield  to  the  Christ. 

Do  not  fear,  but  rejoice  in  the  suffering  which 
destroys  your  false  claim.  You  will  prolong  your 
sleeplessness  if  you  talk  of  it  or  think  too  much  of  it. 
Think  how  Love  is  wrestling  with  you  to  free  you 


Letters  to  Patients  291 

from  sensuous  mesmerism,  the  belief  of  life  and  sensa- 
tion in  matter.  Impersonal  error  is  working  through 
Mrs.  .  .  .  You  will  defend  yourself  from  error  by- 
knowing  that  evil  cannot  use  her  as  an  avenue  to 
injure  herself  or  you.  She  is  God's  perfect  child, 
and  can  only  reflect  Love  and  Truth  to  you,  and 
receive  Love   and  Truth  from  you. 

I  have  met  this  repeatedly  during  my  warfare  against 
impersonal  evil  which  worked  through  personalities  who 
allowed  themselves  to  be  agents  or  mouthpieces  for 
so-called  envy,  jealousy,  hatred,  malice,  revenge, 
etc.  I  am  beyond  the  influence  of  impersonal  error 
through  her,  and  have  only  love  for  her  and  for  all. 
The  effort  to  harm  me  is  evidence  that  I  am  fighting 
for  Truth  and  Love.  I  need  more  humility,  and 
experience  and  suffering  will  aid  me  toward  acquiring 
it.  Error  only  destroys  itself.  It  has  only  the  power 
you  give  it.  You  must  fulfil  the  law  of  Love. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  20, 1909. 

My  dear  K  .  .  .  : — 

No  matter  what  belief  says,  God  speaks  to  error 
through  spiritual  man,  and  declares  error's  powerless- 
ness  and  its  nothingness.  "The  law  of  Truth  to  error " 
is  '"Thou  shalt  surely  die'  "  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  208).  Evil  and  its  embodiment  "is  neither  person, 
place,  nor  thing"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  71).  There 
is  no  power,  no  presence  but  Mind  and  its  manifesta- 
tions. What,  to  your  material  sense,  seems  opposition 
to  right,  seems  so  only  to  your  false  sense.  When  you 
denounce  and  destroy  your  belief  in  a  belief,  you  will 


292  Letters  to  Patients 

get  your  dominion  over  finite  concepts,  the  evil  one, 
the  lie. 

God  governs  in  D.  .  .  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's" 
and  all  that  is  within  it.  Command  your  spiritual 
understanding  to  demonstrate  your  Principle.  This 
is  your  opportunity  to  solve  a  mental  problem.  It  is 
really  a  problem  in  divine  mathematics.  You  may  call 
it  your  algebra.  I  wrote  to  M.  .  .  yesterday.  Your 
problem  and  hers  are  tests  for  you  both.  Conquer 
false  sense  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  I  know 
that  the  nothingness  of  self-hypnotism  and  universal 
mesmerism  will  be  apparent  to  you  when  you  have 
proved  the  dominion  of  Mind,  or  good,  over  the  illusion 
called  evil. 

The  business  is  not  governed  by  evil  mentalities, 
for  evil  has  no  reality  unless  you  give  it  power.  You 
are  controlled  by  divine  Mind,  the  only  power.  All 
material  things  are  illusions  and  delusions.  Let  Mind 
come  forth,  through  your  spiritual  reflection,  in  its 
manifestation  of  harmonious  activity  and  prosperity. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  6, 1909. 
My  dear  M.  .  .  ; — 

I  am  expecting  to  hear  of  your  successful  graduation 
in  Berlin,  and  that  you  responded  to  intelligence, 
as  my  cablegram  declared  you  could.  I  sent  it  at 
once,  on  receipt  of  your  cable.  I  have  worked  faith- 
fully to  reflect  to  you,  dear,  the  presence  of  wisdom 
and  Love.  I  trust  you  have  been  responsive  to  the 
power  of  Truth,  and  that  every  fear  has  been  dissipated 
by  my  reflection  of  Love.     Oh!  if  we  all  could  sooner 


Letters  to  Patients  293 

chase  away  the  illusions  which  throng  the  gloaming. 
But  we  must  be  patient,  and  work,  watch  and  pray  for 
the  Mind  of  Christ.  When  we  are  obedient  to  the  law 
or  Mind  of  God,  the  Principle  of  being,  all  conflict  will 
cease,  and  we  shall  be  at  peace,  and  shall  manifest 
wisdom,  might,  and  Life  eternal. 

I  send  you  much  love,  dearest.  My  work  is  occu- 
pying my  every  moment,  and  when  you  hear  me 
mentally,  as  I  reflect  to  you  God's  dear  love,  you  will 
feel  the  strength  and  intelligence  which  will  enable 
you  to  accomplish  all  that  is  demanded  of  you.  Jesus 
said,  "I  will  come  and  heal  him."  His  Ego,  the 
reflection  of  Principle — the  Ego-man  was  the  power 
with  which  he  healed.  Let  us  all  find  our  Ego-God 
and  radiate  intelligence,  wisdom  arid  love. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  q6th  Street.  New  York  City. 
June  20,  1909. 

My  dear  L  .  .  .  : — 

There  is  one  Mind,  ever-present  Truth  and  Love, 
in  which  we  all  "live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being." 
There  is  no  way  to  escape  from  this  presence  and 
power — therefore  we  are  always  safe  if  we  abide  in 
divine  Love.  There  is  much  to  give  us  joy  and  strength 
when  we  realize  our  oneness  with  Principle,  and  that 
we  are  and  always  have  been  God's  reflectors,  bearing 
His  image.  We  are  now  perfect  as  our  "Father 
which  is  in  heaven. "  God  being  All,  there  is  no  other 
presence  nor  power. 

We  cannot  believe  this  scientific  statement  of  being 
and  admit  another  presence  and  power  called  mortal 
mind,  sin,  sickness  and  death,  if  we  are  beginning  "to 
build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation"   {Chris- 


294  Letters  to  Patients 

tian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  We  must  know 
that  the  illusion  called  mortal  man  and  his  material 
embodiment,  a  matter  body,  is  false.  Matter  cannot 
testify  of  pain  or  of  pleasure,  for  there  is  no  matter. 
Mortal  thought  is  a  liar  and  was  such  from  the  be- 
ginning. You  cannot  believe  a  lie  when  you  know 
the  Truth,  so  never  believe  that  the  inanimate,  cor- 
poreal body  can  suffer  or  enjoy.  It  is  sensationless 
— it  is  not  substance.  It  is  merely  a  shadow  which 
will  disappear  under  the  white  light  of  Christ.  It 
never  lived,  and  therefore  it  has  no  life  to  surrender. 

Meet  every  argument  of  mortal  mind  with  a 
protest.  You  have  divine,  spiritual  power,  and  the 
Word  is  as  effectual  to-day  to  heal  as  it  was  during 
Jesus'  experience".  The  Word  is  God.  You  are  God's 
idea.  Your  presence,  your  consciousness  is  the  re- 
flection of  substance — Spirit,  and  you  have  only  to 
understand  and  exercise  your  God-thought  to  dispel 
the  illusions  of  belief.  Stand  firmly  at  your  post. 
There  is  but  one  man — not  two.  You  must  speak 
to  belief  with  authority,  and  know  that  Truth  always 
conquers  and  destroys  a  lie.  There  never  was  a  ma- 
terial Adam  and  Eve;  there  never  was  a  material 
universe.  The  illusion  called  the  material  world  will 
dissolve  and  disappear,  and  our  spiritual  concept  will 
reveal  a  spiritual  man  who  has  always  existed,  and  a 
spiritual  universe  which  we  have  always  occupied. 
Antedate  your  existence.  Jesus  said,  "Before  Abra- 
ham was,  I  am." 

Mortal  mind — the  Adam-dream  of  life  in  matter — 
cannot  deceive  us  longer. 

I  shall  be  declaring  this  summer,  that  nothing  will 
come  to  our  church  which  needs  your  judgment  and 
wisdom,  since  you  must  be  absent.     I  am  glad  that 


Letters  to  Patients  295 

you  are  not  going  to  remain  longer  away — although 
I  feel  that  you  are  never  absent  mentally  from  your 
dear  church.  I  am  going  to  write  V.  .  .  a  line 
to-morrow.  It  is  now  one  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  I  must  close. 

Lovingly  and  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  27,  1909. 
My  dear  B.  .  .  ; — 

I  have  just  received  your  letter  with  enclosed  ap- 
preciation of  my  services.  I  rejoice  that  gratitude 
is  one  of  your  virtues,  because  a  character  which 
possesses  this  quality  is  sure  to  respond  to  the  healing 
Truth.  It  opens  the  thought  to  the  power  of  Christ, 
which  the  healer  reflects,  and  melts  away  the  belief 
of  discord  and  disease.  No  matter  how  pressed  I  am 
with  work,  nor  how  heavy  the  burden  of  responsibility 
which  I  carry  in  my  field  of  labor  to  establish  the 
spiritual  healing-power  of  true  Christian  Science, 
I  shall  always  be  ready  to  help  you  and  yours,  so  long 
as  you  are  striving,  as  you  are,  to  "put  off  the  old 
man"  (belief  of  life  in  matter)  and  "put  on  the  new 
man,"  the  Christ-mind,  in  which  is  no  sin,  sickness, 
nor  death.  The  Mind  of  Christ  or  Truth  gives  us 
dominion  over  the  false  senses  which  hold  us  with  their 
discords  to  the  matter  body. 

Like  light,  spiritual  thought  dispels  darkness,  or 
the  illusions  of  mortal  beliefs.  The  warfare  is  between 
the  mortal  thought,  the  lie  that  matter  can  suffer  and 
die,  and  the  immortal  or  Christ-mind,  which  knows 
only  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  and  which  conquers 
the  beliefs  of  the  so-called  fleshly  mind,  restoring 
harmony  to  humanity.     Each  must  some  day  begin 


296  Letters  to  Patients 

the  battle  between  the  human  and  the  divine,  and 
learn  to  control  his  body,  and  business  and  environ- 
ment, by  thinking  God's  thoughts,  and  refusing  to 
submit  to  the  so-called  mortal  thoughts  which  are 
continually  testifying  of  pain  and  pleasure  in  matter. 
There  is  but  one  God,  Mind,  and  man  is  God's  image 
and  likeness,  spiritual  consciousness,  which  is  expressed 
in  a  perfect  spiritual  manifestation — Christ.  There 
is  but  one  creator;  therefore  all  that  seems  to  be  the 
opposite  of  Life  eternal,  Love  and  Truth,  is  a  false 
man,  and  a  false  creation — false  thought  manifest — 
dust  to  dust.  The  true  spiritual  thought  will  trans- 
form the  body  and  the  universe,  revealing  the  perfect 
man  and  the  perfect  world  of  God's  creating. 

Our  blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  "Eternal 
Truth  is  changing  the  universe"  {Science  and  Health, 
P-  255)-  We  are  all  working  to  change  our  thought 
and  to  get  the  power  of  Spirit,  that  we  may  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil,  sin  and  death,  and  finally  we 
must  destroy  the  claim  of  a  devil,  the  cause  of  all  evil 
effects.  God  is  and  God  is  All.  Therefore  we  will 
drive  out  all  beliefs  that  we  live  in  a  matter  body, 
or  a  material  world,  and  will  gain  our  oneness  with  the 
great  source  of  our  being,  eternal,  conscious  Life  which 
will  hold  us  in  health  and  harmony. 

Trusting  to  our  Principle,  we  must  demonstrate  the 
mighty  power  of  God  and  His  man  to  whom  He  gave 
dominion  over  all  things.  I  thank  you  for  your 
helping  hand  for  my  material  needs.  If  you  need 
any  more  assistance  come  to  me,  but  I  believe  you 
are  now  free.     Love  to  dear  M.  .  . 

Ever  your  affectionate  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


CHAPTER  VI 
LETTERS  OF  COMFORT 

For  I  would  that  ye  knew  what  great  conflict  I  have  for  you,  .  .  . 

That  their  hearts  might  be  comforted,  being  knit  together  in  love, 
and  unto  all  riches  of  the  full  assurance  of  understanding,  to  the 
acknowledgement  of  the  mystery  of  God,  and  of  the  Father,  and  of 
Christ. — Colossians  ii.,  I,  2. 

God  pities  our  woes  with  the  love  of  a  Father  for  His  child, — not  by 
becoming  human,  and  knowing  sin,  or  naught,  but  by  removing  our 
knowledge  of  what  is  not.  He  could  not  destroy  our  woes  totally  if 
He  possessed  any  knowledge  of  them.  His  sympathy  is  divine,  not 
human. — No  and  Yes,  p.  30. 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 

Sunday,  May  7,  1894. 

My  dear  F.  .  .  : — 

I  have  only  a  short  time  before  the  evening 
service — yet  I  must  write  you  if  only  a  word  or  two. 
I  look  for  you,  dear,  in  Mind,  for  there  only  can  I  find 
you,  but  human  sense  calls  for  its  manifestation,  and 
as  we  have  not  yet  dissolved  this  illusion,  it  still  claims 
recognition.  I  am  thankful  that  the  belief  or  mortal 
mind  has  lost  as  much  of  its  power  over  us  as  it  has. 
I  rejoice  that  the  ideal  can  touch  the  ideal,  and  cognize 
the  substance  of  Mind.  Joy  and  gladness  will  be  ours 
when  this  too  solid  seeming  flesh,  or  clay  disappears  at 
last,  never  to  deceive  us  more. 

Our  church  edifice  at  Madison  Avenue  and  Twenty- 
ninth  Street  was  well  filled  to-day.     I  think  that  you 

297 


298  Letters  of  Comfort 

all  were  there  in  spirit.  Matter  was  not  manifested 
as  you,  and  as  I  lost  the  false  concept  for  the  true  and 
spiritual,  I  thought  of  dear  B.  .  .  ,  my  dear  student, 
of  darling  G.  .  .  and  little  A.  .  .  ,  and  last,  but  by 
no  means  least,  my  big  boy  student,  A.  .  .  , — such  a 
fledgling  in  Science,  but  really  preening  his  wings  for 
a  celestial  flight.  We  are  all  ascending  the  hill  of 
Christian  Science  together,  and  the  stronger  helps 
the  weaker  in  the  true  brotherhood  of  Love. 

Only  in  spiritual  consciousness  can  we  find  our 
reality — never  in  matter,  and  little  by  little  we  must 
lose  our  trust  in  materiality.  God  alone  is  our  Father, 
our  Mother,  our  Protector — the  giver  of  all  that  is  good, 
real,  and  eternal.  As  we  apprehend  this,  we  turn  from 
the  things  of  time  and  sense  to  contemplate  the  real 
and  unseen.  How  like  the  weaning  child  we  cry  for 
that  which  was  once  so  real  and  essential!  Oh,  my 
dear  student,  His  hand  is  firm,  His  pruning  knife  is 
sure.  He  will  cut  out  poisonous,  noxious  weeds 
(thoughts  material)  from  our  mind,  and  in  their  place 
will  be  found  such  spiritual  thoughts  as  will  bring  forth 
peace  and  plenty,  joy,  strength,  and  life  eternal. 

God's  ideas  have  in  them  no  element  of  care  nor 
sorrow,  pain  nor  death.  Think  how  we  hug  to  our 
bosom  the  lie,  the  belief  that  corporeality  is  real,  the 
finite,  material  belief  that  always  stings  us.  We 
should  be  glad  to  part  with  the  false  concept  of  our 
dear  one  though  it  may  seem  real.  Look  above 
"fading,  finite  forms"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  264). 
This  matter  existence  is  only  a  dream.  Do  not  be 
deceived.  You  will  reap,  for  you  will  not  faint.  We 
shall  come  up  to  the  demands  of  Christ,  if  we  are  faith- 
ful, having  our  robes  washed  and  made  white,  in  suf- 
fering and    Science.     I    see   glimpses  of  heaven  now. 


Letters  of  Comfort  299 

I  hear  the  harmony  of  heaven  occasionally,  and  I  know 
that  we  shall  burst  the  veil  of  the  fleshly  mind  and 
shall  grasp  the  eternal  consciousness.  Losing  the 
material,   we  shall   gain  the  spiritual. 

I  hope  to  see  you  in  person  soon.  Dear  L.  .  .  seems 
very  calm  under  this  sore  affliction  and  had  a  brighter 
look  this  morning  than  for  some  time.  She  feels  the 
spiritual  presence  of  her  darling  boy.  Error  cannot 
deceive  her  with  its  falsity  that  he  is  dead.  Matter 
was  not  he  but  her  false  sense  of  him.  Now  she  will 
look  forward  to  destroying  the  material  senses,  and 
will  work  for  spiritual  sense  which  alone  will  reveal 
him.  She  will  find  herself  looking  to,  and  for  the 
incorporeal  idea,  instead  of  fixing  her  thought  and  gaze 
upon  the  corporeal  and  fleshly  form.  It  will  be  easier 
for  her  to  declare  there  is  no  matter,  All  is  Mind, 
now,  and  though  it  costs  her  tears  and  sighs,  a  wail 
and  a  moan,  she  cannot  mourn  as  if  she  did  not  under- 
stand something  of  the  Truth.  Her  mother-love 
will  not  lose  sight  of  God's  idea,  whom  she  knew  as 
G  .  .  . 

It  is  very  unreal  to  me.  I  know  that  he  is  here, 
and  has  never  gone,  never  died.  What  he  left  was 
his  and  our  false  concept  of  him.  You  seemed  to  bury 
him,  but  he  was  never  in  nor  of  matter.  He  was,  and 
is  spiritual,  and  is  working  on  towards  the  full  light. 
He  will  not  be  turned  backward,  but  will  press  on, 
till  he  gains  the  vision  of  the  real. 

Now,  dear,  remember,  as  I  free  myself  from  sin, 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  false  thoughts,  Love  will  exalt 
me.  Love's  arms  are  about  you,  and  will  support 
me  and  you.  Her  voice  will  tenderly  comfort  and 
cheer  you.  You  are  a  faithful  soldier  of  our  dear 
Leader,   Mrs.   Eddy.     You  will   do  your  own  work, 


300  Letters  of  Comfort 

and  overcome  belief.  I  am  ever  with  you  mentally 
to  cheer  and  encourage  you.  My  love  for  you  is 
beyond  words.  Will  you  watch  and  pray,  dear,  and 
know  that  we  are  fast  losing  the  echo  of  error?  Truth 
and  Love  are  reappearing  with  "lap  piled  high  with 
immortal  fruits"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  494).  All 
spiritual  things  will  be  ours  when  we  abandon  the 
counterfeit,  the  material  senses.  Do  not  grieve  for 
illusions.  There  is  not  one  material  thing  real.  Wait 
till  divine  Love  unclasps  your  hold  on  beliefs,  and 
then  you  will  see  the  smile  of  our  Mother-God,  and 
the  dear  ones  whom  you  have  loved  and  seem  to  have 
lost. 

Ever  fondly  and  forever, 
Yours  in  love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  27,  1898. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

You  know  that  God  is  All,  and  that  man  is  and 
ever  was  His  image  and  likeness — spiritual  and  not 
material.  You  know  that  Love  is  with  you,  and  will 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  your  eyes.  You  are  sure 
that  your  dear  companion  is  not  in  the  material  form 
which  is  left,  but  is  a  mental,  spiritual  man,  existing 
in  Mind,  not  in  matter.  He  is  not  dead,  but  is  living; 
he  is  not  absent,  but  is  ever-present,  and  is  one  with 
God. 

We  all  have  to  learn  to  lean  upon  our  Father- Mother 
God.  "Thy  Maker  is  thine  husband"  (Isaiah  liv.,  5), 
and  oh !  my  dear  student,  I  am  so  glad  that  you  know 
this.  Love  will  supply  every  want  and  "feed  the  fam- 
ished affections"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  17).  You  will 
never  grieve  as  they  who  believe  that  matter  is  real. 


Letters  of  Comfort  301 

You  know  that  he  lives  as  God's  idea  and  is  near,  and 
that  only  the  veil  of  the  fleshly  mind  hides  him  from 
you.  This  will  some  day  be  rent  and  your  spiritual 
sense  will  behold  your  dear  companion  in  his  spiritual 
reality.  In  the  meantime,  God  is  very  near  to  you, 
and  will  sustain  and  comfort  you.  How  good  is  our 
God.  You  would  have  had  no  health,  no  understand- 
ing with  which  to  meet  this  bereavement  but  for 
Christian  Science.  I  am  with  you  mentally  at  all 
times,  and  in  person  when  necessary. 

Your  sisters  and  brothers  in  Christian  Science  will 
comfort  you  in  this  hour.  You  know,  dear,  that  they 
will  send  you  tenderest  sympathy,  and  will  be  with  you 
to  aid  you. 

Our  church  is  founded  on  the  rock — Christ,  and  our 
beloved  Leader  watches  over  it.  Love  rules  in  every 
heart.  Be  sure  ever  to  commune  with  God,  and  deny 
material  sense  testimony  as  far  as  you  can. 

I  send  you  loving,  helpful  thoughts,  ever  declaring 
there  is  no  matter,  all  is  Mind. 

Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
August  30,  1898. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  received  your  letter,  and  wired  you  at  once.  The 
message  was  returned  the  next  day,  and  I  have  since 
sent  you  mental  messages.  I  will  send  this  to  the 
Rooms  to  be  forwarded  to  you. 

I  know,  dear  one,  that  you  are  going  through  an 
experience  of  this  dream  sense,  which  will  prove  to  you 
the  non-reality  of  matter,  and  you  will  see  that  the 
corporeal  body  was  not  the  dear  mother,  but  was  your 
false  sense  of  her.     We  learn  the  letter  of  Christian 


302  Letters  of  Comfort 

Science,  but  the  experiences  of  the  illusive  mortal  mind 
teach  us  that  spiritual  substance  alone  is  real.  Our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  tells  us  to  "look  beyond 
fading,  finite  forms"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  264),  and 
find  the  true  being.  Your  dear  mother  is  mental  and 
immortal.  Because  our  concept  is  still  material  we 
cannot  bring  out  the  embodiment  or  expression  of 
spiritual  personality  or  her  individuality. 

Love's  ideas  are  forever  present,  and  your  mother 
is,  as  ever,  God's  idea.  She  lives  in  the  real  and  only 
universe.  She  is  as  truly  active  and  substantial  as 
her  creator  whom  she  reflects.  This  is  the  scientific 
fact  of  being.  There  is  no  mortal  mind,  no  matter. 
There  is  but  one  cause — eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth, 
and  she  is  an  individual  idea  forever  manifesting 
ever-present,  omni-active  Mind.  You  can  rejoice  in 
the  understanding  that  the  claim  of  limitation — finite 
belief — which  held  her  so  long  has  destroyed  itself,  and 
that  she  has  awakened  from  this  plane  of  belief  and 
will  press  on  toward  spiritual  sense  which  will  destroy 
all  belief  of  matter.  The  Truth  and  Love  which  your 
mother  learned  and  demonstrated  while  in  this  stage 
of  belief  will  be  her  strength  and  deliverer,  and  she  will 
make  rapid  transit  into  spiritual  freedom  and  oneness 
with  Love.  You  can  now  rest,  dearest  F.  .  .  ,  and 
rise  to  the  spiritual,  till  you  awake  and  behold  her, 
and  all,  in  the  image  of  our  Father-Mother  God. 

I  passed  through  the  same  experience  of  loss  of  my 
material  sense  of  an  earthly  father.  I  once  thought 
I  could  not  endure  the  separation.  When  it  came  five 
years  ago  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  I  had  lost  so 
much  of  my  false  sense  of  him,  and  gained  so  much 
of  my  true  sense,  that  I  saw  matter  for  what  it  was — 
a  shadow — and  I  felt  the  substance  of  his  dear  love 


Letters  of  Comfort  3°3 

and  noble  character  as  tangibly  as  I  once  seemed  to 
feel  his  material  presence.  This  showed  me  that  he 
never  lived  in  matter,  and  that  I  had  never  seen  his 
individual  identity.  It  gave  me  fresh  impulse  to 
press  forward  and  reveal  God's  man  and  universe, 
including  my  dear  father,  who  was,  and  is,  God's  idea. 
I  also  saw  that  I  had  but  one  Father-Mother,  God. 

You  have  been  a  loving,  faithful  daughter.  You 
have  much  to  make  you  happy  in  the  thought  that  you 
brought  your  mother  to  Truth,  and  that  she  awoke 
in  the  light.  Now  turn  to  your  father  and  work  for 
him  as  far  as  he  will  permit.  Make  him  happy  in 
Truth.  Let  your  love  reflect  so  much  of  the  Christ 
that  it  will  cheer  and  comfort,  and  lead  him  to  God. 

I  have  not  had  a  day  of  vacation  yet.  Each  hour 
has  been  filled  with  work  for  our  Cause  and  for  patients 
and  students,  and  my  church.  I  never  cease  my 
active  work  in  Christian  Science. 

Give  my  loving  sympathy  to  your  father,  and  with 
boundless   love   to   you,  dear,  and   to   B.  .  .  ,  I   am, 
Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  20,  1899. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  know  that  you  are  strong  in  the  understanding 
that  man  is  spiritual  and  not  material.  You  know 
that  God  is  eternal  Life,  and  that  man  is  His  image 
and  likeness.  You  also  have  learned  from  the  com- 
forter, Science  and  Health,  that  matter  is  but  a  fahe 
sense,  a  mortal  belief,  an  error,  having  no  life  nor 
intelligence.  The  sense  dreams  have  seemed  very  real, 
and  we  often  mistook  them  for  God's  eternal  verities; 
but   Truth   has   shown   the   objects   of   the   deceitful 


304  Letters  of  Comfort 

material  senses  to  be  shadows,  while  Mind  alone 
is  substance.  This  experience  came  to  you  after  the 
long  night  of  tears,  and  prayers,  and  pleadings  for  God 
to  show  you  the  way,  and  now  you  are  beholding  the 
nothingness  of  that  which  once  was  to  your  human 
conception  the  real  man.  Dear  heart,  Love  is  sure 
to  fill  the  void.  You  know  where  to  turn  for  rest  and 
peace.  "Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  Thee. " 

Once  the  true  spiritual  sense  is  awakened  this  dream- 
sense  cannot  cloud  us.  We  love  to  think  of  all  the 
good  and  Christly  acts  and  words  of  our  dear  ones, 
as  we  have  journeyed  with  them  through  the  wilder- 
ness of  mortal  mind.  The  good  they  expressed  lives 
on,  some  day  to  unfold  into  perfect  manhood  and 
womanhood  in  the  perfect  consciousness,  which  is  the 
Mind  of  Christ.  You  are  strong  to  meet  every  shadow 
that  crosses  your  mental  sky.  You  cannot  falter,  but 
will  continue  on  upward  wing,  looking  to  the  hour  of 
final  deliverance  from  the  sin,  suffering  and  sorrow  of 
this  earthly  house,  which  is  now  gradually  dissolving. 
Truth  and  Love  is  revealing  our  "building  of  God" — 
our  spiritual  individuality  or  identity — spiritual  con- 
sciousness. Do  not  look  into  matter  for  man.  He 
is  not  there,  he  is  in  Spirit.  Remember,  "Thy  Maker 
is  thine  husband,"  and  lean  more  trustingly  on  the 
infinite  arm.  Love  sustains  us  all,  and  Love  will 
fold  you  to  Her  great  heart,  and  whisper  the  lullaby 
which  alone  calms  the  troubled  child.  This  experience 
is  a  dream.     All  is  Life — no  one  has  died. 

Let  all  progress  in  divine  order,  and  let  us  hush  the 
selfish  sorrow  that  would  keep  humanity  longer  in 
bondage.  Live  for  God,  and  for  those  who  have  life's 
journey  before  them.     Lighten  others'   burdens  with 


Letters  of  Comfort  305 

smiles  of  cheer  and  acts  of  love.  I  know  that  you  will, 
my  dear  student.  You  have  won  your  way  into  your 
teacher's  heart  by  your  patient,  faithful  adherence  to 
Christ,  and  obedience  to  God's  demands — by  your 
loyalty  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  to  me,  your  teacher. 

I  am  looking  forward  to  your  return,  and  am  ever 
with  you.  My  true  sympathy  is  with  you  and  the 
dear  ones,  all,  but  it  is  not  voiced  in  the  old  tongue, 
which  pierced  the  heart  and  accentuated  sorrow. 
There  is  no  death.  God  is  All,  and  He  is  Life.  You 
have  not  lost  your  dear  one.  He  lives,  and  continues 
to  exist.  You  have  only  lost  your  false  sense  of  him. 
I  sympathize  with  you  for  your  sense  of  loss.  God 
will  show  you  the  love  which  is  so  gentle,  and  which 
will  soothe  the  heart.  "Love  not  the  [material] 
world,  neither  the  things  that  are  in  the  [material] 
world. "  The  world  of  Spirit  is  our  goal,  and  our  gaze 
must  be  fixed  there.  Please  give  my  love  and  sym- 
pathy to  each  member  of  your  family  and  with  tender, 
ever-increasing  love  to  you,  I  am, 

Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  19,  1902. 

My  dear  Student: — 

The  motherhood  of  God,  Love,  overshadows  you  in 
this  experience,  and  "underneath  are  the  everlasting 
arms. "  There  is  one  material  idol  less,  and  the  ideal 
loved  one  is  never  absent.  Your  dear  mother  cannot 
be  separated  from  God  for  an  instant;  therefore  she 
lives,  and  is  hidden  from  our  view  only  because  we  look 
through  the  material  concept,  instead  of  through  the 


306  Letters  of  Comfort 

spiritual.  When  we  lose  the  finite  and  unreal,  and 
see  through  spiritual  sense,  we  shall  behold  her  in  the 
beauty  of  spiritual  individuality.  How  we  long,  and 
labor,  and  pray  for  a  glimpse  of  the  real. 

I  know  that  you  will  rise  higher  in  the  realm  of 
Spirit  as  you  seek  for  the  loved,  but  not  lost.  You 
must  not  believe  she  has  left  you.  Continue  to  think 
of  her  in  Mind;  of  her  love  and  Christly  character, 
and  shut  out  the  false  image  which  she  has  thrown 
off.  Thus  you  will  find  her  in  Mind,  and  you  can 
wait  patiently  until  you  behold  her  substance- presence 
in  God's  image — the  perfect,  glorified  child  of  our 
Father- Mother  God.  Oh,  dear  heart,  learn  to  lose 
with  God,  and  see  the  nothingness  of  matter.  "All 
flesh  is  grass"  (Isaiah  xl.,  6).  It  is  not  substance. 
God  and  His  ideas  are  real  and  eternal,  and  your  loved 
mother  lives — a  spiritual,  mental  being. 

I  have  learned  most  salutary  lessons  since  my  two 
dear  ones  passed  from  my  sight  this  year.  I  feel 
nearer  to  them  both  since  the  false  "material  pigment" 
{Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  79)  has  disappeared. 
Their  mental  spiritual  influence,  as  God's  ideas,  has 
never  left  me. 

I  send  you  deepest  love,  and  know  that  divine  Love 
sustains  you. 

Faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  20,  1902. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

"Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh 
in  the  morning. "  How  we  realize  the  fleeting  joys 
of  the  human,  when  its  sorrows  overflow  the  heart, 


Letters  of  Comfort  307 

and  we  are  left  to  learn  that  our  Father  alone  can  feed 
the  immortal  cravings.  How  we  are  compelled  to 
cling  to  the  dear  divine  Love — our  God,  when  the 
severance  of  fleshly  ties  casts  us,  dreary  and  desolate, 
on  the  shores  of  time,  and  hope  and  faith  are  found 
inadequate  to  soothe  and  strengthen.  My  dear  student, 
lean  more  confidingly  on  Christ.     Love  never  faileth. 

You  know  that  your  dear  companion  has  not  died, 
and  that  which  seems  death  is  but  transition.  His 
mind  can  never  cease  to  exist  and  act,  for  it  came  from 
God,  and  lives,  and  moves,  and  has  its  being  in  God, 
who  is  ever-present — therefore  His  representative, 
the  spiritual  man,  is  ever-present.  Matter  is  only 
the  false  and  temporal,  which  sooner  or  later  must 
return  to  dust,  its  native  nothingness.  We  must  rise 
to  spiritual  sense  and  Truth  will  reveal  him.  The 
dear,  real  man — made  in  God's  image  and  likeness — 
lives  on,  and  is  active  and  intelligent,  only  hidden 
from  our  sight  because  of  our  false  corporeal  sense. 

Oh!  "who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 
death?"  Christ  is  our  life.  We  are  spiritual  re- 
flectors of  our  creator,  eternal  Life,  Mind,  Soul,  Spirit. 
We  are  one  with  God,  as  our  Master  declared  when 
he  said,  "that  they  may  be  one  [with  the  Father], 
as  we  are." 

Your  dear  husband  was  noble,  and  true  to  his 
religious  convictions,  and  was  most  just  and  kind. 
His  was  an  exceptional  character  —  conscientious, 
faithful  to  every  obligation — respected  and  loved  by 
all  who  knew  him.  I  always  saw  the  Christ-element 
in  him,  and  I  loved  him  as  a  dear  child  of  God,  my 
brother  who  was  striving  to  find  eternal  Life.  He  is 
still  with  us.  Let  us  know  that  there  is  but  one 
creator  and  one  creation,  and  that  he  is  rising  and 


308  Letters  of  Comfort 

unfolding  in  the  real  and  eternal,  just  as  we  are  rising 
to  more  spiritual  discernment  of  our  individual 
identity,  and  are  coming  more  and  more  consciously 
into  our  oneness  with  the  Father.  Mr.  V.  .  .  never 
would  have  left  as  he  did,  but  for  a  momentary  letting 
go  of  his  spiritual  mental  dominion.  He  yielded  to  the 
arguments  of  mortal  mind.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "The 
belief  of  that  mortal  that  he  must  die  occasioned  his 
departure  "  (Science  and  Health,  p.  312). 

Let  us  cling  more  steadfastly  to  the  God  whom  we 
worship,  and  whom  your  dear  companion  is  reflecting, 
and  after  the  storm  of  sorrow  has  calmed,  Love  will 
fill  your  heart,  dearest,  with  peace  and  rest.  "Christ 
will  command  the  wave"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  570), 
Love  will  triumph  and  you  will  find  again  your  dear  com- 
panion, safe  and  joyous  in  God's  happy  universe,  where 
"there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor 
crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain:  for  the 
former  things  are  passed  away. " 

God  bless  and  keep  you  and  the  dear  ones  all  who 
have  had  to  meet  this  experience.  My  love  ever 
flows  to  you.  Love  is  always  reflected  in  love.  Every 
student  and  church  member  will  send  you  tenderest 
love  and  deep  true  Christian  Science  sympathy. 
Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  February  15,  1905. 

My  dear  Mr.  .  .  : — 

I  am  sure  you  know  that  I  am  with  you  in  this 
hour  of  your  experience,  when  the  parting  from  a 
loved  mother,  the  severance  of  the  human  tie,  which 


Letters  of  Comfort  309 

has  for  so  many  years  bound  you,  has  come.  You 
have  been  a  tender,  loving  son,  and  you  will  meet  this 
transition  with  a  calm  trust  in  the  Love  which  will 
care  for  your  dear  mother,  and  will  comfort  and  pro- 
tect her  far  beyond  all  that  your  human  love  could  do 
for  her.  She  was  a  Christian  Scientist,  and  knew 
the  truth  of  being;  therefore  she  has  the  light,  and 
has  awakened  to  fairer  scenes,  having  progressed 
through  suffering  and  the  experiences  of  this  dream 
existence.  She  will  rise  to  know  her  reality,  and  will 
go  from  height  to  height  of  strength,  joy,  and  peace, 
until  she  attains  the  perfect  manifestation  of  her 
perfect  spiritual  selfhood,  and  rejoices  in  immortality. 
You  and  I  must  follow  Christ  on  this  plane  of 
existence  and  strive  to  demonstrate  immortality. 
Some  day  we  shall  burst  the  veil  of  material  sense, 
not  through  death,  but  through  the  understanding 
of  ever-present  Life,  and  will  behold  our  dear  ones, 
perfect  as  the  Father — our  creator — is  perfect.  The 
helplessness  of  age  appeals  to  our  deepest  affection, 
and  the  separation  from  our  dear  parents,  at  present, 
causes  a  wrenching  of  the  heartstrings.  This  is  all 
the  dream  belief.  We  know  that  our  loved  ones  never 
lived  in  matter,  therefore  they  have  never  died.  They 
still  are  with  us.  We  know  that  their  individuality  is 
with  us,  and  will  be  revealed  to  us  when  they,  and  we, 
gain  our  spiritual  sense.  I  am  not  unmindful  of  your 
wife,  who  has  so  lovingly  shared  in  the  tender  care  of 
your  mother.  She  has  been  a  true  daughter  to  her. 
You  will  miss  your  mother's  tender  ministrations,  but 
it  is  better  that  Christian  Science  has  enabled  her 
to  escape  from  the  bonds  of  the  fleshly  mind  under- 
standing^, and  to  soar  into  a  more  spiritual  conscious- 
ness.    Love  will  guide  and  bless  you.     My  deepest  love 


310  Letters  of  Comfort 

is  with  you  all  to-morrow.     There  will  be   peace  and 
calm  for  Love  comes  nearer  to  us  in  such  hours. 
I  am  about  to  write  G.  .  .  and  A.  .  . 

Ever  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  24,  1907. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Our  beloved  Leader  tells  us  that  "  Sorrow  is  salu- 
tary. Through  great  tribulation  we  enter  the  Hngdom. 
Trials  are  proofs  of  God's  care.  Spiritual  development 
germinates  not  from  seed  sown  in  the  soil  of  material 
hopes,  but  when  these  decay,  Love  propagates  anew 
the  higher  joys  of  Spirit,  which  have  no  taint  of  earth  " 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  66). 

My  beloved  student,  this  experience  will  exalt  you 
to  see  your  dear  son  H.  .  .  in  God's  image,  pure  and 
Christly,  free  from  the  dross  of  material  sense,  and 
already,  as  he  has  always  been,  in  the  true  image 
and  likeness  of  his  Maker.  "The  encumbering  mortal 
molecules,  called  man"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  205), 
he  repudiates,  and  his  brave  fight  for  his  immortal  man- 
hood will  win  for  him,  as  he  unfolds  in  spirituality, 
a  sure  entrance  into  his  oneness  with  eternal  Life. 

Like  his  Way-shower,  Jesus  the  Christ,  who,  on  the 
cross,  refused  the  narcotic  which  would  have  quieted 
the  material  senses  for  awhile,  so  your  dear  son  pre- 
ferred to  taste  the  claim  of  death,  rather  than  escape 
its  pangs  by  resorting  to  a  drug.  He  drank  the  full 
cup.  He  made  no  terms  with  mortal  mind,  but  met 
the  foe  with  faith  that  divine  Love  would  usher  him 
into  the  light  of  a  higher  plane  of  existence.     Over 


Letters  of  Comfort  311 

our  dear  H.  .  .  the  second  suggestion  of  the  claim  of 
death  can  have  no  power.  He  is  free  and  joyous, 
in  a  consciousness  which  has  suffered  out  of  much  of  the 
claim  of  a  fleshly  mind,  and  has  paid  a  large  part  of 
the  debt  of  belief  of  life  in  matter,  for  himself;  the 
debt  being  the  belief  that  matter  ever  was  intelligent 
or  any  part  of  himself.  What  an  example  for  all! 
What  a  hero  he  has  been !  How  much  of  the  belief  of 
the  reality  of  sin  its  pains  and  its  pleasures  he  has 
destroyed  for  himself  and  for  universal  consciousness ! 

Consciousness  must  be  uplifted  by  his  contest  with 
error,  even  though  he  did  not  quite  finish  his  problem 
and  remain  visible  to  us.  He  is  a  power,  an  invisible 
presence  with  us,  such  as  he  never  was  before.  His  pure 
spiritual  thought  will  be  felt  in  our  student-body  and 
church  members,  with  the  potency  of  his  spiritual 
realization.  We  shall  feel  his  dear  presence  and  know 
that  one  soldier  has  fought  the  good  fight,  and  has 
kept  the  faith  and  never  resorted  to  drugs.  He  is 
no  longer  bringing  out  wholly  material  conditions, 
but  his  true  sense  is  unfolding  and  he  is  realizing  the 
wonders  and  beauties  of  an  advanced  spiritualized 
sense.  I  feel  that  his  transit  to  a  more  harmonious 
plane  of  consciousness  has  been  attained,  because  he 
under  standingly  suffered  out  of  the  flesh.  We  shall 
never  consider  him  as  absent  from  us.  The  voice  of 
God's  idea,  your  dear  son,  will  sound  more  sweetly 
in  your  journey  towards  Spirit,  than  ever  sounded  his 
voice  when  uttered  through  materiality. 

My  dear  student,  rise  with  your  Christ  to  follow 
your  dear  son,  who  is  constantly  ascending  in  the 
scale  of  spiritual  being.  Let  him  inspire  you  with 
his  demonstration  of  trust  in  God,  and  his  willingness 
to  endure  unto  the  end.     I   send  you  deepest  love. 


312  Letters  of  Comfort 

I  know  that  you  understand  what  this  means  to  me. 
God  will  come  near  to  you,  and  to  me,  and  to  all  who 
are  clinging  steadfastly  to  Him  in  this  hour — these 
latter  days — which  God  must  and  will  shorten  "for 
the  elect's  sake." 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Telegram 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  20,  1907. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Rejoice  that  you  know  the  reality  of  being.  Rejoice 
that  you  know  how  to  worship  God  and  how  to  deny 
the  seeming  reality  of  matter.  Rejoice  that  you  have 
stood  for  your  Christ  against  all  tests,  and  that  your 
dear  son  worked  scientifically  to  the  end.  He  does 
not  have  to  undo  poor  work,  but  is  progressing  in  the 
line  of  light,  rising  from  glory  to  glory,  and  will  unfold 
till  all  corporeal  sense  is  lost  and  his  divine  manhood 
is  revealed. 

Love  to  my  students  in  your  household. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  September  20,  1907. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

J.  .  .is  ever  with  us,  since  matter  never  was  the 
real  individual.  Mortals  claim  and  can  have  the 
material  body.  We  repudiate  its  claim  to  substance  or 
ac  any  part  of  God's  creation.     Clinging  to  the  fleshly 


Letters  of  Comfort  313 

embodiment,  and  the  idolatry  of  fleshly  relations  has 
prevented  many  a  soldier  of  Christ  from  winning  his 
victory  over  the  claim  of  life  in  matter.  We  must 
rise  in  this  hour  to  perceive,  through  spiritual  sense, 
that  the  sensuous  appetites  bring  death.  Are  we 
ready  to  eat  of  the  bread  of  God  and  live?  Even 
the  apple,  so  seemingly  innocent,  put  Eve  in  bondage 
to  the  senses,  the  belief  of  good  and  evil.  Are  we 
eating  and  drinking  with  the  drunken  to-day? 

Do  we  partake  of  the  tree  of  good  and  evil?  Let  us 
ascend  in  the  scale  of  being  by  following  the  Mas- 
ter and  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  However 
slowly  we  progress,  let  it  be  progress  Spirit-ward. 
Turn  away,  little  by  little,  from  the  pleasures  of 
corporeal  sense,  and  ask  divine  Love  to  give  you  the 
true  substance  which  will  satisfy  the  immortal  longings. 
We  often  mistake  our  hunger  for  righteousness,  for 
hunger  for  material  things.  We  feed  the  carnal  senses 
with  carnal  food,  thereby  strengthening  belief,  until 
belief  comes  to  its  limit.  If  we  eat  of  the  tree  of 
pleasure  in  matter,  we  shall  die.  If  we  eat  of  the 
tree  of  eternal  Life,  we  shall  live.  Rise,  dear  ones,  to 
see  this,  and  God  will  gently  lead  those  with  young — 
the  new  idea. 

Love  untold  to  you  both.  J.  .  .  is  rising  continually 
in  spiritual  power,  and  we  must  rise  with  her.  So-called 
malicious  animal  magnetism  must  be  handled  with 
Truth  and  Love  reflected  by  us.  Take  time  to  do 
work  on  this.  M.  A.  M.  is  the  dragon  which  Christ 
will  cast  down  to  the  earth,  if  you  work  to  make  Love 
and  Truth  the  reality  of  being.  Love  to  all  the  dear 
students. 

Lovingly  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


314  Letters  of  Comfort 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  26,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

How  truly  we  are  all  learning  the  nothingness  of 
matter  and  the  allncss  and  substance  of  Mind!  The 
false  material  concepts  which  have  so  long  expressed 
their  false  phenomena,  and  which  have  hidden  from 
our  view  the  spiritual  idea,  are  fading,  and  we  are 
proving  matter  to  be  without  life  or  intelligence. 
This  is  teaching  us  that  we  must  spiritualize  our 
thought  if  we  would  reveal  the  real  man  whom  God 
creates  and  governs.  A  spiritual  consciousness  is 
necessary  to  enable  us  to  behold  man  in  God's  image 
and  likeness,  the  eternal  manifestation,  or  spiritual 
idea. 

Our  dear  E.  .  .  never  lived  in  matter.  God  is 
his  parent — Father,  Mother,  Life,  and  he  cannot  be 
separated  from  eternal  Mind.  He  cannot  go  anywhere 
but  to  the  Father,  ever-present  Love,  whose  ideas  are 
ever-present  to  spiritual  sense.  The  fading,  finite, 
false  concepts  must  disappear,  and  their  manifestations 
depart,  that  the  real  and  spiritual  man  may  appear. 
You  have  only  lost  your  physical  concept  of  dear  E.  .  . 
The  finite  embodiment  was  real  and  dear  to  your 
material  sense.  Idolatry  weaves  its  cords  tightly  around 
its  object,  and  holds  it  firmly  in  human  love,  or  love  of 
fleshly  personality.  Spirit  operates  and  severs  the 
human  ties,  and  through  suffering  and  Science  we  are 
compelled  to  look  beyond  material  sense-evidence 
or  the  veil  of  flesh,  to  God — the  only  creator,  and  man, 
the  perfect  and  eternal  expression  of  creative  Life, 
Love,  and  Truth. 

A  change  of  consciousness  will  reveal  this  to  you, 
and  you  will  love  to  work  for  your  spiritual  concept, 
which  will  disclose  the  ever-present  Christ  and    dear 


Letters  of  Comfort  315 

E.  .  .  as  a  member — idea — of  the  body  of  Christ. 
He  is  being  "lifted  up"  to  assimilate  himself  to  God — 
to  grasp  the  things  of  Spirit,  and  is  drawing  you  Spirit- 
ward.  Our  blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  taught 
us  how  to  walk  after  the  Spirit,  and  that  God  and 
His  spiritual  universe,  peopled  with  spiritual  beings,  are 
here.  This  is  the  knowledge  of  God  and  His  Christ — 
man — and  is  eternal  Life.  This  is  the  only  universe, 
for  in  Christian  Science  Spirit  is  infinite — there  is  no 
other  presence  nor  power. 

In  this  spiritualized  consciousness  there  is  no  death, 
neither  sorrow  nor  sighing.  Love  is  the  atmosphere 
of  the  spiritual  and  ever-present  universe.  E.  .  .  is 
breathing  deep  draughts  of  the  life-quickening  power 
of  Soul,  his  source  and  supply  of  life.  Human  belief 
and  human  love  will  not  forever  hide  from  us  our 
loved  ones.  The  light  of  spiritual  understanding 
will  dispel  the  shadow  called  mortal  mind  and  its 
embodiment,  and  the  individual  identity  will  be  seen. 

Read  from  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  42, 
and  thank  God  that  we  have  a  spiritual  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  teaches  us  that  "Life  is 
real,  and  death  is  the  illusion  "  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  428). 

I  am  sure,  my  dear  students,  that  you  will  rise  and 
take  possession  of  your  birthright — your  spiritual 
consciousness.  This  seems  to  require  time  and  much 
spiritual  growth.  But  peace  and  spiritual  love  are  sure 
to  follow  every  demonstration  over  the  belief  of  life  in 
matter.  Love  never  faileth.  Our  Leader  says,  "divine 
Love  cannot  be  deprived  of  its  manifestation,  or  object  " 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  304).  You  must  not  lose,  but 
reveal  E.  .  . — not  in  the  image  of  sin,  sickness,  and 
death,  but  in  the  image  of  God. 


3i 6  Letters  of  Comfort 

My  loving  sympathy  is  with  you  in  this  time-world 
experience. 

; 

"  We  must  feel  ere  we  can  pity, 
We  must  long  before  we  pray, 
We  must  know  the  need  of  comfort 
Ere  we  cheer  another's  way." 

I  have  drunk  the  cup  of  earthly  woe,  separation  from 
loved  ones,  to  its  dregs.  There  is  no  redundant  drop 
in  the  cup  our  Father  gives  us.  You  will  find  the  dear 
Christ  ever-present  to  wipe  away  every  tear.  You 
will  arise  from  your  dream  and  follow  Love's  leadings. 
Much  love  to  the  children. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  28,  1910. 

Dear  Dr.  and  Mrs.  W.  .  .  :■ — » 

My  heart  goes  out  to  you,  in  deepest  sympathy. 
The  call  has  come  to  you,  to  pass  under  Love's  rod.  I 
pray  that  Love's  staff  may  comfort  you,  and  feed  and 
fill  the  famished  affections. 

Your  darling,  God's  dear  child,  tarried  awhile  with 
you  in  the  flesh,  twined  his  loving  arms  around  you, 
filled  your  hearts  with  his  sweet  presence  and  then 
preened  his  wings  for  a  heaven-ward  flight.  He  has 
risen  to  a  higher  and  more  spiritual  consciousness;  and 
will  draw  you  above  the  temporal  earth-weights,  to 
his  Father  and  to  your  Father,  to  his  God  and  to  your 
God. 

For  several  years  I  have  seen  the  noble,  manly 
laddie  go  in  and  out.  His  youth  and  goodness  have 
strongly  appealed  to  me,  and  I  have  realized  that  his 

1  To  a  neighboring  Presbyterian  minister  and  his  wife. 


Letters  of  Comfort  317 

physical  and  mental  development  evidenced  the  sweet 
Christian  home  influence  of  his  devoted  parents. 

He  still  lives,  and  loves,  and  constantly  ascends  in 
the  scale  of  spiritual  unfoldment  of  intelligence  and 
eternal  Life. 

He  is  hidden  from  view  only  because  our  eyes  are 
flesh-veiled.  Spiritual  sight  will  reveal  him,  and  for 
that,  all  who  love  and  serve  God  are  working,  and 
praying.  "  There  is  no  death !  What  seems  so  is  transi- 
tion. "  You  will  not  always  sigh  for  "the  touch  of  a 
vanished  hand,  and  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still. " 

May  we  see  our  loving  Father's  hand  in  all  our 

experiences  in  this  temporal  existence,  kiss  the  cross 

and  await  the  hour  when  we  shall  meet  and  clasp  in 

loving  embrace,  the  loved  and  seemingly  "lost  awhile. " 

Most  sincerely  your  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  15,  1910. 

My  dear  Dr.  W.  .  .  :— ' 

God  alone  can  satisfy  the  immortal  cravings,  and  feed 
the  "famished  affections"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  17). 
There  is  no  death.  Transition  is  but  rising  higher  from 
the  human  to  the  divine  consciousness,  to  realize  more 
the  ever-presence  of  eternal  Life,  our  God,  the  source  of 
our  being,    and    the  supply  of  all  His  creation. 

Dear  brother,  lean  more  heavily  on  the  great  heart 
of  Christ.  Your  cry  will  reach  the  ear  of  infinite 
Love,  and  the  peace  that  floweth  like  a  river  will  course 
through  your  being.  You  will  not  ask  in  vain,  and 
God  will  wipe  away  all  tears  from  your  eyes.  Your 
dear  companion  has  only  gone  before.  The  loss  of 
earth-weights  shortens  the  way  to  spiritual  Life. 

1  To  a  Clergyman. 


3i8  Letters  of  Comfort 

"  Now  the  tuning  and  the  tension, 
Wailing  minors,  discord  strong; 
Afterward,  the  grand  ascension 
Of  the  Alleluia  song." 

I  enclose  a  sweet  poem.     With  tenderest  sympathy, 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  12,  1911. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  just  learned  from  V.  .  .  that  Mr.  S.  .  .  has 
passed  on.  I  recognize  only  the  real  man,  in  God's 
image  and  likeness,  who  never  was  in,  nor  of  matter, 
and  never  died,  for  there  is  no  matter  to  live  or  to  die. 
Mind,  God,  and  His  man,  or  manifestation  is  All. 
The  operation  of  Spirit  dissolved  much  belief  that  held 
human  thought  to  the  shadow  body  of  the  false  mortal 
concept.  He  was  not  permitted  to  go  as  was  threatened 
years  before.  Divine  Love  gave  him  the  ministry  of 
Truth  through  Her  reflectors,  that  he  might  get  a 
grasp  on  Truth  and  Love  ere  he  progressed  towards 
the  further  unfolding  of  eternal  Life,  his  source  and 
ultimate  of  being.  He  has  the  blessed  Truth.  He 
accepted  divine  Science  as  far  as  he  could  receive  and 
assimilate  it.  He  is  advancing  on  upward  soaring 
thought-pinions  and  this  transition  strengthens  his 
realization  of  eternal  Life. 

We  are  all  learning  that  the  material  molecule  called 
matter  neverhad  life,  never  was  born  and  never  died. 
We  are  learning  to  turn  from  this  false  mortal  so-called 
body,  and  to  be  present  with  Spirit,  eternal  Mind, 
which,  as  ideas,  we  reflect.  Eternal  consciousness  is 
our  life,  our  substance-being.  We  are  turning  away 
from  the  idolatry  of  the  Adam  belief,  corporeality,  the 


Letters  of  Comfort  319 

material  sense  or  the  dream  world,  and  are  uniting 
our  thoughts  with  our  God  and  the  ideas  which  compose 
the  body  of  Christ.  We  are  assimilating  ourselves  to 
immortal  consciousness,  and  are  finding  our  oneness 
with  the  Father,  and  with  His  idea, — Christ. 

We  are  learning  the  meaning  of  Paul's  words,  to  be 
"fitly  joined  together,"  united  in  the  bonds  of  Spirit. 
This  is  our  precious  Leader's  hour.  She  is  God's 
interpreter  to  the  children  of  the  twentieth  century. 
There  will  be  less  belief  of  life  in  matter  for  them, 
for  Christ  is  come,  and  will  reign  forever  as  the 
ideal  spiritual  representative  of  eternal  Life,  Love,  and 
Truth. 

Mr.  S.  .  .  will  continue  to  rise  out  of  his  false 
material  sense  into  his  spiritual  sense  and  will  finally 
attain  to  a  "  wholly  spiritual"  consciousness  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390.  I  wish  he  could  have 
remained  and  demonstrated  here,  but  it  seemed  not 
possible.  We  are  thankful  that  he  saw  the  truth  of 
being  as  clearly  as  he  did.  He  lives  and  is  active. 
He  was  very  dear  when  I  last  saw  him.  Love  is  leading 
him  as  She  leads  all,  and  he  will  learn  with  us,  that 
"Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all,"  including 
spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe. 

We  must  remember  our  beloved  Leader's  advice 
to  me  and  to  my  loyal  students  everywhere,  to  begin 
"to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation." 
Shadows  must  disperse  before  the  substance-idea.  The 
Christian  Scientist  must  speak  with  authority  to  the 
man  of  sin,  the  fleshly  belief,  and  command  error  to 
cease.  He  must  declare  that  matter  possesses  neither 
life  nor  substance.  He  cannot  admit  two  powers,  nor 
two  men.  There  is  one  God,  one  Christ,  one  man — the 
spiritual  universe,  including  individual  members  which 


320  Letters  of  Comfort 

comprise  the  body  of  Christ.     This  is  the  only  reality. 

No  one  ever  died,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  have  risen  to 
fight  for  God  and  His  ideas  as  the  real  and  only  people. 
If  we  are  faithful  to  our  teachings,  evil  cannot  claim 
a  universe  nor  a  man.  Death  must  finally  cease  with 
those  who  gain  the  spiritual  understanding,  which  is 
Life.  Our  Leader  will  reappear  to  the  world,  and 
prove  the  Word  of  God  to  be  Truth.  The  Love  of  God 
will  compel  belief  to  cease  to  claim  life,  and  will  drive 
sin  and  death  out  of  consciousness. 

Rejoice,  my  dear  student,  that  you  know  this  truth, 
and  try  to  make  your  demonstration  of  eternal  ever- 
present  Life.  Give  my  true  Christian  sympathy  to 
your  dear  mother  and  son.  They  will  see  the  nothing- 
ness of  matter  in  this  experience,  and  will  feel  the 
presence  of  the  man  who  never  lived  in  matter,  but 
who  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  the  spiritual  man  of  God's 
creating— never  absent,  only  hidden  from  view  by  our 
fleshly  concept.  Be  strong,  dear.  You  are  meeting 
the  test  of  your  faith  and  understanding.  Do  this 
by  "leaning  on  the  sustaining  infinite"  {Science 
and  Health,  Preface,  p.  vii.).  You  do  not  need  human 
sympathy,  but  divine  understanding  and  love. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

RETROSPECTION1 

Sitting  and  musing  alone  to-night, 

While  the  moonbeams  reflect  their  shimmering  light, 

And  the  waters  below,  in  silver  sheen, 

Like  the  streets  of  our  heavenly  home,  I  ween; 

While  the  twinkling  stars,  with  their  radiance  bright, 

Talk  of  angel  forms  in  the  world  of  light, — 

1  Written  in  Bombay,  India,  in  1880. 


Letters  of  Comfort 

I  dream,  and  the  waters  whispering  low, 

Tell  of  childhood,  and  friends  of  long  ago. 

I  yield  me  to  memory,  and  once  more  tread 

Those  childhood  paths,  which  with  joy  I  sped, 

And  I  sit  again  on  my  father's  knee, 

And  list  to  the  tales  he  told  to  me. 

I  gaze  on  his  face,  so  young  and  fair, 

And  can  see  no  trace  of  age  or  care; 

So  I  sit  as  a  child,  on  my  father's  knee, 

And  list  to  his  loving  words  to  me. 

Dear  mother  appears, — what  word  so  sweet; 

Again  as  .of  yore,  I  kneel  at  her  feet, 

And  learn  from  her  lips  the  words  of  Truth, 

As  she  taught  me  of  God,  through  childhood  and  youth. 

I  hear  her  speak  in  her  gentle  tone, 

Of  our  dear  Redeemer,  who  trod  alone 

The  winepress,  and  suffered  to  set  men  free 

From  sin,  and  from  death,  in  Gethsemane. 

I  am  clasped  to  her  heart,  as  in  youth,  she  pressed 

Her  little  one  to  her  loving  breast ; 

And  I  feel  her  heart  with  joy  beat  wild; 

As  she  hopes,  and  prays,  for  her  darling  child. 

Then  I  pass  my  hand  through  her  rich  brown  hair, 

But  can  see  no  thread  of  silver  there. 

And  so  to-night  as  a  child,  I  rest 

In  a  beautiful  dream,  on  my  mother's  breast. — 

The  dream  is  o'er,  I  wake  from  the  past, 

Too  bright,  too  beautiful  far  to  last; 

My  heart  is  sad,  and  I  hush  a  sigh, 

As  my  thoughts  to  my  distant  parents  fly. 

Oh!   deep  in  my  soul  lies  a  fervent  prayer 

Of  thanks  to  God,  for  His  tender  care, 

For  my  parents,  spared  to  me  so  long, 

Till  I  chose  the  right,  and  shunned  the  wrong. 


322  Letters  of  Comfort 

My  father  dear,  as  I  think  of  thee, 

Time  has  furrowed  thy  cheek  I  see; 

Thy  step  is  less  firm,  and  thine  eye  has  less  light, 

But  thy  heart  is  as  youthful,  thy  smile  is  as  bright. 

And  there  as  in  childhood,  again  I  would  rest, 

On  my  noble,  loving  father's  breast. 

Dear  saintly  mother  has  felt  Time's  hand, 

He  has  touched  her  lightly  with  his  wand, 

And  as  I  look  on  her  beautiful  hair, 

Some  threads  of  silver  I  notice  there. 

But  her  heart  has  resisted  the  storms  of  time, 

And  is  loving,  and  brave,  as  in  youthful  prime. 

If  efforts  to  render  me  worthy  your  care 

Are  crowned  with  fruition,  in  answer  to  prayer, 

Then  I  will  reward  you, — and  comfort  always, 

And  thus  my  creator  will  honor  and  praise. 

Oh !  love  is  abiding,  enduring  for  aye, 

And  gratitude  wipes  every  tear  drop  away. 

Thus  love  and  deep  thankfulness, — offerings  meet, 

I  lay  as  a  tribute,  dear  ones,  at  your  feet. 

A.  E.  S. 


CHAPTER  VII 
LETTERS  OF  THANKS 

If  we  have  sown  unto  you  spiritual  things,  is  it  a  great  thing  if  we 
shall  reap  your  carnal  things? — I  Corinthians  ix.,  n. 

Gratitude  is  much  more  than  a  verbal  expression  of  thanks.     Action 
expresses  more  gratitude  than  speech. — Science  and  Health,  p.  3. 

I  make  strong  demands  on  love,  call  for  active  witnesses  to  prove  it, 
and  noble  sacrifices  and  grand  achievements  as  its  results. 

Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  250. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  16,  1900. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  few  words  to  you  before  I  retire.  Your  love 
offering  to  your  God,  for  His  Church,  and  to  our 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  will  bring  you  great  returns.  I 
rejoice  that  you  took  Love's  money  with  which  to 
build  Her  temple.  We  shall  never  want.  Giving  to 
God,  with  spiritual  understanding,  "does  not  im- 
poverish" {Science  and  Health,  p.  79)  any  more  than 
planting  good  seed  in  good  soil  impoverishes.  The 
increase  is  sure.  One  has  to  rise  spiritually  to  see 
this,  but  once  it  is  learned  it  is  a  joy  to  sow  and  reap. 

When  I  see  the  darkness  of  idolatry,  the  golden  calf 
of  the  counterfeit  worshipers,  I  know  that  only  the 
lesson  of  sorrow,  or  suffering,  or  loss  will  teach  them 
to  look  to  the  only  source  of  supply — divine  Mind. 
I  thank  God  that  my  precious  students  are  awaking, 

323 


324  Letters  of  Thanks 

and  yielding  in  childlike  trust  to  Love's  rod  and  Love's 
staff.  Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  is  taking  away  false 
gods  and  false  trusts.  She  is  showing  us  the  true  cause 
and  creative  power,  which  gives  us  health  and  eternal 
Life. 

I  would  thank  you  for  the  sweet  gift  to  our  Leader's 
Church,  but  to  give  is  your  great  privilege  and  God 
will  reward  you.  I  rejoice  that  you  love  God,  and  that 
you  have  your  part  in  the  church  home  which  our 
heavenly  Father  is  revealing  as  a  testimony  of  our 
love  and  gratitude  to  His  holy  One.  Your  household 
have  loved  much. 

Ever  your  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  7,  1900. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  arrived  at  ten-fifteen  last  evening  and  had  such 
a  lovely,  cool  ride  home.  I  felt  Love's  atmosphere  all 
the  way,  and  to-day  it  lingers  with  me,  like  the  refrain 
of  a  sweet  hymn  of  grateful  praise  to  God. 

I  am  truly  blessed  in  my  dear  students,  and  such  as 
you  and  yours  give  me  a  foretaste  of  Love's  haven, 
where  no  arrow  wounds  the  dove,  and  no  tears  force 
their  expression.  Trembling  lips  will  not  utter  faint 
hope,  and  no  heavy  sigh  will  be  found  in  divine  con- 
sciousness to  cause  us  to  falter  on  upward  wing.  How 
I  long  for  the  revelation  of  the  ideal  man  and  the  real 
universe.  We  are  all  approaching  the  goal  of  im- 
mortal manhood  and  womanhood,  and  Love  is  fast 
dissolving  material  sense.  Sooner  than  we  dream,  we 
may  hear  the  Father's  "Well  done,"  and  awake  in 
Love's  likeness. 


Letters  of  Thanks:  325 

My  heart  overflows  with  gratitude  to  you  and  dear 
Mr.  E.  .  .  for  your  tender  care  of  me  and  mine.  I 
realize  that  God  is  working  through  you.  You  are  good 
avenues  for  divine  Love  or  I  should  not  have  found 
His  mansion  open  to  receive  me.  Among  the  many, 
and  they  all  are  God's,  how  few  are  open  to  His  "little 
ones."  We  have  the  key  to  our  Father's  house  in 
which  are  many  mansions.  If  we  are  only  faithful, 
we  shall  unlock  every  heart,  and  every  door  will  be 
opened  wide  to  us.  We  have  the  true  bread  which  we 
must  break  to  the  hungry  multitude.  Only  the  water 
of  Life  will  quench  the  thirst  of  humanity.  We  carry 
the  cup  and  we  have  access  to  the  Fountain.  Let  us 
labor  to  save  the  weary  wanderer  on  the  arid  desert 
of  mortal  mind.  The  parching  heat  and  the  weary 
road — the  mirage  and  delusive  visions — will,  in  time, 
turn  them  to  God. 

I  have  rested  in  your  dear  home,  till  I  feel  strong 
to  press  on.  I  am  to-day  finishing  my  correspondence 
to  date.  It  is  more  easily  done  in  the  belief  of  cool 
weather,  but  the  heat  will  have  to  yield,  for  I  shall 
work,  and  sense  testimony  cannot  prevent  me  from 
doing  Love's  work  for  Her.  I  shall  be  back  soon.  All 
will  work  out  right. 

Again  with  love  to  you,  my  dear  student,  and  prayers 
always  for  you  and  yours,  I  am, 

Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  io,  1900. 

My  dear  Students-  — 

I  know  that  you  will  understand  why  I  have  not 
written  you  since  mother  returned  from  her  delightful 


326  Letters  of  Thanks 

visit  to  you — namely,  that  I  was  unable  to  do  so,  and 
that  I  was  only  waiting  for  a  chance,  when  the  waves  of 
opposition  to  Truth  and  Love  should  recede  for  a  little 
time.  I  have  no  language  in  which  to  express  my  ap- 
preciation of  your  kindness  to  my  dear  old  (young) 
mother.  Error  would  tell  me  that  we  have  not  so 
long  a  promise  of  her  dear  presence,  and  that  age  is 
real,  but  we  know  that  she  is  in  Mind,  and  reflects 
eternal  Life,  and  that  all  that  we  ever  lose  of  our  dear 
ones  is  our  false  sense  of  them,  which,  when  destroyed, 
will  reveal  God's  perfect  idea. 

She  has  never  had  such  a  delightful  visit  in  all  her 
dream  life,  and  it  is  so  sweet  to  listen  to  her,  as  she 
tells  of  your  care  of  her  and  of  your  loving  ministrations, 
all  of  which  she  cherishes  and  lives  over  every  day. 
You  will  sometime  hear,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done 
it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me. "  Those  in  the  belief  of  age  have  so 
little  to  cheer  them,  and  only  memories  of  the  past, 
and  the  loved  ones,  and,  to  their  sense,  the  departed. 
Too  many  sad  pictures  hang  on  memory's  walls,  and  the 
future  seems  to  give  no  promise.  To-day  is  all  they 
promise  themselves,  and  we  shall  be  blessed  if  we  do 
what  we  can  to  cheer  and  comfort  them.  Let  our  hearts 
prompt  us  to  do  all  that  is  possible  for  their  happiness. 
I  have  had  so  much  to  do  the  past  week,  but  am  free 
to-day.  We  always  are  free  when  we  have  time  from 
pressure  of  much  work  to  bathe  in  spiritual  thoughts, 
and  wash  away  material  sense  with  truth  and  love. 

I  am  glad  you  are  having  time  to  commune  with 
Spirit,  and  to  realize  your  oneness  with  Love.  You 
know  your  reality,  and  are  not  deceived  by  the  material 
molecule,  called  matter;  nor  by  the  false  argument 
called  mortal  mind. 


Letters  of  Thanks  327 

Your  immortal  divine  self  is  always  at  peace  in  its 
Principle.  I  shall  hope  to  see  you,  and  have  a  chance 
to  thank  you,  in  person,  for  all  you  have  done  for  me. 
G.  .  .  wrote  me  a  lovely  letter.  He  is  fully  consecrated 
and  is  safe  in  divine  Mind.  Mrs.  A.  .  .  will  be  with 
you  soon.  I  am  glad  she  can  have  the  joy  of  your  dear 
home.  She  is  a  brave,  dear  soldier,  true  and  strong. 
Love  is  drawing  her  heaven-ward.  She  loses,  one  by 
one,  the  earth-weights,  and  will  finally  find  the  dear 
ones  all  in  Mind. 

Mother  and  sister  would  send  much  love  if  they  knew 
I  were  writing  you. 

Love  to  you  both. 

Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72HD  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  14,  1900. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

Among  all  the  gifts  which  Love  has  sent  me,  there 
has  never  been  a  type  of  eternity.  Last  evening  I  saw 
the  symbol  in  pearls  and  diamonds,  and  felt  that  I  had 
won  a  recognition  from  the  Father,  through  you,  an 
assurance  in  type  that  I  am,  in  my  reality,  in  the  eternal 
consciousness,  safe  from  the  bonds  of  time,  and  free 
from  the  discords  and  limitations  of  human  sense. 
This  came  to  me  flooding  my  thought.  I  was  conscious 
of  a  taste  of  heaven,  as  I  gazed  on  the  exquisite  jewels 
which  spoke  of  the  radiant  beauty  and  light  which 
eternity  now  shadows  forth.  "And  as  we  rise  the 
symbols  disappear. "  It  was  only  a  quick  illumination, 
but  it  will  be  permanent  when  I  reach  the  full  import  of 
this  wonderful  type  and  symbol. 

You  are  left  to  comfort  me  with  your  true,  loyal  love, 


328  Letters  of  Thanks 

and  your  dear  ones  are  a  joy  and  blessing  to  cheer  me  as 
I  press  onward  through  the  wilderness  to  the  promised 
land.  Darling  M.  .  .  did  her  work  before  she  left, 
by  bringing  you  and  yours  to  be  near  me,  and  to  work 
with  me.  She  could  not  tarry  longer.  The  problem 
was  too  great,  but  Love  did  not  leave  me  without 
supplying  her  place  with  her  own  dear  ones.  I  have 
had  a  strange  sense  of  nearness  to  you,  and  to  your  dear 
children  since  M.  .  .  left.  I  know  that  she  is  active  in 
a  higher  plane  than  she  could  reach  while  here,  and 
I  feel  the  touch  of  her  reflection  of  Truth  and  Love  in 
the  realm  of  the  real,  moving  me  to  higher  inspiration, 
and  uniting  me  more  closely  to  those  whom  she  loved. 
Let  us  continue  to  contemplate  the  substance-ideal, 
and  lose  the  material  sense  or  the  false  and  unreal. 
Let  us  learn  to  read  type  and  symbol  until  they  dis- 
appear, and  the  real  appears.  I  cannot  express  my 
gratitude  in  words  for  the  manifestation  of  your  dear 
love.  I  wonder  why  you  should  feel  that  I  deserve 
any  such  reward  for  what  Love  prompted  me  to  do  for 
you.  I  have  done  nothing  of  the  much  I  would.  I 
pray  that  I  may  be  able  to  return  this  kind  tribute  in 
spiritual  jewels. 

With  tender  age-abiding  love  to  you  and  yours, 
I  am  always, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  27,  1901. 

My  dear  Friends: — 

I  am  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  the  dear  Christ's 
protecting  love,  as  I  look  through  a  mist  of  tears  of 
joy  and  gratitude  at  the  two  gifts — silk  patchwork 


Letters  of  Thanks  329 

quilts,  one  for  our  beloved  Leader  and  one  for  me. 
Only  patient,  tender,  divine  love  could  have  produced 
these.  I  know  that  I  minister  to  your  spiritual  needs, 
and  I  accept  this  material  manifestation  of  your 
love. 

With  deep  gratitude,  day  by  day  I  realize  how  I  am 
meeting  the  sting  of  the  serpent,  evil,  in  its  various 
phases,  as  I  tread  upon  its  head,  but  Love  antidotes 
the  poison,  and  I  walk  calmly  on,  keeping  my  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  white  Christ,  following  my  Master's 
bleeding  footsteps  up  the  hill  of  Christian  Science,  and 
imitating,  as  far  as  I  can,  the  example  of  our  beloved 
Leader,  Teacher,  and  Mother,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  will  press  on,  dear  loving  disciples  of  Christian 
Science,  for  my  revered  Leader's  sake,  for  your  sakes, 
for  the  lambs  in  my  fold  whom  God  has  given  me,  and 
for  all  who  will  come  to  me  in  the  future  to  learn  where 
to  find  the  bread  and  water  of  Life.  Love  goes  before 
us  always,  and  before  I  met  this  hour  and  had  to  drink 
this  cup  of  opposition  to  the  Truth  I  teach,  you  were 
putting  together  the  silk  pieces,  symbols  of  Love,  to 
cover  me  from  the  effects  of  malice  and  jealousy, 
envy  and  revenge  which  have  come  like  "the  blast  of 
the  terrible  ones."  "I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me: 
I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me  .  .  .  Inasmuch 
as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my 
brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me"  (Matthew  xxv., 
36,  40). 

I  have  no  time  to  listen  to  the  suggestions  of  self- 
pity,  but  must  make  all  these  beliefs  unreal,  and  know 
that  I  am  now  spiritual,  and  can  reflect  Truth  and  Love 
to  the  broken-hearted,  which  will  give  them  a  touch  of 
the  Christ  love  which  heals  and  redeems  all  from  the 
illusion  of  personal  sense. 


330  Letters  of  Thanks 

With  thanks  beyond  any  language  to  express,  and 
love  which  will  never  fail  to  watch  with  you  and  yours, 
I  am, 

Ever  yours, 

Faithfully  and  lovingly, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  3,  1901. 

My  dear  Students: — 

I  am  very  sure  that  you  understand  that  circum- 
stances prevented  me  from  making  a  proper  recognition 
of  your  remembrances  on  Easter  morn.  As  for  appre- 
ciation, I  can  never  find  words  to  convey  my  gratitude 
for  all  that  you  are  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science, 
to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  me,  and  for 
all  you  have  done,  and  are  doing  by  the  reflection  of 
your  beautiful  characters — your  pure,  true,  unselfed, 
and  loving  presence,  at  all  times  so  helpful  to  cheer 
and  encourage  us,  and  keep  us  on  upward  wing.  Your 
lives  flow  on  together  in  charity  and  blessing  to  all 
who  are  so  fortunate  as  to  call  you  friends. 

My  precious  mother  loved  you  so  fondly,  and  you, 
dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  ,  were  so  kind  and  tender  with  her, 
that  I  weep  in  my  heart  (though  I  never  permit  a 
tear  to  fall),  when  I  think  of  you  and  of  her.  I  can  do 
so  little  to  show  you  my  great  love  and  gratitude  for  all 
this;  but  God  will  bless  you,  and  that  loving  atten- 
tion you  gave  my  dear  mother  while  she  tarried  with 
us  in  the  flesh,  will  come  back  to  you  tenfold.  You 
both  were  so  kind  to  her.  She  loved  you  and  deeply 
appreciated  you.  I  can  feel  her  individuality — her 
presence  at  all  times,  and  sometimes  I  long  to  see  her 


Letters  of  Thanks  331 

in   reality,  but  I   must   wait  until  my  spiritual   sight 
reveals  her. 

Again  I  thank  you  for  your  beautiful  gifts.     They 
are  so  choice  and  are  to  me  a  promise  of  strength. 
With  devoted  love  to  you  both,  I  am, 

Faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  24,  1901. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  E.  .  .  : — 

I  wonder  if  you  know  how  much  I  enjoyed  you,  your 
dear  ones,  and  your  sweet  home  during  my  visit  with 
you?  I  felt  all  the  time  a  sense  of  refuge  from  the  storm 
and  tempest  of  mortal  thoughts,  which,  during  the  week, 
have  been  sounding  in  my  ears. 

This  mental  battle  between  Truth  and  error  is  reach- 
ing its  height,  and,  as  Professor  Totten  says,  is  "at  the 
end  of  its  career. "  f  The  aggravation  of  error  foretells 
its  doom,"  says  our  beloved  Leader  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  105).  We  are  all  rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of 
final  emancipation  from  all  discord — mortal  mind  and 
its  phenomena. 

I  trust  you  and  your  treasures,  four,  are  very  happy 
and  enjoying  all  that  the  dear  Love  (which  is  over  and 
above  all)  has  granted  you.  Your  life  is  a  type  of  the 
ideal,  and  your  family  make  an  earthly  paradise.  God 
is  with  you  and  rules  and  governs  so  that  you  are  safe 
in  the  hand  of  omnipotence.  I  thank  you  again  and 
again  for  your  kindness  to  me.  Also  please  tell  dear 
Mr.  E.  .  .  I  am  constantly  reminded  of  him  in  some 
kindly  act  or  word.  Thank  him  for  all  he  did  to  make 
my  visit  pleasant.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  H.  .  . 
I  hope  he   will    come   and    see  us   with   you.     Much 


332  Letters  of  Thanks 

love  to  my  darling  little  A.  .  .  and  G.  .  .  ,  and  with 
tenderest  love  to  you,  I  am, 

Faithfully  yours  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  26,  1902. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Your  fidelity  to  Principle  reveals  much  to  me.  I 
am  reluctant  to  believe  that  I  have  attained  to  the 
Christliness  you  accord  me.  I  feel  at  times  that  I  am 
the  least  of  the  apostles,  and  then  God  seems  to  speak  to 
me  through  my  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  or  through 
you,  or  some  other  loyal,  faithful  student,  and  tells  me 
that  I  am  a  chosen  vessel.  I  think  my  mission  and 
the  cup  and  cross  are  hidden  from  me,  or  I  could  not 
so  fearlessly  go  on  to  conquer  the  foe — mortal  mind.  I 
am  more  grateful  than  words  can  express  for  my  dear 
students.  I  could  weep  when  I  think  how  I  sometimes 
have  to  apply  the  rod — rebuke  to  error — only  to  save, 
or  awaken  the  dreamer.  God  will  never  forsake  me, 
and  I  shall  not  always  have  to  drag  around  the  dead 
bodies  of  lukewarm  and  material  students  in  my  effort 
to  save  them  until  I  almost  faint  and  fall.  The  sifting 
has  begun.  I  am  waiting  on  God.  He  will  bring  it  to 
pass  in  His  own  time  and  way.  Truth  must  deliver. 
"Vengeance  is  Mine;   I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord." 

Your  love  offering  shall  go  to  the  making  of  my 
church  dedication  gown.  I  have  the  outside  mate- 
rial which  was  made  in  China  six  years  ago,  and  was 
given  me  last  year  by  a  student  for  whom  it  was 
made. 

Love  gives  me  all  I  need  for  the  wilderness  journey. 
I  am  filled  with  peace  and  love,  and  pitiful  compassion 


Letters  of  Thanks  333 

for  my  straying  lambs,  students  who  have  followed  the 
"hireling." 

Deeply  appreciating  your  goodness  and  your  demon- 
stration in  working  so  scientifically  your  home  problem, 
I  am  with  tender  love  to  you  and  my  dear  student, 
Mr.  W.  .  .  ,  and  the  children, 

Gratefully  and  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48TH  Street,  May  8,  1903. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

From  the  depths  of  a  grateful  heart  I  thank  my 
Father  for  such  a  loving,  loyal  student.  Surely  He 
finds  a  large  open  avenue  in  you  to  show  me  His  tender 
love,  and  the  beauty  of  His  infinite  Mind.  Giving  is 
living  and  loving  is  Life.  The  Fountain  is  ever  pouring 
forth  its  infinite  substance  and  harmonies  in  form  and 
color,  but  dense  material  sense  is  an  obstruction,  so  the 
closed  heart  receives  not  the  blessings  which  are  ever 
waiting.  The  action  of  Love  never  ceases.  Love 
moves,  circulates,  operates  and  always  finds  an  outlet 
through  some  human  who  is  responsive  to  Her. 

For  your  last  expression  of  beauty  and  utility  I  am 
most  appreciative,  but  for  your  steadfast  adherence  to 
Principle  and  helpfulness  to  our  Mother  and  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  me  and  to  my  beloved  students,  I 
thank  God. 

Be  strong  in  love  and  humility.  Work,  watch,  and 
pray  for  the  Mind  of  Christ,  and  heal  the  sick  and  the 
sinful  by  your  reflection  of  good — God. 

Lovingly  and  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


334  Letters  of  Thanks 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  23,  1904. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  expression  of  love,  in  the  gold  and  in  the  pic- 
ture of  our  beloved  Leader,  came  to  me  with  a  sense 
of  your  gratitude  and  loyal  love.  My  first  impulse 
was  to  return  the  gold,  but  I  was  conscious  that  Love 
had  found  a  channel  in  you,  and  would  broaden  it  if  I 
kept  the  gift — which  would  return  to  you  a  hundred- 
fold. I  thank  you  for  it,  dear,  and  I  shall  try  to  return 
it,  in  more  consecration  to  Christ,  that  I  may  reflect 
to  you  more  of  his  love  and  joy  and  affluence.  I 
pray  for  you  to-night  that  the  dear  Father  may  fill 
your  heart  with  love  for  His  children,  with  wisdom 
with  which  to  lead  humanity  to  Christ,  with  meekness 
which  will  give  you  your  inheritance,  the  earth.  You 
will  lose  sight  of  self  as  you  gain  spiritual  discernment, 
and  as  the  human  self  is  subdued,  God  will  govern  you. 

We  must  all  labor  for  the  Light  which  lights  the  world. 
Let  us  pray  "Open  Thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  Thy  law. "  You  have  been 
patient  with  me.  In  Jesus'  words,  you  "have  continued 
with  me  in  my  temptations."  I  have  seemed  to  take 
little  interest  in  your  work,  but  I  have  been  so  pressed 
with  my  own  duties  that  I  had  to  leave  you  more  and 
more  to  Principle  alone.  As  I  rose,  I  knew  you  would 
follow,  if  you  kept  your  eyes  fixed  on  Christ. 

You  and  I  must  follow  (in  the  mental)  our  great 
Leader.  Physicality  profits  no  one.  My  students  must 
learn  to  hear  the  voice  of  God  through  the  impersonal 
idea,  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  be  led  by  Mind.  Love 
will  lead  us  all  into  the  kingdom,  if  we  faint  not.  We 
must  prove  the  Principle  of  being  and  meet  every  test. 
God  works  with  us  and  we  fear  not.  If  you  need  help 
call  on  me,  but  try  first  always  to  do  your  own  work. 


Letters  of  Thanks  335 

You  know  my  love  for  each  precious  lamb  in  my  fold, 
and  you  can  always  feel  sure  that  it  will  never  fail.  Love 
is  ever-present  because  we  are  Love's  reflection,  and 
Christ  will  deliver  us.  Be  strong,  dear  heart.  Battle 
bravely  for  your  birthright,  your  spiritual  dominion, 
and  you  will  win.  How  my  human  would  spare  you  and 
do  your  work  for  you.  I  must  sometimes  seem  to  my 
students  to  be  cruel,  but  it  is  only  to  be  kind.  Oh! 
how  much  easier  it  would  be  could  /  lift  them  into 
understanding.  But  each  has  to  do  this  for  himself 
with  occasional  help.  No  one  can  do  another's  work. 
Again  I  thank  you  for  both  gifts,  and  the  dear  love  that 
came  with  them. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  28,  1904. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  am  unable  to  voice  my  appreciation  of  your  loving 
care  of  my  temporal  necessities.  The  beautiful  ex- 
pression of  your  protecting  love,  which  came  to  me  in 
the  gift  of  furs,  gave  me  a  thrill  of  gratitude  to  my 
Father-Mother  God  for  such  watch-care  through  you, 
my  precious  students,  loyal,  loving,  and  brave,  who 
stand  for  Truth  and  Love,  and  who  aid  our  blessed 
Leader  by  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  her  stu- 
dent, your  teacher. 

You  are  broadening  your  channels  through  which 
Truth  and  Love  flow,  and  they  will  widen  till  they  blend 
with  infinite  Mind,  and  all  limits  and  bounds  will  be 
lost.  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 
Therefore,  I  crave  the  privilege  of  giving  you  more 
love  daily — ever-increasing,  divine  love,  which  expands 


336  Letters  of  Thanks 

and  ascends  until  it  leaves  us  together  in  the  pure 
atmosphere  of  Spirit,  beyond  the  sea  of  mortal 
concepts. 

My  spiritual  love  is  not  now  objectified  to  you  in 
phenomenon,  but  if  you  wait  patiently,  pray,  trust,  and 
love,  you  will  see,  through  the  lens  of  spiritual  percep- 
tion, your  robes  of  immortality — the  wedding  garment 
— and  the  dear  Father's  mansion  which  Love  is  now 
waiting  to  give  you.  When  the  false  material  concept 
has  been  destroyed,  all  will  be  revealed,  and  you  will 
be  satisfied.  My  love  for  you  is  inexpressible.  God 
bless  you. 

Ever  fondly  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  October  4,  1905. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  been  so  occupied  since  receiving  your  loving 
expression  of  fidelity  and  gratitude,  that  I  must  have 
seemed  unmindful  of  your  remembrance,  yet  you  know 
better  than  to  expect  any  material  manifestation  of 
appreciation,  since  you  are  sure  of  my  ceaseless  prayers 
and  love  for  you,  and  my  hopes  and  aspirations  for 
your  final  attainment  to  perfect  manhood  in  Christ. 
The  ideal  must  appear  in  process  of  unfoldment,  and 
if  you  keep  in  line  with  Truth,  and  follow  and  obey  the 
teachings  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  you  will 
rise  with  her,  and  with  me,  and  with  all  the  faithful, 
to  see  the  real  universe,  and  man  in  God's  image  and 
likeness.  Oh!  strive  to  be  a  reflector  of  Life,  Truth, 
and  Love,  for  this  is  man,  and  your  dominion  will  then 
be  revealed. 


Letters  of  Thanks  337 

God  bless  and  keep  you  from  the  evil  that  claims  to 
be  a  power,  but  which  divine  Love  proves  powerless. 
I  thank  you  for  the  flowers;  I  wish  they  were  not 
perishable.  I  like  to  remember  the  good  thoughts 
expressed  by  their  unspoken  reminders  of  the  giver. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


42  West  73RD  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  13,  1905. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  am  glad  that  you  understood  me,  and  do  not  wonder 
why  I  seem  unmindful  of  your  love  offering.  You 
know  too  well  that  I  am  deeply  grateful  for  your  con- 
stant affection,  your  noble  efforts  to  aid  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  by  being  true  to  Principle,  to  her, 
and  to  one  of  her  representatives,  your  teacher,  whom 
she  has  given  you.  To  me,  your  lives  are  continued 
blessings.  I  have  never  shed  one  tear,  nor  suffered  from 
anxiety  one  moment  lest  your  footsteps  were  straying. 
You  are  always  marching  to  the  music  of  loyalty  to 
God  and  to  His  holy  One,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  are  helping 
me  to  feed  her  sheep. 

I  prize  your  beautiful  gift,  and  it  shall  occupy  a  place 
where  it  will  constantly  remind  me  of  you,  my  beloved 
students.  I  have  little  time  to  write,  but  I  am  always 
working  to  help  you  onward  and  upward.  I  find  that 
I  must  work  more  and  more  in  the  spiritual  mental, 
and  we  together,  who  are  watching  with  Christ,  will 
rise  to  newness  of  life. 

I  send  you  deepest  love,  and  when  "Our  Home"  is 
finished,  you  will  help  me  to  open  the  windows  of  heaven 
in  it.     Be  strong  in  faith,  and  Love  will  give  you 


338  Letters  of  Thanks 

understanding — thus  we  will  help  to  establish  Christ's 
kingdom  on  earth. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  2,  1906. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  quite  at  a  loss  for  words  to  express  my  ap- 
preciation of  your  unselfed  fidelity  whenever  the  blast 
of  error  falls  on  my  head.  I  am  sure  the  recent  attack 
must  have  called  forth  the  sympathy  which  expressed 
itself  in  the  beautiful  roses.  Their  sweetness  exhales 
Love's  tenderness,  and  their  rich  gorgeousness  testifies 
the  affluence  of  Love,  as  She  operates  in  the  hearts  of 
those  whom  She  uses  as  channels  to  bless  and  gladden. 
It  seems  so  little  to  say  only,  I  thank  you.  I  am  glad 
I  can  do  more  than  this.  /  also  am  an  avenue  for 
Truth  and  Love,  and  I  can  give  you  spiritual  things, 
thoughts,  and  radiate  the  peace,  and  strength,  and  joy, 
which  make  the  world  brighter,  and  open  our  eyes 
to  the  reality  of  good,  and  our  dominion  over  all  the 
earth. 

The  foam  of  the  infuriated  belief  or  material  sense, 
as  it  sees  the  end  of  its  suppositional  influence  over  the 
Christian  Scientist,  is  evidence  that  the  battle  is  on. 
We  are  armed  for  victory.  The  malice,  envy,  jealousy 
and  revenge  which  mortals  send  out  are  to  me  "as  the 
idle  wind  which  I  regard  not. "  In  fact  I  rather  rejoice 
in  an  opportunity  to  cross  swords  with  the  foe,  since  I 
know  that  it  means  that  I  am  worthy  to  stand  and 
defend  the  Truth.  Our  Leader  says  that  "Whosoever 
proclaims  Truth  loudest,  becomes  the  mark  for  error's 
shafts"    {Miscellaneous   Writings,    p.   277).      Then  I 


Letters  of  Thanks  339 

must  be  a  shining  "mark"  indeed,  and  I  shall  continue 
to  shine,  while  error  can  continue  its  bombardment, 
until  it  ceases  to  charge  and  fire  for  want  of  mental 
ammunition. 

God  reigns  and  is  all  power.  This  we  shall  prove. 
I  sing  as  I  go,  and  I  sing  louder  and  more  joyously  as 
I  see  the  futile  efforts  of  malicious  animal  magnetism — 
the  thoughts  of  so-called  carnal  mind — to  hinder  me 
and  my  flock  from  entering  the  Christ-consciousness, 
and  taking  our  dominion  over  all  that  opposes  God. 

You  are  a  Christian  Science  soldier,  and  you  will 
never  let  its  banner  trail  in  the  dust. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  8,  1906. 

My  dear  Miss  C.  .  .  : — 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  with  enclosure.  I 
rejoice  to  see  your  appreciation  of  Christian  Science,  and 
of  my  poor  efforts  to  aid  our  dear  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
in  establishing  the  kingdom  of  heaven  in  the  hearts  of 
men. 

Your  protecting  love  for  my  dear  church — the  child 
of  my  tears  and  toils,  my  prayers  and  persecutions — 
touches  a  tender  chord  in  my  heart.  Love  has  always 
found  Her  avenues  to  provide  for  the  needs  of  this 
church,  and  Love  always  mill  find  those  who,  like  you, 
dear  heart,  are  grateful  for  Her  enfolding  arms.  Here 
we  unite  in  praises  to  our  God  for  our  beloved  Leader, 
who  has  shown  us  the  way  to  Christ, — eternal  Life. 
I  trust  you  will  realize  more  and  more  the  sweetness  and 
joy  of  an  unselfed  life, — a  life  "hid  with  Christ  in  God. " 


34°  Letters  of  Thanks 

Meekness  and  mercy  unite  in  opening  the  windows  of 
heaven  for  us. 

I  thank  you,  my  dear  student,  for  your  helpful 
thought,  and  pray  that  you  may  ever  continue  to  rise, 
with  your  gaze  fixed  on  the  goal  of  perfect  love — 
immortality. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  21,    1907. 

My  dearly  beloved  Students: — 

I  hardly  know  how  to  express  my  gratitude  for  your 
continued  goodness  to  me,  and  for  your  long  years  of 
loyal  service  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  to  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  me  and  the  brethren. 
Words  are  empty,  idle,  impotent  to  convey  the  appre- 
ciation and  deep  love  which  wells  up  in  my  heart  for  you, 
and  for  yours.  I  say  little,  but  my  prayers  for  such 
students  as  you,  rise  to  the  infinite,  and  touch  the 
great  heart  of  Love.  They  must  bring  to  you  infinite 
blessings  in  love,  joy  and  peace,  and  in  increased  under- 
standing of  your  divine  possibilities — your  dominion, 
and  relation  to  Love,  for  God  hears  and  answers  prayer. 

I  am  pressing  on  to  my  immortal  selfhood,  and  my 
dear  loyal  students  are  following,  their  eyes  fixed  on  the 
goal,  keeping  step  to  the  music  of  Soul — the  march 
towards  the  realization  of  eternal  being. 

I  have  never  seen  a  more  exquisite  thing  than  the 
beautiful  silk  you  have  sent  me,  and  while  I  am  not  of 
the  material  world,  and  am  never  found  among  those 
who  indulge  in  the  conventionalities  of  society,  which  I 
long  ago  abandoned,  yet  I  know  that  this  is  for  a  need 


Letters  of  Thanks  341 

which  is  not  yet  manifested.  Love  furnished  the  wed- 
ding garment  before  we  were  called  to  the  Dedication 
feast.  I  shall  wait  on  Love  to  clothe  me  in  Her  pure 
white  and  perfect  robes.  "Even  in  this  world,  there- 
fore, 'let  thy  garments  be  always  white'"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  267). 

I  thank  you  again  and  again.  This  love-thought 
will  do  its  double  work  of  moving  me  to  purify  my  con- 
sciousness, to  become  perfect,  and  to  see  that  my  robes 
are  "always  white."  I  shall  keep  the  perfect  model, 
Christ,  always  before  me,  and  shall  finally  win  the 
white  robe,  the  crown  of  immortality. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  6,  1909. 
My  dear  Friend: — 

I  have  tried  to  write  you  and  tell  you  how  much  I 
appreciate  your  help  in  our  church  music,  but  the 
many  demands  upon  my  time  have  prevented  me.  I 
am  satisfied  however  that  those,  like  yourself,  who 
understand  and  love  good  music,  and  who  appreciate  the 
best  artists  are  willing  to  aid  in  securing  their  services. 

Our  church  is  in  splendid  condition  and  many  are 
strong  in  faith  and  understanding.  We  are  proving 
the  power  of  the  Christ-mind  in  the  healing  of  the  sick 
and  sinful,  wherever  the  soil  is  ready  for  the  seed  of 
Truth  and  Love.  Love  knows  only  health  and  harmony. 
Evil  knows  only  discord  and  death.  We  are  proving 
the  truth  of  our  beloved  Leader's  teachings  by  giving 
no  power  to  envy  and  jealousy.  Error  must  foam 
itself  into  fury  and  destroy  itself.     You  must  rejoice 


342  Letters  of  Thanks 

that  our  church  is  built  on  the  rock — Christ,  and  that 
all  the  world  must  finally  acknowledge  this. 

We  can  meet  the  false  claim  of  revenge  and  envy — 
the  opponent  of  God,  in  all  its  phases,  and  prove  it 
powerless.  I  love  to  think  of  you,  of  dear  M.  .  .  ,  and 
the  boys,  and  of  your  protecting,  loving  home  shelter 
during  the  years  that  I  have  been  meeting  cruelty  and 
persecution,  physical  and  mental  discord,  because  of  my 
radical  teaching  and  demonstration  of  absolute  Christ- 
ian Science  as  I  worked  out  of  the  human  into  my 
Christ-consciousness.  I  have  stood  hourly  at  my  post 
on  the  battlefield,  bringing  out  my  church  against  all 
opposition  from  those  in  the  churches  who  do  not  in- 
terpret Science  and  Health  as  I  do.  Those  were  days 
which  I  struggle  to  forget,  but  I  never  forget  you, 
dear  H.  .  .  ,  and  darling  M.  .  .  ,  who  ministered  to  me 
in  my  lone  warfare  to  demonstrate  love  for  the  brethren 
who  should  have  aided  me  in  the  stupendous  work  of 
establishing  Christian  Science  in  this  great  city. 

Your  home  seems  my  home  always,  but  I  am  so  pressed 
with  work  that  I  cannot  get  a  moment  to  myself,  or 
I  would  be  with  you  often.  Always  remember  that 
my  heart  overflows  with  gratitude  and  love  for  you  and 
yours,  and  by  my  faithful  adherence  to  Christian  Science 
I  feel  I  am  blessing  you  all. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  22,  1909. 
My  dear  Students: — 

You  are  ever  before  me  in  the  gift  which  is  trans- 
parent, and  which  suggests  that  we  all  are  striving  to  be 
transparencies  to  reflect  the  power  and  presence  of 


Letters  of  Thanks  343 

Truth  and  Love.  It  is  very  dear  of  you  to  provide  this 
beautiful  protection  for  my  desk,  and  I  think  of  you 
frequently  as  I  sit  at  my  task  of  letter-writing.  The 
type  is  significant  of  your  steadfast,  loyal  adherence  to 
Principle,  and  your  protection  of  your  teacher. 

Love  covers  us  with  Her  feathers,  lest  rough  waters 
chill  us,  or  wild  winds  mar  our  peace.  So  have  I 
always  striven  to  cover  you,  dear  ones,  with  the  reflec- 
tion of  divine  Love,  lest  error  should  mar  the  tablet  of 
your  mind.  I  thank  you  again  and  again  from  a  full 
heart  of  gratitude.  I  send  you  deep  love  which  ever 
increases  as  I  rise  in  the  scale  of  infinite  Love.  The  re- 
minder is  ever  before  me,  that  I  must  be  a  transparency 
for  Truth,  therefore  I  continually  strive  to  realize  the 
allness  and  ever-presence  of  God,  good,  and  the  nothing- 
ness of  so-called  mortal  mind  and  its  embodiment, 
matter. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  18,  1909. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  have  greatly  appreciated  your  protecting  care  for 
my  temporal  necessities,  evidenced  by  your  gift  of  five 
hundred  dollars  with  the  assurance  that  ' '  loving  hearts 
would  contribute  the  same  amount  monthly."  I 
accepted  the  generous  gift,  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
feeling  that  Love  had  found  Her  channels,  and  that  I 
must  not  close  Her  avenues  by  refusing  to  accept  the 
munificent  offering.  I  therefore  gave  God  thanks  for 
His  tender  care  of  me,  and  for  His  goodness  manifested 
through  His  children. 

I  see  in  this  hour  that  the  seed  of  Truth  which  I  have 


344  Letters  of  Thanks 

sown  in  the  hearts  of  thousands  is  springing  up,  bud- 
ding and  blossoming,  and  sending  forth  the  perfume 
of  unselfed  love,  in  deeds,  and  in  blessings  unlimited  to 
me.  I  also,  when  I  received  this  expression  of  your 
generous  care,  thanked  God  for  my  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  for  having  called  me  from  the  contem- 
plation of  a  material  world  and  its  illusions,  to  consider 
the  spiritual,  unseen  things  of  God,  which  are  behind  the 
phenomena  of  finite  sense,  and  are  waiting  to  be  revealed 
to  our  spiritual  sense.  I  thanked  Him  for  her  watchful, 
protecting  love  of  me  and  mine  for  twenty-five  years, 
during  which  time  she  has  turned  me  to  Truth  and  Love 
as  the  source  of  supply  for  my  every  human  need,  and 
He  has  always  found  His  own  avenues  to  me.  Never 
has  my  trust,  faith,  and  understanding  of  Love  failed 
to  verify  the  promises  of  God. 

I  fully  realize  your  growth  in  the  divine  understand- 
ing of  Spirit  and  the  spiritual  facts  of  being,  and  how 
truly  you  are  gradually  assimilating  yourselves  to  God, 
and  are  unfolding  Christly  qualities  which  give  you 
spiritual  power  over  the  claim  of  evil,  and  which  will 
eventually  free  you  from  the  so-called  carnal  mind- 
forces.  Your  spiritual  individuality  is  appearing  in  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit — love  and  peace;  a  calm  trust  in 
God  and  in  His  ways  and  means;  a  desire  and  effort 
to  behold  the  perfect  man  in  God's  image  and  likeness, 
where  mortals  see  the  sinful,  sick  and  dying  mortal  man. 

You  are  attaining,  through  indefatigable  strivings 
against  material  sense  and  the  overcoming  and  destruc- 
tion of  the  beliefs  of  corporeality,  a  compassion  for  the 
sinner,  and  a  willingness  to  make  unreal  every  thought 
which  proceeds  from  the  so-called  carnal  mind,  with 
its  qualities  of  envy,  malice,  hatred,  lust,  greed,  and 
hypocrisy.     By    your    determination    to    make    evil- 


Letters  of  Thanks  345 

thinking  and  evil-speaking  unreal,  you  are  gaining  on 
the  side  of  your  spiritual  identity. 

I  rejoice  in  the  great  opportunity  which  has  been 
given  you,  in  this  hour,  to  enable  you  to  make  this 
demonstration  of  good  over  evil.  Love  is  always 
the  victor.  The  only  solvent  for  the  claim  of  hate  and 
sensuous,  malicious  animal  magnetism  is  Love.  You 
and  I  must  prove  our  Principle,  Love,  by  loving  divinely, 
and  never  conceding  reality  or  power  to  evil,  in  any  of 
its  forms  or  phases.  The  eternal  God  is  our  refuge. 
Love  is  omnipotent  and  ever-present,  and  all  the  in- 
fluences which  proceed  from  Love  unite  us  in  the  bonds 
of  Spirit  and  separate  us  from  the  seeming  force  of  the 
false  claim  called  mortal  mind.  Mortal  mind  never 
was,  and  never  will  be  a  power  or  presence  to  any  one 
whose  consciousness  reflects  divine  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love. 

As  we  repudiate  the  claims  of  this  false,  corporeal, 
finite  personality,  our  individual,  spiritual  selfhood 
asserts  its  dominion,  and  we  recognize  our  oneness 
with  God — the  Principle  of  being.  Then  we  under- 
stand the  Master's  words,  "the  kingdom  of  God  is 
within  you."  This  kingdom  is  a  state  of  spiritual 
consciousness,  and  heaven  is  here  and  now.  If  you 
contemplate  Spirit,  divine  Mind,  you  will  utilize  the 
forces  of  God,  and  will  discern  your  royal  inheritance — 
your  oneness  with  Principle,  Mind,  and  will  know  your- 
selves as  spiritual  ideas  of  God,  dwellers  in  the  spiritual, 
unseen  universe. 

If  you  dwell  in  mortal  mind  you  will  evolve  the  things 
which  the  carnal  mind  produces — a  material,  discordant 
environment — a  world  peopled  with  objects  (physical 
personalities)  produced  by  belief  and  governed  by 
so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism,  jealousy,  malice, 


346  Letters  of  Thanks 

and  revenge,  the  product  of  the  carnal  mentality 
called  mortal  mind. 

I  have  chosen  my  eternal,  spiritual  individuality. 
I  am  pressing  hard  to  escape  from  the  bondage  of  belief 
of  life  in  matter,  and  I  am  catching  glorious  glimpses  of 
a  world  in  which  is  no  sorrow,  sin  or  death;  no  cruelty, 
no  separation,  no  tears,  no  bitter  wrongs,  no  ingratitude ; 
but  Love  uniting  all  in  the  brotherhood  of  man,  with  one 
loving  Father  or  creator,  who  is  over  all,  in  all,  and 
through  all  that  is  real  and  eternal.  This  is  our  heavenly 
estate  which  we  are  fast  redeeming,  and  the  clamor  and 
chaos  of  hatred  and  malice — "earth's  harmless  thunder ' ' 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  374) — cannot  deter  us  from 
taking  possession  of  this  divine  inheritance. 

I  am  going  to  ask  a  favor  of  you,  my  dear  students, 
and  I  know  that  you  will  not  deprive  me  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  continue  to  love  and  trust  my  heavenly 
Father  more  confidingly,  as  I  am  called  to  make  greater 
demands  upon  my  faith  and  understanding  of  God's 
love  and  sufficiency.  I  am  profoundly  impressed  and 
gratified  to  know  that  you  desire  to  minister  to  me; 
but  since  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  have 
forbidden  me  to  teach  my  usual  classes,  and  have  re- 
moved from  the  Christian  Science  Journal  my  name  as 
a  practitioner,  thereby  depriving  me  of  my  revenues 
from  these  sources,  I  feel  that  it  is  more  scientific  for 
me  to  ask  you  to  drop  the  matter  right  here,  and  to 
turn  your  attention  to  the  protection  and  support  of 
our  dear  church,  which  is  passing  through  deep  waters. 
Will  you  please  discontinue,  as  a  body,  the  monthly 
offering  to  me,  and  let  us  be  individual  in  all  that  we 
do  for  the  Cause  and  for  each  other?  We  shall  then 
be  reciprocally  blessed,  and  there  will  be  no  per- 
sonal influence  brought  to  bear  upon  any  one.     Divine 


Letters  of  Thanks  347 

Love    must    operate,    and   find    response    in   human 
hearts. 

You  know  the  gratitude  I  feel  for  this  proof  of  your 
desire  to  provide  the  things  that  are  necessary  for  me 
in  my  "passage  from  sense  to  Soul"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  566).  We  shall  rise  higher  and  more  quickly 
by  the  course  which  I  venture  to  suggest,  because 
it  is  in  accord  with  divine  Principle,  which  is  ever 
lifting  its  steadfast  adherents  to  greater  heights  of 
divine  understanding  and  power.  So  shall  we  soar 
above  the  seeming  world  of  temporal  and  finite  illusions, 
into  the  realm  of  the  eternal  and  infinite,  into  conscious 
oneness  with  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  31,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  include  all  who  are  in  this  demonstration  as  stud- 
ents, for  my  prayers  and  labor  of  love  have  reached 
you,  both  mentally  and  audibly,  during  many  years  of 
my  preaching  and  teaching  in  my  Church  and  Institute. 

You  are  among  the  faithful  who  prove  that  "Love's 
labors  are  not  lost. "  I  am  rejoicing  in  this  present  ex- 
perience. You  surely  are  able  to  read  the  signs  of  the 
times  and  understand  them ;  therefore  it  is  not  necessary 
for  me  to  do  more  than  refer  you  to  Romans,  eighth 
chapter,  from  the  thirty-first  to  the  thirty -ninth  verses. 

I  rejoice  that  you  are  all  standing  firm  in  faith  and 
understanding,  which  Christian  Science  has  given  you, 
and  that  you  never  yield  to  the  aggressive  mental 
argument  of  so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism, 
namely,  a  power  opposed  to  God.     I  praise  God  that 


348  Letters  of  Thanks 

you  are  demonstrating  the  beauty  of  divine  Love  which 
never  fails. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  to  my  heavenly  Father  for  His 
protecting  love  and  care  of  me,  and  I  thank  you,  my 
beloved  students,  for  your  obedience  to  His  word  in 
conveying  to  me  His  message.  I  know  that  I  apprehend 
the  source  of  life  and  love.  I  understand  the  creative 
Mind,  or  Principle  of  man  and  the  universe,  and  I 
recognize  the  avenues  through  which  Love  reflects 
Her  presence  and  supply — thus  working  through  Her 
ideas  to  bless  and  protect  all  who  love  and  serve  God. 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  "Divine  Love 
always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every  human 
need"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  494).  It  must,  for  Love 
is  all  and  we  are  Love's  children.  Evil  is  neither  pres- 
ence nor  power.  There  is  no  claim  even,  for  God  is 
All.  Let  us  all  dwell  in  Love,  in  the  sweet  secret  of 
Her  presence,  which  fills  all  space.  I  am  so  free,  so 
peaceful,  so  confident  that  Love  will  deliver  me  and 
mine,  that  I  am  strong  and  happy  in  the  midst  of  "the 
fiery  darts  of  the  wicked,"  which  I  know  are  only 
illusions.  Oh!  dear  ones,  follow  our  blessed  Leader 
into  this  spiritual  consciousness  which  is  heaven  here 
and  now. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  31,  19 10. 

My  dear  Students: — l 

I  have  never  really  been  of  the  material  world,  in 
the  sense  of  entering  into  its  public  places  of  amuse- 

1  A  victrola  was  presented  to  me  by  my  students  after  my  trial  in 
Boston. 


Letters  of  Thanks  349 

ment,  having  been  from  childhood  brought  up  by  strictly 
religious,  old-time,  Puritanical  parents,  who  considered 
the  influence  of  the  theatre  most  demoralizing,  while 
the  church  was  the  only  place  of  safety  for  those  who 
serve  God. 

The  first  theatre  I  ever  attended  was  on  my  arrival 
in  England  as  a  bride.  Mr.  Stetson  persuaded  me  to 
go  to  see  the  play,  Our  American  Cousin.  I  had 
found  the  passage  across  the  ocean  of  thirteen  days  in 
the  old  Cunarder,  Tripoli,  rather  monotonous,  and 
in  a  weak  moment  I  accepted  the  invitation.  I  enjoyed 
it  immensely,  notwithstanding  I  had  been  taught  that 
God  was  not  in  such  worldly  environments.  When  we 
returned  to  the  hotel,  however,  my  conscience  began 
to  trouble  me  and  I  wept  sorely  at  my  temptation  and 
fall.  I  was  distressed  that  I  had  strayed  so  far  from 
my  parents'  religious  precepts  and  example.  But  I 
recovered  from  this  deflection  from  the  straight  line 
of  religious  duty,  although,  in  reality,  I  have  never  cared 
for  the  theatre.  I  have  attended  but  three  plays  during 
my  dream-experience,  but  I  have  had  no  compunctions 
of  conscience  with  regard  to  them  since.  Later,  I 
indulged  in  two  operas,  one  abroad  and  the  other  in 
this  country. 

Thus  my  endeavors  have  always  been  directed  to 
religious  work,  and  since  I  came  to  Christian  Science, 
through  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  twenty-five 
years  ago,  I  have  given  every  moment  of  my  time  to  the 
spiritualization  of  my  thought,  to  the  healing  of  the 
sick  and  the  reforming  of  the  sinner. 

But  alas,  a  change  has  "come  o'er  the  spirit  of 
my  dream,"  and  I  find  myself  listening  to  operas, 
minstrel  singers,  and  entertaining  all  kinds  of  musicians 
nearly  every  evening.     I  am  able  to  say  that  I  am  "get- 


35°  Letters  of  Thanks 

ting  up  to  date. "  I  do  not  feel  that  I  am  behind  the  times 
now.  When  I  am  questioned  as  to  my  favorite  prima 
donna,  I  am  relieved  of  the  embarrassment  occasioned  by 
my  former  forced  reply,  "  I  have  never  heard  one. " 

I  am  not  quite  sure  whether  I  am  warranted  in  say- 
ing, "  Deliver  me  from  my  friends,  "  until  I  am  confident 
that  their  loving  effort  to  give  me  pleasure  by  the  gift 
of  a  victrola  does  not  result  in  my  demoralization. 
Having  escaped  so  long  the  snares  of  the  footlights,  and 
the  glamor  surrounding  the  stage,  I  must  consider  care- 
fully how  much  time  I  dare  give  to  the  entrancing 
Melba  or  the  great  Caruso. 

I  must  not  linger  too  long  with  lesser  entertainers 
lest  I  forget  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  ever-present, 
impersonal  Christ,  and  the  song  of  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels,  ever  near  to  all  who  find,  and  dwell 
in  the  "sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way"  {Miscellaneous 
Writings  p.  389).  I  find  that  wisdom  teaches  that 
all  are  God's  children,  and  that  behind  the  finite  fleshly 
form  (the  false  personality)  is  the  real,  ideal  man 
in  God's  image  and  likeness,  and  thus  I  entertain, 
in  these  musicians,  the  children  of  the  one  Father- 
Mother  God. 

Therefore,  I  am  learning  that  I  do  not  need  to  see  the 
physical  personalities  to  enjoy  their  talent,  but  that 
I  can  remain  in  my  own  environment  and  listen  to  the 
voice  of  Love  through  Her  channels  of  harmony, 
knowing  that  "Sound  is  a  mental  impression  made  on 
mortal  belief"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  213).  I  carry 
divine  metaphysics  higher,  and  realize  that  there  is  but 
one  power — the  mighty  presence  called  Mind,  intelli- 
gence, eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth  in  manifestation, 
which  produces  all  sound,  and  governs  harmoniously 
every  tone  in  the  limitless  range  of  melody. 


Letters  of  Thanks  351 

I  am  discerning  through  constant  contemplation 
of  the  spiritual  and  eternal  verities  of  being,  that  finite 
limited  capacity  is  giving  place  to  infinite  possibilities, 
and  that  man  is  mental,  spiritual,  and  one  with  God — 
never  in,  nor  of  a  so-called  matter  embodiment.  So, 
dear  ones,  may  not  this  victrola  be  to  me  God's  in- 
terpreter, that  man  is  the  ever-present  manifestation 
of  Principle,  not  dependent  upon  organized  fleshly  ma- 
teriality to  convey  messages,  or  to  produce  the  harmony 
of  Soul?  "As  we  rise  the  symbols  disappear."  All 
material  organization  composing  the  material  man  must 
disappear,  and  the  real  man  in  the  image  and  likeness 
of  his  creator  must  appear  in  the  glory  of  immortal 
being. 

It  is  sweet  to  be  remembered  as  you  have  remembered 
me.  I  am  deeply  grateful  that  you  desire  to  cheer 
me.  You  have  afforded  me  the  opportunity,  by  this 
gift,  to  find  in  these  musicians  my  brother  and  sister  in 
their  true  divine  selfhood,  without  the  encumbering 
molecules  called  material  bodies.  The  divinity  or 
true  selfhood  of  these  great  artists  will  be  revealed  to 
me  as  I  rise  to  diviner  heights  of  spiritual  understand- 
ing, and  each  who  now  ministers  to  me  through  the 
belief  of  the  victrola  will  finally  catch  the  chord  of 
Christ  and  voice  the  harmonies  of  omnipotent  Love. 
Your  loving  care  and  thoughtfulness  of  my  present 
position,  in  my  travail  towards  the  realm  of  the  real, 
will  be  rewarded.  My  love  is  ever  with  you.  I 
know  that  you  receive  it,  as  Love  reflects  Herself 
in  love.  Thus  we  are  reciprocally  blessed.  I  want 
you  all  to  spend  an  evening  with  the  victrola  in  my 
home. 

Gratefully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


352  Letters  of  Thanks 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  25,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Students: — l 

For  many  years  I  have  written  all  my  letters,  and 
have  repeatedly  worked  into  the  morning  hours  to 
answer  my  correspondents.  When  I  first  preached  in 
the  pulpit  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  I  wrote  my  sermons,  carefully  copied  them  and 
read  them,  not  confining  myself  to  the  notes  any  more 
than  was  necessary.  I  had  no  time  to  write  my  manu- 
script except  in  the  evening,  and  through  the  night, 
many  times  putting  down  my  pen  at  two,  three  or  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Do  you  ask  why  I  did  not 
write  during  the  day?  I  answer,  because  I  had  to  treat 
my  patients,  teach  a  class  about  once  a  month,  and 
care  for  a  growing  body  of  students,  besides  doing  other 
church  work,  taking  charge  of  weekly  meetings,  and 
on  Sundays  preaching  a  sermon.  Thus  I  provided  for 
my  temporal  needs,  while  I  was  preaching  the  gospel 
to  the  small  church,  which  paid  no  salary  for  two  years. 
Afterwards  it  paid  six  hundred  dollars  a  year  and  later, 
for  several  years,  one  thousand. 

.  During  the  time  I  was.  pastor  of  the  church,  I  had  a 
large  practice,  and  went  from  house  to  house  treating 
the  sick  and  watching  with  patients,  often  through  the 
night.  When  I  had  written  fifty-two  sermons,  and 
could  find  no  time  during  the  week  to  write  a  new  one, 
I  felt  no  compunction  of  conscience  in  repeating  one  of 
those  sermom.  I  preached  with  manuscript  for  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  time  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  sent  word  to  me  to  preach  without  notes. 
It  was  a  severe  test  at  that  time,  but  I  obeyed,  and 
after  a  while  found  great  relief  in  speaking  extemporane- 

1  An  Underwood  typewriter  was  presented  to  me  by  my  students. 


Letters  of  Thanks  353 

ously.  I  had  more  time  for  my  patients,  students  and 
correspondence. 

It  seems  sometimes  when  I  look  back  over  those 
years  of  the  human  footsteps  which  lead  to  the  divine, 
that  I  would  not  exaggerate  if  I  should  say  this  house 
could  not  contain  the  letters  I  have  written  during 
the  last  twenty-five  years  on  the  subject  of  Christian 
Science.  I  am  just  realizing  how  hard  has  been  the  work 
of  employing  eyes  and  hands,  the  slow  medium  of  pen 
and  ink,  with  which  to  convey  thought.  The  lack  of 
time  which  necessitated  haste  in  my  writing,  also  made 
my  chirography  almost  illegible.  When  this  crisis 
arrived,  divine  Love  came  again  to  my  relief,  and  lo, 
an  Underwood  typewriter  and  full  office  equipment 
appeared  in  my  home!  I  had  often  thought  I  would 
like  one,  but  felt  that  I  could  not  afford  a  stenographer. 
When  this  evidence  of  divine  Love  was  manifested,  I 
found  four  expert  stenographers  tendering  their  ser- 
vices and  declaring  that  the  good  they  received  in 
transcribing  Christian  Science  letters  and  articles  was 
ample  reward  for  their  labors. 

I  find  my  pen  grieving  from  neglect,  and  my  hands 
questioning  why  they,  who  have  served  me  so  long  and 
faithfully,  should  be  relegated  to  comparative  inaction. 
They  reach  forth  to  grasp  the  pen,  but  immediately  are 
told  that  they  are  not  necessary,  and  can  rest  from 
that  service.  They  threaten  that  they  will  forget  how 
to  hold  a  pen  or  trace  the  thought,  but  the  stern  steno- 
grapher reminds  them  that  progress  has  relieved  them 
of  this  well-performed  duty.  Thus  they  are  spared 
the  humiliation  of  being  regarded  as  superannuated 
hands,  and  rejoice  that  they  now  may  minister  to  hu- 
manity in  other  ways  by  clasping  the  hand  of  God  more 
firmly,  as  they  reach  out  to  lead  mankind  to  Christ. 


354  Letters  of  Thanks 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  placed  them  in 
God's  service,  and  they  will  find  employment  in  working 
for  Him  in  His  way.  They  must  obey  the  divine  law 
and  rest  in  action,  ever  responsive  to  Mind. 

New  occasions  teach  new  duties :  Time  makes  ancient  good 

uncouth ; 
They  must  upward  still,  and  onward,  who  would  keep 

abreast  of  Truth. ■ 

God  supplies  all  good,  and  He  has  given  me  my  dear 
students.  I  can  say  with  the  Master:  "Those  that 
Thou  gavest  me  I  have  kept."  I  thank  you,  dear  ones, 
for  your  unselfed  love  and  care  for  my  temporal  needs. 
You  are  ever  with  me  in  my  home,  reminding  me  of  your 
desire  to  make  the  crucial  experience  of  the  present 
hour  less  wearisome.  I  want  you  all  to  come  and  see 
how  much  you  are  doing  for  me  in  this  service. 
Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  14,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  more  grateful  than  words  can  express  for  the 
evidence  of  your  fidelity  to  Principle.  I  am  constantly 
working  for  God's  kingdom  to  "come  ...  in  earth,  as 
it  is  in  heaven,"  and  all  who  are  striving  to  "put  off 
.  .  .  the  old  man"  (mind)  are  feeling  the  quickening 
presence  of  infinite  Love  and  Truth.  You  are  beginning 
to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation"  (Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  Spirit  is  giving  us 
the  assurance  and  peace  which  follow  obedience  to 
Her  law, — the  law  of  divine   Mind.     We  are  surely 

1  Lowell. 


Letters  of  Thanks  355 

under  grace — not  under  the  so-called  material  law. 
We  must  not  return  to  positions  outgrown,  nor  affiliate 
with  those  who  prefer  to  dwell  in  the  false  sense  of  life 
in  matter. 

Henceforth  let  us  tear  down  the  old  structure,  the 
claim  of  organized,  vitalized  matter,  the  Adam,  mortal 
so-called  man,  and  with  the  solvent  of  love  let  us  reveal 
the  real  and  ideal  man, — God's  child,  until  through 
spiritual  growth  the  eternal  facts  of  being  are  under- 
stood and  demonstrated.  We  must  gird  on  the  full 
armor,  stand  in  the  front  as  the  battle  rages,  and  win  a 
glorious  crown  of  immortality.  I  am  strong,  happy, 
and  such  a  calm  peace  is  mine  that  I  wonder  if  I  am 
in  heaven  and  have  really  entered  into  the  spiritual 
consciousness.  I  am  sure  I  must  be  feeling  the  mental 
presence  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  I 
trust  I  am  passing  the  message  of  Truth  and  Love  along 
the  line  of  reciprocal  thought.  You  and  my  faithful 
students  must  catch  the  echo. 

Sincerely,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  1,  1910. 
My  dearly  beloved  Students: — 

How  can  I  convey,  even  faintly,  my  appreciation 

of  your  great  love  for  God,  and  for  His  highest  visible 

manifestation,  our  blessed  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

and  for  me,  her  student,  and  your  teacher.     I  could 

weep  tears  of  gratitude  that  you  are  the  fruit  of  my  labors 

for  the  Christ  of  God,  and  I  renew  my  endeavors  to  do 

more  for  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  because  I  have 

such  rich  reward  in  your  steadfast  allegiance  to  Principle, 


356  Letters  of  Thanks 

and  willingness  to  suffer  with  Christ,  that  you  may 
reign  with  him. 

I  am  gaining  such  reliance  upon  ever-present  divine 
Love,  that  I  find  a  peace  which  is  a  deep-toned  joy, 
and  a  rest  which  is  inexpressible.  It  assures  me  that 
I  am  reflecting  the  power  of  infinite  Love,  and  I  rejoice 
that  all  who  are  within  the  radius  of  my  thought,  feel 
the  presence  of  the  impersonal  idea.  So  I  work,  and 
watch,  and  pray,  and  "love  more  for  every  hate" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  389),  conscious  that  I  am 
helping  you,  and  all  my  dear,  faithful  students  to  rise 
above  the  false  and  finite  sense,  to  the  spiritual,  where 
we  find  God  and  His  children,  and  for  a  moment  catch 
a  breath  of  Love's  atmosphere.  This  will  be  to  us, 
if  we  faint  not  in  the  race  for  immortal  consciousness, 
a  permanent,  "conscious,  constant  capacity  to  under- 
stand God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  209).  Already  we 
find  rich  reward  for  every  effort,  and  a  recompense 
in  our  oneness  with  divine  Mind.  Can  we  ever  be 
sufficiently  grateful  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
for  her  teachings,  and  noble  life  and  example,  which 
have  taught  us  how  to  meet  and  master  the  evil  one, 
whose  aim  to  kill,  through  personal  avenues,  physically 
and  morally,  has  been  thwarted.  God  bless  you  and 
yours,  dear  hearts,  for  the  cup  of  cold  water  which  you 
have  always  given  me.  Love  will  reward  you. 
Ever  faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  30,  1910. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

How  evident  it  is  that  God  gives  His  angels  charge 
over  me,  and  that,  as  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 


Letters  of  Thanks  357 

assures  us,  "Divine  Love  always  has  met  and  always 
will  meet  every  human  need"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  494).  My  heart  overflows  with  grateful  love  and  a 
"God  bless  you,"  to  each  whose  name  I  have  just 
read.  You  have  blessed  me,  in  your  dear  efforts  and 
self-sacrifice  to  make  my  home  duties  lighter, l  that  my 
environment  may  prove  the  truth  that  ' '  cleanliness  is 
next  to  Godliness. "  I  am  rejoicing  in  the  fruits  of  the 
Spirit, — love,  peace,  and  joy,  and  am  happy  that  you 
are  in  the  understanding  of  your  oneness  with  God,  and 
your  immortal  consciousness  here,  now,  and  forever. 

I  am  working  and  praying  without  ceasing  for  you, 
and  for  all  mankind,  and  for  all  whom  God  has  given 
me  to  bring  to  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  the 
great  shepherd,  in  this  age,  of  Israel's  flock.  We  are 
the  sheep  of  Love's  pasture.  We  love  divinely.  God 
is  our  life,  therefore  we  are  forever  with  the  Father- 
Mother  God.  We  reflect  omnipotence  and  omnipres- 
ence. Truth  demonstrates  Her  power  and  presence  to 
us,  Her  ideas.  We  admit  no  other  creator,  no  other 
source  or  supply  and  we  claim  our  spiritual  relation  to 
God  and  to  His  children  now. 

So-called  mortal  mind  and  its  manifestation,  flesh 
and  blood,  never  rises  to  spiritual  apprehension.  The 
human  never  discerns  the  real  and  eternal.  It  is 
through  spiritual  sense  alone  that  we  mentally  grasp 
the  deep  things  of  God,  and  appreciate  Love's  treasures 
which  She  gives  to  Her  children.  I  love  you,  and  I 
pray  that  your  strength  fail  not,  and  that  your  under- 
standing may  increase  till  you  awake  in  the  image  and 
likeness  of  Love.  You  have  placed  in  my  home  (your 
home)  that  which  will  lighten  the  burdens  imposed  by 
belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  God,  with  its  material 

1  Refers  to  a  vacuum  cleaner  presented  by  students  for  my  home. 


358  Letters  of  Thanks 

demands  and  its  material  phenomena.  On  our  journey 
through  the  wilderness  of  belief  towards  spiritual 
understanding,  Love  lifts  the  load  imposed  by  material 
sense,  through  those  who  respond  to  Her,  and  thus  we 
merge  from  darkness  into  light,  from  material  belief 
into  Love's  eternal  home  of  Spirit. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  24,  191 1. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  struggled  with  human  emotions  and  have 
succeeded  in  restraining  tears  that  threatened  to  flow 
last  evening  when  I  found  your  "alabaster  box  of 
precious  ointment. " 

When  Mr.  H.  .  .  gave  me  the  oandy,  I  thought  he 
brought  it  to  me.  I  may  have  thought  at  the  time  that 
it  came  from  you  also,  but  I  felt  if  it  had,  you  would  not 
ask  me  to  do  more  than  send  you  my  thanks,  since  I 
have  so  little  time  in  which  to  observe  conventionalities. 
This  box  of  candy  has  been  in  my  closet  all  this  time, 
nearly  two  months.  The  family  has  taken  a  piece 
occasionally  with  me,  but  we  indulge  so  little  in  that 
which  is  not  absolutely  necessary — delicacies  and  luxur- 
ies— that  we  had  not  reached  the  second  layer.  Last 
evening  a  student  took  out  the  cardboard  that  separated 
the  layers,  and  behold  the  treasure!  Letters  and  gold 
were  revealed. 

I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  when  I  thought  of  my 
long  silence,  and  wondered  what  you  would  think  of 
such  seeming  indifference  and  ingratitude.  Had  I 
permitted  them,  tears  would  have  flowed  in  floods. 
I  realized  that  I  had,  unconsciously,  given  you  all  much 


Letters  of  Thanks  359 

to  meet.  Your  dear  love  must  have  had  a  severe  test. 
In  a  small  degree,  it  seems  like  my  experience  of  the 
past  two  years.  I  have  had  to  wait  and  trust,  and 
apparently  stand  alone  with  God,  to  make  my  own 
demonstration  of  what  my  beloved  Leader  has  taught 
me  for  many  years. 

Knowing  her  divine  selfhood  to  be  the  Christ-idea, 
I  feel  her  constant  presence  with  me,  and  understand 
that  it  is  only  finite  sense  that  separates  us;  therefore 
I  strive  for  spiritual  sight  to  behold  her  reappearance  as 
she  merges  gradually  out  of  the  fleshly  mind  into  the 
"wholly  spiritual  "thought,  giving  us  the  proof  that  she 
has  conquered  "The  last  enemy,"  the  claim  of  death. 
This  will  be  the  second  appearing  of  Christ,  and  our 
Leader  will  have  some  followers  who  will  obtain  and  re- 
tain the  spiritual  concept,  or  the  deathless  man  of  God's 
creating.  We  hear  it  said  that  centuries  must  elapse 
before  this  demonstration  can  be  made  by  any  one. 
Twenty  centuries  have  passed  since  Christ  Jesus  made 
his  demonstration  over  death.  He  said  he  would  come 
again.  The  Christ  has  come  again  and  is  manifest  in 
our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  has  ful- 
filled the  law  of  Love  and  will  in  her  own  words  demon- 
strate her  teachings,  "for  tired  humanity's  reassurance" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  494). 

This  is  the  beginning  of  the  millennial  age.  Scripture 
informs  us  that  at  the  second  appearing  of  Christ  he 
will  rule  all  nations  and  peoples,  and  that  in  one  thou- 
sand years  all  will  have  awakened  to  the  truth  of  being — 
eternal  Life. 

There  are  some  to-day  whose  spiritual  understanding 
enables  them  to  grasp  the  Science  of  being  and  defend 
the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy — the  divine  meta- 
physics of  Christian  Science.     They  are  the  first-fruits 


360  Letters  of  Thanks 

of  her  instruction,  and  I  rejoice  that  you  are  among  those 
who  have  faith,  and  hope,  and  love,  which  will  enable 
you  to  follow,  as  Christ  leads  on  to  the  destruction 
of  sin,  disease,  and  death  in  universal  consciousness. 

I  am  more  grateful  for  this  manifestation  of  your 
selfless  love  than  words  can  express.  You,  my  dear 
ones  all,  have  already  received  the  recompense  of  aiding 
in  caring  for  my  temporal  needs,  for  divine  Love 
rewards  your  every  good  motive  and  act.  I  am  com- 
forted when  I  realize  that  I  am  able  to  reflect  to  you 
the  Life  and  Love  which  bless  you  and  enlighten  your 
understanding,  giving  you  glimpses  of  a  Life  without 
end,  joy,  and  peace,  and  power  which  come  from  Christ, 
and  are  your  divine  inheritance.  This  spiritual  under- 
standing unites  us  in  the  one  divine  consciousness  and 
we  gain  our  freedom  in  the  knowledge  of  an  eternal 
Parent,  our  Father-Mother  God. 

Jesus  demonstrated  his  true  selfhood — spiritual  man 
— and  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  will  make 
her  demonstration  and  represent  her  true  selfhood — the 
spiritual  woman.  I  pray  that  we  may  follow  her  ex- 
ample, and  "When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear, 
then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  him  in  glory  "  (Col.  iii.,  4). 

Continue  to  work,  watch,  and  pray.  Do  not  lay 
down  your  sword  until  the  battle  is  won,  and  the  victory 
is  yours. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  14,  191 1. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

Your  dear  love  was  manifested  in  the  victrola 
records  which  proclaim  to  the  listening  world  that ' !  Love 


Letters  of  Thanks  361 

Watches  over  All.  "'  To  humanity,  blind  in  the  belief 
that  evil  is  real,  and  that  man  is  mortal,  subject  to 
sickness,  sorrow,  and  death,  this  conviction  of  Love's 
ever-presence  will  fall  like  dew  upon  the  mown  grass, 
or  showers  that  water  the  earth.  It  is  Truth  voicing 
Her  primeval  promise  to  comfort  and  cheer  through  the 
shadows  which  throng  the  gloaming,  and  repeating  Her 
assurance  of  the  immutable  motherhood  of  God.  Love 
casts  out  all  that  is  unlike  Her  perfect  likeness  and 
image. 

The  understanding  of  the  allness  of  Love  —  the 
Principle  of  being,  our  Mother-God,  lifts  us  to  anti- 
cipate the  hour  of  final  deliverance  from  the  belief  of 
a  power  called  hate  or  fear,  and  reveals  our  firm 
foundation,  Christ,  Truth,  against  which  no  supposi- 
tional claim  of  error  can  prevail.  Love  is  Life, 
and  the  quickening  power  of  the  words  of  the  record 
"Love  Watches  over  All,"  will  be  potent  to  raise 
many  a  feeble  hope  to  renewed  efforts  to  seize  the 
things  which  are  of  God,  and  to  rise  from  doubt  and 
despair. 

You  personally  cannot  speak  to  many.  You  can 
reflect  to  as  many  as  are  attuned  mentally  to  hear  the 
sweet  promise  "  Love  never  faileth, "  but  you  have  made 
it  possible  for  thousands  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  omni- 
potence in  song  and  sermon.  You  will  some  day  hear, 
"  I  was  sick,  and  ...  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me." 
If  you  ask,  "When  saw  we  thee  sick,  .  .  .  and  came 
unto  thee?"  then  shall  ye  hear,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have 
done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye 
have  done  it  unto  me. " 

Let  us  gird  on  the  armor  of   selfless  love,  work  for 

'The  poem  "Love  Watches  over  All"  was  sung  into  the  victrola 
by  a  prominent  soprano  soloist,  and  so  given  to  the  world. 


362  Letters  of  Thanks 

God,  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  for  humanity 
and  for  our  glorious  Cause,  Christian  Science. 

Lovingly,  gratefully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  10,  191 1. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Your  love  is  like  that  of  Ruth,  or  the  women  at  the 
cross.  God  is  pouring  out  the  riches  of  His  love  into 
your  heart  and  home ;  your  lines  are  falling  in  the  foot- 
steps of  His  flock.  You  are  rising  to  grasp  the  deep 
things  of  God,  and  are  bringing  into  your  life  the  demon- 
stration of  the  Mind  of  Christ — power  over  all  the 
illusions  which  compose  the  dream-existence. 

The  Son  or  idea  is  taking  possession  and  is  sweeping 
away  false  human  concepts  through  which  you  once 
gazed  on  the  universe  and  man.  I  am  giving  God 
praise  for  our  beloved  Leader's  demonstration  in  the 
fact  that  her  teachings  will  be  defended  and  preserved. 
I  am  rejoicing  that  in  the  gloaming  I  can  see  my  stu- 
dents apprehending  the  Truth  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy 
through  my  ministry.  Therefore  I  am  comforted  as  I 
see  God's  sons  and  daughters  appearing— rising  out  of 
the  deep  sleep  of  Adam  and  revealing  the  real  man 
and  the  real  universe. 

Work,  watch,  and  pray,  for  you  know  not  the  hour 
when  the  Son  of  man — the  ideal  man,  cometh. 

You  have  been  dear  to  me  in  asking  me  to  your 
lovely  home  and  in  making  it  easy  for  me  to  reach  you. 
I  was  so  very  happy.  Dearest,  I  am  sure  that  you  real- 
ize the  treasure  you  have  in  your  husband.  Do  not 
force  him  to  accept  advanced  metaphysics,  but  live 
Truth  and  it  will  gently  lead  him  to  your  Father  and 


Letters  of  Thanks  363 

to  his  Father,  to  your  God  and  to  his  God.  He  cannot 
escape  from  Love  in  Her  reflected  idea,  his  Christly 
companion. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  16,  191 1. 

My  dear  Students: — 

My  heart  overflows  with  gratitude  for  the  love 
which  gave  me  a  reminder  of  the  precious  student  whom 
we  all  loved  so  devotedly  and  divinely.  She  is  ever 
with  us,  for  "Where  God  is  we  can  meet,  and  where  God 
is  we  can  never  part"  (Christian  Science  Journal,  vol. 
xvii.,  p.  239).  These  words  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy,  ring  through  my  thought,  and  I  feel  the  gentle 
presence  of  both  Leader  and  student,  as  I  contemplate 
Spirit  and  spiritual  ideas, — God,  our  Father-Mother, 
and  the  children  which  compose  the  spiritual  universe 
— the  only  universe — the  only  verities  of  being. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy,  God's  interpreter  to  this  age, 
His  revelator  to  this  generation,  lives  and  moves  in  our 
midst,  works,  or  reflects  the  power  of  omnipotence — 
guides  and  guards  her  people  as  truly  now  as  when  she 
was  personally  visible  to  physical  sight.  As  she  con- 
tinues to  make  her  demonstration  over  "the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air" — the  higher  claim  of  so-called 
mortal  mind  to  intelligence  and  life — she  lifts  all  who 
are  building  on  a  spiritual  foundation. 

The  demonstration  will  be  made  by  our  great  Leader, 
whose  mission  it  is  to  prove  the  "second  time"  the 
potency  and  reality  of  divine  Mind  and  its  manifestation. 
This  should  not  be  doubted.  She  demands  "wholly 
spiritual"  consciousness — or  character,  and  they  who 


364  Letters  of  Thanks 

build  on  the  rock,  Christ,  Truth,  will,  through  spiritual 
sight,  behold  her.  There  is  much  to  be  done  before  the 
hour  of  her  reappearing.  The  students  will  be  allowed 
to  prove  their  understanding  of  her  teachings.  They 
will  say,  as  of  yore,  "My  Lord  delayeth  his  coming." 
They  will  beat  the  maid-servants  and  the  men-servants 
and  many  will  have  chosen  Spirit  or  flesh  before  our 
Leader  calls  all  to  account. 

The  true  Christian  Scientist  is  working  to  defend 
Truth,  and  is  rising  in  spiritual  understanding  of  God's 
allness  and  man's  oneness  with  Love — thus  making 
the  claim  of  evil  and  matter  unreal.  The  real  Christian 
Scientist  is  uniting  with  those  who  love  good.  This  is 
the  unity  of  good.  The  material,  so-called  Christian 
Scientist  is  uniting  with  error,  and  this  is  the  unity  of 
mortals,  evil.  I  am  sure  that  you  are  uniting  with  our 
revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  rising  as  fast  as  you  can 
to  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness. 

The  separation  of  mortals,  in  belief,  and  immortals 
in  understanding,  will  be  made  by  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest. Our  work  is  to  keep  our  minds  filled  with  Truth 
and  Love,  while  we  denounce  and  deny  the  claim  of 
error,  by  reflecting  Truth  and  Love.  We  are  God's  dear 
children.  His  love  will  deliver  us,  if  we  are  faithful  to 
our  highest  understanding  of  Christian  Science  on  a 
wholly  spiritual  basis. 

Dear  M.  .  .  B.  .  .  is  with  us,  and  is  rising  as  we  are — 
with  our  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Our  Leader's 
resurrection  is  continually  going  on  from  height  to 
height  of  spiritual  supremacy  until  she  conquers  the 
last  foe  in  the  mortal  mental  realm.  Her  resurrection 
is  also  our  resurrection,  if  we  rise  in  the  true  Christ-mind 
to  see  the  powerlessness  of  the  claim  of  evil  to  govern 
us  or  to  compel  us  to  admit  that  we  are  mortal. 


Letters  of  Thanks  365 

"The  old  dragon"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  570) 
cannot  convince  us  that  there  is  a  power  opposed  to 
God  from  whom  we  receive  our  being.  The  claim  is 
false — the  witnesses  are  false.     Love  is  all. 

We  are  Love's  perfect  ideas;  evil  cannot  make  us  vic- 
tims of  hate,  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  lust,  and  hypocrisy. 
There  are  no  such  qualities  in  our  God — therefore  they 
are  only  the  hallucinations  of  so-called  mortals. 

Looking  further,  Christian  Science  shows  us  that 
mortals  are  fast  destroying  themselves.  Truth  and 
Love  are  driving  error  to  its  final  self -extinction.  The 
mental  madness — the  hate  and  jealousy  of  the  carnal 
mind — is  sure  to  increase  to  self-annihilation,  and  the 
words  of  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  will  be  verified, 
"The  aggravation  of  error  foretells  its  doom"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  105).  Be  meek,  just,  and  refuse  to  be- 
lieve in  evil,  to  act,  or  think,  or  talk  it,  except  to  talk 
it  down  and  make  it  unreal,  and  God  will  keep,  and  bless 
and  prosper  you. 

I  love  you  devotedly  and  divinely.  Remember  that 
one  with  God  is  a  majority.  I  am  not  trusting  to  a 
human  being  but  am  relying  entirely  on  Christ.  I  do 
not  know  what  will  be  given  me  as  a  further  test  of  my 
faith,  but  I  shall  not  be  moved  from  allegiance  to  Princi- 
ple, to  my  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  to 
my  faithful  students. 

Our  dear  M.  ...  is  sure  in  God's  time  to  burst  the 
veil  of  flesh,  and  as  we  put  off  false  mentality,  and  put  on 
the  spiritual,  she  will  be  revealed  to  us. 

I  thank  you  from  the  depths  of  an  overflowing 
heart  of  gratitude  for  the  lovely  picture  of  our  beloved 
M.  .  .  . 

Lovingly  ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


366  Letters  of  Thanks 

GARNERING  x 

"Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will  throughly  purge  his  floor,  and 
gather  his  wheat  into  the  garner." — Matthew  iii.,  12. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

Who  spurn  time's  sod, 
And  rend  the  finite  sense ; 

Who  fearless  dare 

On  wings  of  prayer, 
To  leave  earth's  shadows  dense. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

Whose  feet  have  trod 
Time's  arid  desert  sands; 

Whose  quest  for  Love, 

The  heavenly  dove, 
God's  peace  and  power  commands. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

Thrust  out  from  clod 
And  earth-weights,  rise,  and  soar 

To  heights  sublime, 

Where  Love's  bells  chime 
Love's  endless  more  and  more. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

The  chastening  rod 
Of  Love,  consumes  the  tares. 

Love's  hand  hath  led, 

Love's  love  hath  fed 
God's  wheat,  with  ceaseless  prayers. 

Love's  chosen  love, 
Love's  white-winged  dove, 
Has  garnered  in  her  wheat ; 

» Written  after  presentation,  by  students,  of  a  sheaf  of  wheat,  July 
17,  1910. 


Letters  of  Thanks  367 

Has  scaled  Mind's  mount ; 
Has  drunk  at  fount 
Of  Spirit  infinite. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

The  Master  trod 
This  finite  dream  of  woe. 

Our  Leader  drank 

His  cup,  nor  shrank 
From  test  of  cruel  foe. 

Oh!  wheat  of  God, 

Wield  Love's  strong  rod 
Which  frees  earth's  mental  slave. 

God  gives  you  might 

To  prove  the  right — 
Gives  victory  to  the  brave. 

Intrepid  band, 

You  understand 
Your  source — eternal  Life. 

Obey  His  Son, 

The  Holy  One 
Who  stills  all  human  strife. 

Oh !  wheat  of  God, 

Kiss  ye  Love's  rod, 
Rejoice  ye  dauntless,  sing; 

Love's  voice  obey, 

She  leads  the  way, 
To  Christ,  our  Lord  and  King. 

A.  E.  S. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

LETTERS  ON  BUILDING  THE  HOME 

For  what  thanks  can  we  render  to  God  again  for  you,  for  all  the  joy- 
wherewith  we  joy  for  your  sakes  before  our  God. 

I  Thessalonians,  ill. ,  9. 
The  real  house  in  which  "we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being" 
is  Spirit,  God,  the  eternal  harmony  of  infinite  Soul.     The  enemy  we 
confront  would  overthrow  this  sublime  fortress,  and  it  behoves  us  to 
defend  our  heritage. 

.  .  .  our  true  temple  is  no  human  fabrication,  but  the  superstructure 
of  Truth,  reared  on  the  foundation  of  Love,  and  pinnacled  in  Life. 

Pulpit  and  Press,  p.  2. 

REPORT  OF  AN  ADDRESS  GIVEN  BY  MRS.  EDDY 

ON  THE  SPIRITUAL  MEANING  OF  THE  WORD 

HOME1 

The  home  of  the  Christian  Scientist  is  in  the  understand- 
ing of  God.  His  affection  and  interests  are  there,  and  his 
abiding  place  is  there. 

The  entrance  to  that  home,  she  said,  was  through  the 
footsteps  of  Truth,  by  following  Jesus'  words  and  works. 

Human  reason  could  not  teach  men  this  true  following. 
Spiritual  perception  and  inspiration  must  do  this.  Chris- 
tian Scientists,  she  showed  us,  must  build  three  tabernacles, 
and  the  building  of  these  must  be  in  the  divine  order. 
Christian  Science  teaches  the  great  unreality  of  sin,  and 
students  of  this  Science,  said  the  speaker,  must  meet  and 
master  the  claims  of  sin  in  all  its  forms ;  thus,  and  thus  only, 
demonstrating  its  nothingness. 

First,  there  was  the  tabernacle  reared  to  the  living  God, 
by  self-consecration  to  the  life  of  Christ — this  includes  the 

1  Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  iv\,  pp.  211,  212. 

368 


K 


4 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       369 

victory  over  sickness,  sin  and  death.  This  tabernacle  is  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  and  no  structure  could  be  reared  whose 
foundation  was  not  laid  thereon.  To  him  who  builds  the 
first,  the  second  is  not  hard. 

The  second  tabernacle  is  made  for  Moses,  by  the  fulfilling 
of  the  law,  according  to  the  Hebrew  Decalogue.  Nor  was 
it  sufficient  that  a  man  did  not  break  this  law  visibly.  The 
Penal  law  restrains  mortals  to  a  great  extent,  through  fear 
of  punishment  but  the  law  of  God  is  Love,  constraining  man. 

In  that  silent  sanctuary,  hidden  from  mortals'  sight,  there 
must  be  moral  courage,  honesty,  purity,  and  rigid,  un- 
swerving adherence  to  right.  This  home  of  Soul  and  taber- 
nacle of  Justice  brought  to  light  much  spiritual  power,  so 
that  healing  appeared  through  Moses. 

A  union  of  Love  and  Justice,  the  gospel  and  law,  is  the 
certain  home  of  the  disciple,  wherein  he  abides  in  the 
understanding  and  partakes  of  the  power  of  God.  Love, 
said  Mrs.  Eddy,  when  understood,  detaches  our  affections 
from  the  human  standpoint,  and  attaches  them  to  the 
divine.  It  wings  our  efforts,  inspires  our  struggles,  heals 
our  hearts,  bruised  in  warfare  with  error,  and  enables  us  to 
lay  ourselves  willing  offerings  on  the  altar. 

The  third  tabernacle  was  Elias.  Whosoever  hath  in- 
habited the  second  may  enter  this,  where  prophetic  vision 
is  the  reward  of  faithfulness,  unselfishness,  love.  There 
thought  triumphs  over  the  din  of  error,  and  reads  in  "the 
signs  of  the  times, "  with  assured  hope,  the  final  "restoration 
of  all  things." 

This  Horeb-height  is  the  unity  of  the  law  from  Sinai,  the 
death  on  Calvary,  and  the  Revelation.  It  is  the  taber- 
nacle of  the  Most  High,  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  2,  1905. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

You  have  made  a  demonstration  which  I  feel  is  the 
beginning  of  your  work  for  yourselves,  since  we  reap 


37°        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

what  we  sow.  Your  pure  desires  to  provide  me  with 
fine  linen1  for  my  new  home,  which  is  type  of  the 
righteousness  of  saints,  are  a  lesson  to  me,  that  I  must 
keep  pure  and  spotless  within,  and  that  Love  has  shown 
me  Her  care  of  me  through  your  priceless  love. 

From  a  letter  to  me  from  Pleasant  View,  Concord, 
N.  H.,  received  this  morning,  I  quote  the  following: 
"Am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  to  have  a  home.  You 
deserve  it,  and  your  Father  is  rich,  and  will  not  deprive 
you  of  one  good  thing,  but  will  add  continually  to  your 
storehouse  of  blessings:  everything  belongs  to  God, 
then  it  is  yours  now,  as  His  reflection,  for  there  is  no 
debt  in  divine  Love."  I  quote  these  words,  and  they 
apply  to  you  as  well  as  to  me. 

I  am  glad,  dear  ones,  to  know,  that  when  I  break 
the  sense  of  limitation,  and  Love  gives  me  the  type 
of  a  "mansion"  in  my  "Father's  house,"  my  dear 
students  will  find  a  change  for  themselves.  I  will 
then  have  a  home  where  I  can  call  to  me  my  own,  and 
together  we  will  have  sweet  communion.  Did  you 
only  know  my  deep  divine  love  for  each  of  you,  you 
would  not  wonder  at  my  frequent  silence  when  I  meet 
you.  It  is  love  without  words,  because  words  cannot 
express  it.  Divine  Love  pulsates  its  presence,  power, 
and  substance.  There  are  depths  to  which  we  must 
descend  to  exalt  our  Christ,  and  there  are  heights  to 
which  we  shall  ascend  with  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
where  the  glories  of  earth,  and  heaven,  and  man  await 
our  beatified  vision. 

As  we  put  off  false  individuality  and  meditate  on 
Christ,  our  divine  possibilities  are  being  gradually 
revealed  to  us,  until  we  shall  eventually  behold  the 

1  The  preceding  letter  was  sent  to  Mrs.  F.  .  .  and  a  few  of  Mrs. 
F.  .  .  's  patients,  who  gave  me  some  household  linen  for  my  new  home. 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        371 

true  spiritual  man — God's  representative.  Self  is 
gradually  being  lost  in  Soul.  We  are  nearing  the  real 
and  eternal  consciousness,  and  are  able  to  detect  the 
ideal  man  in  those  who  are  reflecting  Love  and  Truth. 

I  pray  that  you,  my  dear  students,  will  grow  in  grace, 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  your  divine  energies,  and  of 
your  spiritual  power  to  destroy  sin  and  sickness. 
Together  we  will  gird  on  our  armor  and  conquer  all  that 
is  unlike  the  Anointed.  Let  understanding,  our  divine 
thought-forces,  not  belief,  control  our  so-called  muscles, 
nerves,  and  brain,  until  we  bring  our  bodies  and  every 
thought  into  subjection  to  Christ,  a  living  sacrifice  to 
Truth. 

God  bless  and  keep  you  ever  on  upward,  onward 
wing,  until  we  all  reach  our  home  in  Soul. 
Ever  faithfully  and  fondly  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  3,  1905. 

My  dear  Friend: — 

Your  letter  with  inclosure  was  a  surprise  to  me.  I 
hope  I  have  done  enough  to  merit  such  generous  reward 
for  my  services.  If  you  would  allow  me  to  fix  my 
charges  you  would  find  them  very  small.  I  have  decided 
to  keep  your  gift  until  my  home  is  finished,  and  then 
purchase  something  which  will  remind  me  of  you  when- 
ever I  see  it.  It  is  my  joy  to  look  forward  to  the  class, 
and  realize  that  I  can  then  reward  you  tenfold  for  your 
dear  protection  of  me,  and  your  regard  for  my  temporal 
needs.  There  is  so  much  in  the  present  and  future, 
of  health  and  power,  of  peace  and  joy,  that  I  thank 
God  that  I  have  labored  and  suffered  long  and  patiently 
to  defend  the  Science  of  being  until  I  could  demonstrate 


372        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

it,  and  show  you  and  others  the  might  and  dominion 
of  man  when  governed  by  omnipotent  Mind,  which 
all  can  and  should  manifest. 

You  also  will  learn  that  pure  Mind  evolves  things — 
and  that  according  to  our  thought,  so  is  our  body,  and 
so  is  the  universe.  Then  let  us  strive  to  change,  or 
to  spiritualize  thought,  that  it  may  transform  and 
dissolve  this  false,  material  body,  and  reveal  our  spirit- 
ual selfhood — in  the  image  and  likeness  of  perfect 
Principle,  God.  Love  is  revealing  the  unselfed  Christ, 
ideal  man,  in  you  and  yours,  and  my  church  and 
beloved  students  are  rising  spiritually,  by  constantly 
contemplating  eternal  Life,  and  by  claiming  their  divine 
birthright — their  oneness  with  God.  Love  is  ever- 
present  and  Love  is  all.  Let  us  reflect  Her,  and  She 
will  do  Her  work  in  and  through  us.  The  claims  of 
belief  of  life  in  matter  must  be  denied  and  destroyed 
by  our  reflection  of  Truth  and  Love. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  10,  1905. 

Dearly  beloved  Students: — 

My  pen  is  powerless  to  convey  to  you  my  forever  love, 
and  deep  gratitude  to  my  Father  for  the  priceless  gift 
of  two  such  faithful  students — loyal  to  God,  and  loyal 
to  His  anointed,  our  beloved  and  revered  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy.  During  long  years  of  trial  and  temptation  in 
the  journey  from  matter  to  Mind,  you  have  walked 
beside  me  in  the  battle  of  Truth  against  error,  hand 
clasping  hand,  and  heart  responding  to  heart.  I  have 
never  known  you  to  "follow  afar  off,"  nor  have  you 
ever  resisted  my  repeated  demands  to  rise  to  meet  the 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       373 

perils  of  the  hour.  You  have  quickly  obeyed  the  voice 
of  our  Leader,  and  have  held  up  my  hands  by  your 
fidelity  to  Principle  and  its  idea.  The  waters  have 
almost  overwhelmed  us  at  times;  but  when  the  waves 
receded,  our  feet  were  on  the  eternal  rock,  Christ. 

God  has  given  us  strength  and  grace  for  many  years 
to  hold  aloft  the  banner  of  Christian  Science — to  tread 
safely  in  the  narrow  way,  and  to  demonstrate  for  our- 
selves the  power  of  Christian  Mind-healing,  and,  where 
it  was  possible,  we  have  given  the  sign  to  others.  You 
must  be  grateful  indeed  to  realize  that  having  done  all 
you  have  been  able  to  stand  amid  the  shot  and  shell, 
the  roar  of  the  angry  foe  in  hot  pursuit,  and  the  hosts 
of  opposers  to  our  God  and  His  Christ.  It  may  be 
said  of  you,  "These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great 
tribulation."  These  are  they  who  have  wrestled  with 
false  sense,  and  have  prevailed  over  much.  They  shall 
win  the  reward  of  the  faithful — health,  holiness,  and 
immortality.  You  will  surely  hear,  V  Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  me. " 

We  are  not  dependent  upon  the  presence  of  cor- 
poreality to  assure  us  of  our  nearness  to  each  other. 
We  meet  and  recognize  each  other  in  Mind,  and  clasp 
the  unseen  hand,  and  hear  and  see  mentally.  Christ 
Jesus  said,  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  So  we  are  rising  with 
Christ,  and  are  penetrating  the  veil  of  matter,  and 
discerning  the  real  of  each  other — the  spiritual  idea. 

God  is  protecting  us  from  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
enemy.  We  are  every  day  proving  the  nothingness  of 
error,  and  its  futile  efforts  to  slay  the  Christian  Science 
soldier  who  is  panoplied  in  love.  Our  only  safety  is 
to  remain  in  spiritual  consciousness.     Here  the  carnal 


374        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

sense  cannot  enter,  and  we  are  safe— "hid  with  Christ 
in  God." 

Glorious  experiences  of  the  power  and  presence  of 
divine  Mind  await  us.  We  shall  learn  the  sweet  lesson 
of  universal,  spiritual  love,  which  is  harmony  here  on 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Jesus  said,  "In  my  Father's 
house  are  many  mansions."  I  am  revealing  one,  and 
am  longing  for  my  "Home,  Sweet  Home, "  the  type  and 
symbol  of  my  mental  home  in  Spirit.  I  could  not 
enjoy  its  rest  and  protection  if  my  dear  students  were 
not  within  its  walls;  their  love  speaking  to  me  in 
thoughts  expressed  in  form,  outline,  utility,  and  color. 
So  our  home  will  be  Love's  fortress  where  I  may  labor 
more  restfully  for  my  dear  church,  and  rise  more 
rapidly  into  divine  Mind,  which  will  draw  my  dear 
students  higher — away  from  the  belief  of  matter. 

God  will  reward  you  for  your  steadfast  loyalty  to 
His  chosen  One,  Mrs.  Eddy,  expressed  in  your  comfort 
and  aid  to  me  since  I  began  the  work  in  New  York  City. 
Together  we  will  labor,  watch,  and  pray,  till  we  hear  the 
"Well  done." 

Ever  your  loving,  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  16,  1905. 

My  beloved  Student,  M.  .  .   ,  and 

My  dear  friend,  Mr.  E.  .  . : — 

I  must  seem  most  ungrateful  and  unappreciative  of 

your  love,  expressed  in  the  beautiful  gift  you  sent  me, 

but  if  you  could  see  my  work,  and  the  demands  which 

are  constantly  made  upon  my  time,  you  would  not 

wonder  that  I  appear  occasionally  indifferent   to  my 

blessed  students.     The  rug  is  exquisite.     I  shall  place 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        375 

it  where  it  will  constantly  remind  me  of  the  dear  donors. 
If  my  feet  could  rest  on  anything  long,  they  would 
tarry  there,  and  the  love  which  inspired  the  gift  would 
refresh  and  strengthen  my  footsteps  in  the  heavenward 
race  for  "Home,  Sweet  Home." 

I  shall  some  day  "run,  and  not  be  weary."  I  shall 
mount  as  on  wings  of  eagles,  and  my  loyal,  loving  stu- 
dents like  you,  and  your  dear  children,  will  rise  with 
our  beloved  Leader  and  with  me  to  see  the  real  universe, 
peopled  with  God's  children,  all  united  in  the  bonds  of 
purity  and  love,  free  from  the  fetters  of  sin,  sickness, 
and  death.  This  is  the  goal  to  which  we  press  forward. 
This  is  the  state  of  mind  which  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
This  heaven  is  on  earth,  and  we  have  a  foretaste  of  it 
when  we  are  unse'fed,  and  love  our  neighbor  (he  who 
does  the  will  of  the  Father),  as  ourselves. 

The  evil  belief,  mortal  mind,  will  not  long  deceive 
those  who  labor  and  love,  who  watch  and  pray,  for  it 
is  but  an  illusion,  and  will  disappear  when  we  look  at 
man  and  the  universe  through  the  lens  of  Truth  and 
Love. 

I  send  you  deep  appreciation.  I  am  unable  to  express 
its  height  and  depth  and  breadth,  but  if  you  are  listening 
you  will  catch  the  tone  of  Truth,  and  Love  will  attune 
your  thought  to  heavenly  harmony.  You  cannot  lose 
the  chord  of  Christ.  You  are  safe  in  the  arms  of  divine 
Mind.  Love  is  enthroned  in  your  hearts,  and  you  will 
finally  win  immortality. 

Please  give  my  love  to  H.  .  Your  dear  children 
here  are  safely  anchored  in  Christian  Science,  and  are 
daily  rising  to  heights  of  health,  holiness,  and  immortal 
consciousness. 

I  thank  you  again  for  all  you  have  ever  done  for  me, 
which  I  feel  that  I  can  only  repay  in  reflection  of  Truth 


376        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

and  Love.  God  bless  and  keep  you.  When  I  am  in 
my  home,  I  want  you.  to  come  to  see  me  there,  and 
always  call  when  you  visit  the  city. 

With  love  that  "never  faileth, "  but  ever  increases, 
I  am, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


LETTER  TO  STUDENTS  OF  THE  CLASS  OF  1 898 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  10,  1905. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

The  heart  is  said  to  speak  most  when  the  lips  move 
not,  and  this  silence  was  surely  not  misinterpreted  the 
evening  of  our  class  reunion,  when  your  dear  love  took 
visible  expression  in  beauty  and  utility,  which  blessed 
you,  and  spoke  words  of  cheer  and  fidelity  to  me. 

"  We  must  feel  ere  we  can  pity, 
We  must  long  before  we  pray, 
We  must  know  the  need  of  comfort 
Ere  we  cheer  another's  way." 

I  am  each  day  learning  to  labor  and  wait  for  the  glad 
hour  when  my  dear  students  shall  rejoice  in  spiritual 
vision,  and  shall  behold,  with  the  eye  of  faith  and 
understanding,  the  Christ — the  ideal  man  and  God's 
perfect  universe.  The  furnace  heat  is  purifying  the 
gold  of  human  character,  but  the  gold  must  dissolve, 
to  reveal  the  substance — the  image  and  likeness  of 
God,  His  perfect  man,  Christ,  and  the  individual 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ — the  manifestation 
of  God.  We  have  the  Holy  Bible,  and  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  our  chart  to 
the  haven  of    perfect  manhood — the  eternal   city   or 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        377 

spiritual  consciousness.  We  are  vigilant  mariners, 
each  standing  at  the  helm  of  his  own  individual  ship 
(consciousness) — watching  the  points  of  the  compass 
— looking  to  see  Christ  coming  towards  us  walking 
on  the  waters.  When  the  roar  of  the  breakers  warns  us 
of  danger,  and  the  magnetic  currents  draw  us  from  our 
safe  course,  or  when  hidden  reefs  arise  to  terrify,  we 
hear  Christ:  "  Be  not  afraid."  "I  am  with  you  alway." 
Keeping  our  eyes  constantly  fixed  on  the  goal  there  is 
no  fear  as  we  stand  at  the  helm.  With  the  courage 
of  a  firm  trust  in  the  ever-present  Christ,  and  with  a 
knowledge  of  the  power  of  God,  which  is  our  divine 
nature  and  individuality,  we  can  sail  over  the  tem- 
pestuous seas,  defy  the  illusions  of  personal  sense,  and 
anchor  safely  in  our  longed-for  harbor,  the  city  of  our 
'  God,  never  more  to  go  out  into  storm-tossed  human 
concepts. 

We  have  stood  firmly  at  our  post  of  duty.  Divine 
Love  will  give  us  wisdom,  strength,  and  grace  to  con- 
tinue until  the  end  of  all  error.  We  must  learn  to 
love  more  divinely,  to  see  all  through  spiritual  sense, 
and  to  make  evil  impersonal.  As  we  strive  to  save  those 
who  are  not  strong  to  resist  error,  or  who  are  going 
through  the  experiences  which  exalt  (if  they  humble 
and  purify),  let  us  be  patient  and  long  suffering.  We 
need  more  patient  Christly  love  to  free  ourselves  from 
self-love  and  self -righteousness,  and  more  determination 
to  work  for  the  weak  and  heavy  laden,  who  are  strug- 
gling with  the  temptations  of  malpractice  and  with  their 
own  errors.  "Little  children,  .  .  .  love  one  another" 
means  also  help  one  another  to  conquer  error  at  home 
and  abroad. 

My  love  for  you  is  inexpressible.  You  are  the 
jewels  in  my  crown  of  rejoicing.     I  have  many  classes, 


378        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

so  my  crown  is  studded  with  precious  stones.  God 
will  polish  some  who  have  been  removed,  and  will  set 
them  again  in  my  crown  when  through  suffering  and 
Science  they  are  worthy. 

I  shall  feel  that  you  are  with  me  in  my  home  and 
your  home  since  your  dear  love  has  contributed  towards 
its  furnishing.     It  is  our  united  home,  a  type  of  our 
eternal  "Home,  Sweet  Home"  in  heaven  (harmony). 
Lovingly  and  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  28,  1905. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

It  were  useless  for  me  to  attempt  to  express  in  a  letter 
the  language  of  a  full  and  overflowing  heart  of  grateful 
love  to  God  for  such  students  as  you,  whom  the  dear 
Father  has  given  me  to  cheer  and  comfort  me,  as  I 
carry  the  banner  of  Christian  Science  aloft,  amid  the 
shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy  of  good,  and  their  cries  of 
"Crucify  him. "  I  am  indeed  reaping  a  most  bountiful 
harvest  of  loving  thoughts,  in  manifold  manifestations, 
each  one  of  which  will  be  a  picture  on  the  walls  of 
memory,  hung  in  the  mansion,  which,  from  the  many 
in  my  Father's  house,  He  has  assigned  to  me  and  my 
students. 

The  fine  linen,  pure  spiritual  consciousness,  which  is 
the  righteousness  of  saints,  must  be  worn  by  us  all, 
as  we  labor  and  watch,  pray  and  wait  for  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  to  enter  our  home,  and  abide  with  us  there. 
Its  walls  will  be  resounding  with  praises  to  God  for 
His  great  gift  to  us,  our  holy  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  They 
will  echo  with  songs  of  deliverance  from  sin,  disease, 
and  death,-  and  the  laughter  of  the  happy  children  of 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        379 

our  beloved  Leader  will  echo  in  the  corridors,  until, 
through  the  light  of  our  ever-present  Christ,  we  shall 
see  the  smile  of  God  in  the  face  of  His  child,  and  know 
that  heaven  is  within  us.  I  am  sure  that  you  reap  with 
me,  or  I  could  not  enjoy  the  many  blessings  which  come 
flowing  in  to  me.  Your  steadfast  fidelity  to  Principle, 
to  our  Leader,  Teacher,  and  Guide,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to 
all  who  are  faithfully  following  and  obeying  her  as  God's 
messenger  to  this  age,  will  crown  your  lives  with  health, 
holiness,  wisdom,  and  spiritual  power  to  heal  the  sick  and 
the  sinful,  and  will  win  your  own  reward — immortality. 

My  love  for  you  often  finds  expression  in  silence,  so 
mute  am  I  when  spiritual  love  comes  flooding  my  being, 
and  baptizing  me  with  gratitude,  and  recognition  of 
your  nearness  to  me  as  members  of  my  student-body, 
lambkins  of  my  fold,  whom  I  am  leading  to  our  great 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  She  will  carry  them  to  Christ, 
where  the  flock  will  be  safely  shielded  from  the  wolves, 
and  can  go  in  and  out,  and  find  pasture,  and  lie  down 
beside  the  still  waters. 

I  thank  you  again  for  your  dear  remembrance  of 
me.  I  shall  use  your  gift  to  clothe  the  idea  (house) 
which  will  soon  be  your  home  and  mine.  Love  reflected 
in  love  will  be  our  Mother,  God,  home,  and  heaven. 
This  is  our  precious  Leader's  demonstration  through  you 
and  me,  and  all  among  my  students  who  love  divinely. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  15,  1906. 

Beloved  Students: — 

Your  dear  gift,  which  means  far  more  to  me  than 
gold,  or  anything  which  it  can  purchase,  lies  before  me, 


380        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

with  its  precious  language.  I  interpret  it  with  gladness 
as  I  read  the  sacrifices  and  love  which  brought  it  forth 
to  bless  and  cheer  me  and  provide  for  the  needs  of  the 
hour. 

I  am  grateful  that  I  have  stood,  amid  the  thunderings 
of  error  and  the  deafening  roar  of  mortal  mind  which 
opposes  our  Christ.  The  rich  inheritance  of  our  Father's 
love  and  of  eternal  Life  is  ours  because  of  our  fidelity  tc 
Principle,  to  our  dear  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science.  I  have  held  the  banner  of 
Truth  aloft,  far  above  the  aim  of  the  archer,  and  have 
urged  you  to  keep  your  gaze  fixed  on  the  eternal  rock — 
Christ,  until  the  warfare  is  ended. 

You  discern  your  dominion  and  your  royal  birth- 
right, and  you  will  labor,  watch,  pray,  and  wait  for  the 
hand  of  Love  to  crown  you.  I  rejoice  in  knowing 
that  as  I  petition  the  Father  for  more  wisdom,  love, 
meekness,  and  grace,  you  feel  the  pulsating  presence  of 
the  power  which  impels  me  to  plead,  and  you  rise  with 
me  as  heirs  of  God.  Our  revered  and  beloved  Leader 
has  given  us  the  key  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  She 
expects  us  to  follow  and  obey  her  teachings  and  Christly 
example,  and  with  this  key  to  unlock  the  gates  of  im- 
mortal consciousness,  we  will  not  lay  down  the  sword 
till  the  battle  is  won. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  for  your  dear  loving  care  of  me, 
and  no  tongue  nor  pen  can  ever  write  or  convey  the 
depths,  height,  and  breadth  of  my  love  for  you  and  for 
all  my  faithful  students.  My  dear  lambs  are  nearly 
all  safe  in  the  fold,  and  those  who  are  wandering  on  the 
mountain  are  some  day  going  to  hear  the  voice  of  love, 
and  return  to  the  sheepfold,  happy  to  be  safe  again 
with  the  flock.  I  am  sure  that  you  are  listening  for 
the  voice  of  our  Leader,  and  are  all  working  to  be  ready 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        381 

to  meet  our  Christ,  when  the  demonstration  shall  be 
made  of  the  power  of  infinite  Love  over  sin,  sickness,  and 
death. 

Again  I  thank  you,  dear  ones,  and  when  my  home  and 
your  home  is  finished,  we  will  meet  in  it  and  raise  our 
united  voices  in  praise  to  God  for  His  greatest,  best 
gifts  to  us,  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
our  guides  to  eternal  Life. 

Ever  lovingly  and  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


LETTER  TO  STUDENTS  OF  THE  CLASS  OF  1 899 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  6,  1906 . 

My  beloved  Students: — 

Words  seem  to  fail  me.  They  are  wholly  inadequate 
to  express  or  convey  my  deep  appreciation  of  your 
tender,  loving  care  for  me,  and  I  can  only  lift  my  eyes 
and  behold  the  Father,  keeping  watch  over  me,  and 
sending  His  many  blessings  through  His  avenues — His 
dear  children. 

I  am  convinced  that  this  hour  is  a  harvest  time  for 
me  and  mine  since  the  seed  of  Truth  and  Love  which  I 
have  sown  for  many  years — sown  in  tears — is  bringing 
me  fruit  of  its  kind,  love,  peace,  and  joy.  I  have  known 
it  would  return  to  me  after  many  days;  but  have  only 
known  this  in  the  letter.  Now  mine  eye  beholdeth  it, 
and  I  fall  on  my  face  before  ever-present,  omnipotent 
Love,  and  cry  out  in  grateful  prayer:  "Oh!  Father, 
exalt  my  Christ-mind  to  reflect  more  of  Thy  love, 
that  I  may  draw  my  blessed  students  to  see  Thee  in 
Thy  manifestation;  to  feel  Thy  mighty  power  in  Thy 
substance  ideas,  and  to  so  flood  their  consciousness 


382        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

with  Truth  and  Love,  that  like  a  tidal  wave  it  will 
sweep  away  all  false  conceptions,  and  reveal  Thy 
universe — Thy  body — man,  the  spiritual  universe  or 
Christ,  and  each  individual  member,  perfect  and  im- 
mortal."     I  am  reaping  in  joy. 

Our  beloved  and  revered  Leader  goes  before  us,  open- 
ing one  by  one  the  gates  of  the  eternal  City,  conscious- 
ness, and  calling  us  to  follow  and  obey,  as  she  leads. 
We  are  catching  glimpses  of  the  many  mansions  which 
our  Father  hath  promised  us,  through  Jesus  the 
Christ.  The  one  that  our  Father-Mother  God  has 
assigned  to  me  and  mine  is  fast  appearing  in  symbol. 
Let  us  work,  watch,  and  pray  that  we  may  be  ready 
to  enter  and  occupy,  till  Christ  comes,  and  reveals 
the  "house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens. " 

In  my  new  home  we  shall  meet  and  commune  with 
divine  Love.  It  will  be  my  trysting  place  with  the 
invisible  Christ,  ever-present  Love,  where  I  can  listen 
for  Her  voice,  and  learn  to  detect  more  quickly  the 
human  from  the  divine.  In  the  quiet  of  those  walls 
(which  have  never  been  permeated  by  the  jargon  of 
mortals,  with  their  language  of  sin,  sickness,  sorrow, 
and  death) ,  I  can  hold  sweet  converse  with  God.  May 
we  so  manifest  the  Christ,  and  so  truly  emulate,  obey, 
and  follow  our  Mother  in  Israel,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
that  we  can  say,  nothing  that  maketh  or  worketh  a  lie 
can  enter  and  abide  in  the  house  which  Love  has  built 
and  furnished. 

I  thank  you  for  your  loyal  love  for  God,  for  our 
Leader,  and  for  all  mankind,  and  so  far  as  I  can,  I  try 
to  reciprocate  in  spiritual  thoughts.  Of  this  I  am  sure, 
that  God  will  reward  you  for  all  the  kind  and  helpful 
thoughts  and  deeds  which  you  have  always  sent  me, 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       383 

and  that  your  harvest  hour  will  bring  you  much  fruit 
of  the  Spirit,  love,  peace,  and  joy,  and  all  that  is  neces- 
sary for  your  temporal  needs,  until  Spirit  supplies, 
feeds,  clothes,  and  environs  you,  Her  own. 

With  love  which  is  inexpressible  and  ever  increasing, 
I  am,  Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


LETTER  TO  STUDENTS  OF  THE  CLASS  OF  NOVEMBER,  I9OI 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  io,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  would  that  I  had  the  pen  of  an  angel  to  impart  the 
gratitude  of  an  overflowing  heart  of  appreciation  for 
your  affection.  I  am  silent  before  Love's  manifesta- 
tions, and  can  only  breathe  a  prayer  to  our  Father,  to 
reward  them  for  their  devoted  love  and  steadfast 
loyalty  to  Jesus  the  Christ,  to  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  me,  her  child.  I  rejoice  with  joy 
unspeakable,  and  cease  to  count  my  crosses  and  toils, 
as  I  behold  the  faithful  and  dauntless  students  working 
and  demonstrating  the  Truth  which  I  have  taught  them, 
and  defending  and  protecting  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  from  evil  thinkers  and  evil  doers.  You  are 
stars  in  my  crown  of  rejoicing,  and  your  dear  love  is 
an  impenetrable  armor,  surrounding  me  as  I  go  in  and 
out  proclaiming  the  reappearing  of  the  Christ,  and 
demonstrating  the  power  of  Truth  in  the  healing  of 
sin  and  sickness.  Love  will  abide  with  you, — for  every 
good  thought  and  deed,  every  victory  over  physical 
self,  every  sacrifice  for  the  saints,  invites  Her  to 
tarry  and  sup  with  you,  and  thus  you  entertain  Christ 


384        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

and  learn  from  Love  how  to  fulfil  Her  law,  and  live 
forever. 

We  each  have  our  problem  to  work  out  alone  with 
God.  'Dear  ones  can  give  us  the  sign,  and  watch  with 
us,  and  uplift  and  encourage  us,  but  no  one  can  do  our 
work  entirely.  You  are  all  brave  soldiers,  fighting  for 
your  birthright — eternal  Life.  You  will  win  a  glori- 
ous victory  if  you  continue  as  you  are  now  doing. 
God  will  give  you  wisdom  and  grace  to  overcome 
personal  sense,  and  to  love  unselfishly,  divinely,  uni- 
versally. God  is  All.  You  are  His  manifest  ideas, 
reflecting  Him.  This  is  truth,  and  it  will  set  you  free 
from  all  illusions  of  matter.  My  love  goes  out  to  each, 
and  must  help  you  move  onward  to  the  eternal.  I  am 
beholding  the  promise  verified,  "In  my  Father's  house 
are  many  mansions. "  I  have  walked  toward  the 
Father;  He  has  come  to  meet  me,  and  my  weary  cry 
for  rest  is  answered.  I  shall  rest  on  the  way  there,  in 
the  home  prepared  for  me  by  Love,  through  Her 
avenues,  my  dearly  beloved  students  and  church  mem- 
bers, who  are  following  Christ.  Our  try  sting  place 
with  the  Divine  will  be  in  the  house  which  is  type  and 
symbol  of  the  one  "not  made  with  hands." 

God  is  good  to  His  own;  He  gathers  the  lambs  in 
His  arms  and  carries  them  in  His  bosom.  May  the 
dear  Father  hold  close  to  His  great  heart  these  lambs 
which  I  found  on  the  mountain  far  away,  and  may  each 
rest  in  His  tender  embrace,  until  all  cease  to  look  for 
false  freedom,  and  are  beyond  the  power  of  the  wolves — 
safe  in  the  Shepherd's  fold. 

I  send  you  boundless  love,  and  am  laboring,  watching, 
praying,  singing,  and  rejoicing  for  you  always. 
Lovingly  and  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       385 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  15,  1906. 

My  dear  Students: — 

From  a  full  heart  of  gratitude  and  love  I  thank  you 
for  your  gift  to  me.  Gold  is  but  type  and  symbol  of  the 
gold  of  human  character,  and  far  beyond  the  human 
is  the  Christ  love  which  is  manifested  in  your  tender 
care  of  my  temporal  needs. 

I  constantly  labor  to  rise  to  more  spiritual  heights 
of  realization  for  your  dear  sakes,  as  much  as  for  my 
own.  I  know  that  you  are  partaking  of  the  things 
of  God,  and  your  cooperation  in  searching  for,  and  find- 
ing, the  dear  Love  "Who  forgiveth  [destroyeth]  all  thine 
iniquities;  who  healeth  all  thy  diseases"  (Psalm  ciii.,  3), 
is  bringing  to  you  the  imperishable  things  of  spiritual 
consciousness. 

Dearly  beloved  of  the  Father,  cling  closer  than  ever 
before  to  the  Truth  which  will  set  you  free  from  every 
belief  of  the  flesh,  and  will  finally  give  you  an  under- 
standing of  your  oneness  with  infinite  Mind — your 
God-given  dominion  over  all  the  earth.  Rich  treasures 
of  the  things  of  God  await  our  recognition  and  apprecia- 
tion, and  we  will  labor  for  them  and  rejoice  in  the  guid- 
ing hand  of  God,  whose  power  and  presence  lead  us  all 
the  way  from  the  material  sense — mortality — to  the 
spiritual  sense — eternal  Life. 

Again  I  thank  you,  and  feel  a  sense  of  joy  that  you 
are  to  be  in  our  home;  my  home  which  will  also  be  my 
students'  home.  They  will  be  represented  in  some 
manifestation  of  utility  and  beauty  and  comfort. 
May  you  rejoice  that  you  are  reflecting  divine  Love  to 
me.     I  return  much  love  to  you  all. 

Your  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

•1 


3S6        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  1,  1906. 

My  dear  Students: — 

Let  me  repeat  the  words  of  our  revered  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  in  Miscellaneous  Writings  (page  343),  which 
I  love  to  apply  to  you,  dearly  beloved:  "Among  the 
manifold  soft  chimes  that  will  fill  the  haunted  chambers 
of  memory,  this  is  the  sweetest:  'Thou  hast  been  faith- 
ful!'" Your  love  is  divine — therefore  it  is  substance, 
which  the  winds  of  error  cannot  move,  nor  the  surging 
sea  of  belief  wash  away.  It  increases  and  develops — 
unfolds  its  power  and  permanence,  radiates  its  peaceful, 
love-inspiring  presence;  touches  with  tenderness  every 
human  harp-string  until  it  is  attuned  to  the  chord  of 
Christ,  and  the  dove  descends,  and  the  voice  is  heard, 
"This  is  my  beloved  Son  [idea],  in  whom  I  am  well 
pleased." 

To  attain  unto  the  standard  of  the  perfect  man  in 
Christ  is  our  constant  endeavor.  Who  can  hinder  us? 
Shall  tribulation  or  persecution,  or  any  other  supposi- 
tional power  prevent  us  from  following  and  reigning 
with  our  Christ,  and  our  God-crowned  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy?  Not  the  illusion,  death,  nor  any  other 
false  claim  of  so-called  mortal  mind  can  prevent  us 
from  obeying  her  teachings,  and  emulating  her  holy 
example.  We  have  enlisted  in  the  battle  of  Truth 
against  error,  and  victory  already  rests  on  the  side  of 
Truth.  "Only  with  thine  [our]  eyes  shalt  thou  [do  we] 
behold  and  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked"  (evil  think- 
ing). "For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death. "  The 
hour  approaches  when  we  shall  be  called  to  the  wedding 
feast — the  marriage  of  the  Lamb.  May  we  labor  to  pos- 
sess and  put  on  a  wedding  garment,  that  we  may  not 
hear,  "Friend,  how  earnest  thou  in  hither  not  having 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       387 

a  wedding  garment?  "  We  are  all  striving  to  put  off  our 
filthy  rags — self-love,  self-will,  and  self -justification,  that 
our  real  robes  of  purity  and  love,  with  which  our  Father- 
Mother  Love  arrayed  us,  may  appear.  We  have  worn 
these  white  robes  throughout  the  ages,  but  clouds  of  mist 
(belief  of  life  in  matter)  have  concealed  them.  Through 
the  light  of  Christian  Science  we  see  God's  man,  our 
brother  and  sister  clothed  and  in  his  and  her  right  mind. 

In  the  near  future,  at  the  dedication  of  the  extension 
of  our  holy  Leader's  church,  let  us  praise  God  on 
bended  knee  for  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  for  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  who  have  shown  us  the  way  to  eternal  Life  on 
earth — who  have  gone  before  us,  treading  on  scorpions 
and  removing  the  stings  of  poisonous  vipers  (evil 
thoughts)  until  we  have  learned  the  way  and  can  tread 
with  safety  the  highway  to  holiness. 

God  is  good,  and  we  are  seeing  His  promises  fulfilled. 
He  has  promised  you  and  me  a  mansion  among  His 
many,  and  mine  and  yours  is  being  revealed.  We  are 
sitting  daily  and  hourly  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  bowing  in 
humility  before  the  unseen  Presence,  waiting  for  the 
light  which  will  dissolve  the  darkness  of  belief,  and  re- 
veal our  reality — the  universe  of  Love's  creating,  a 
world  in  which  is  no  sorrow  nor  crying,  nor  dying,  for 
the  former  thoughts  which  produced  them  will  have 
passed  away.  This  is  our  goal.  Dear  co-workers,  press 
on.  Learn  "to  work  alone  with  God  and  for  Him" 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  118),  and  this  will  unite  us 
in  the  one  Mind  and  in  spiritual  cooperation. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  to  my  Father  for  your  dear 
love.  You  will  see  your  tender  care  in  the  "Home, 
Sweet  Home. " 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


388        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 


i  West  96XH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  3,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

I  cannot  express  in  words  my  profound  gratitude 
for  your  loving  care  and  unselfed  love,  manifested  in 
your  gift.  You  know  my  deep  affection  for  you — my 
age-abiding  love,  and  my  appreciation  of  your  fidelity 
to  Christian  Science,  to  God,  and  to  His  anointed,  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  We  will  not  remember 
our  tears  and  toils,  our  cares  and  crosses,  our  defeats 
and  doubts  on  the  wilderness  journey,  for  the  harvest 
hour  is  here,  and  the  love,  joy,  and  peace  of  spiritual 
consciousness  is  ours.  Songs  and  psalms  and  paeans 
of  praise  to  God  for  victory  over  self  ring  from  brave 
combatants  for  eternal  Life,  and  the  anticipation  of 
final  victory  over  all  self  and  sense  nerves  the  faithful 
to  earnest  endeavor  to  endure,  and  continue  unto  the 
end  of  error. 

Through  all  that  we  have  encountered  we  have  been 
drawn  into  a  closer  union,  where  heart  responds  to 
heart,  and  Spirit  unites  us  in  the  bonds  of  spiritual 
love.  Truly,  there  remains  a  rest,  and  a  sure  reward 
for  you  who  have  held  aloft  the  banner  of  eternal  Life, 
Truth,  and  Love,  amid  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  sharp- 
shooters who  have  always  aimed  at  Truth's  standard- 
bearers.  You  are  nearing  the  "Home,  Sweet  Home" 
of  Soul.  When  the  law  of  love  is  fulfilled,  we  shall  read 
our  titles  to  mansions  in  our  Father's  house,  which  now 
we  reveal  in  type  and  symbol.  My  home  (and  your 
home)  is  opening  its  doors  to  welcome  us,  and  the  voice 
of  Love  is  preparing  "a  table  ...  in  the  presence 
of  mine  enemies.  .  .  .  Surely  goodness  and  mercy 
shall  follow"  us  continually,  and  we  "will  dwell  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. "  Entrenched  in  this 
citadel,  I  can  do  more  and  better  work  for  my  precious 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home       389 

students,  and  for  humanity.  I  shall  sing,  and  rise 
God-ward,  as  I  continue  to  work,  watch,  and  pray  for 
the  Mind  of  Christ  and  for  the  love  which  fulfils  the 
law  of  Spirit  and  sets  us  free  from  the  bondage  of  sin 
and  death. 

Ever  devotedly  yours  in  Truth  and  Love, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  16,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

As  I  witness  day  after  day  the  evidences  of  your 
faithful  adherence  to  Principle,  and  to  the  teachings 
of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  your  unselfed  love 
of  our  great  Cause,  and  your  overcoming  of  personal 
sense,  I  rejoice  that  amid  the  lightning  flashes  of  error 
you  are  always  on  the  rock  of  eternal  substance,  ever 
listening  for  the  voice  of  the  Father  above  the  roar 
of  the  tempest,  and  ever  sending  out  the  life-line  to 
those  who  are  struggling  with  the  drowning  wave. 
God  is  good  to  me  to  send  me  such  students,  but  for 
whose  overshadowing  love  I  might  fall  under  the  bur- 
den which  I  carry  up  the  hill  of  Christian  Science. 
God  has  placed  His  guardian  angels  very  near  me,  and 
your  love-light  chases  away  many  a  cloud,  disperses 
many  a  shadow,  and  illumines  my  pathway  up  the 
steep  cliff  towards  the  summit  of  immortality. 

There  are  roses  all  along  the  way,  and  I  hear  the  music 
of  the  invisible  choir,  and  ever  and  anon  the  song  of 
birds  and  happy  children  gladden  the  journey,  so  that 
I  sing  instead  of  sigh,  rejoice  instead  of  repine,  and  glory 
in  the  cross  of  Christ.  Our  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher 
and  Guide  goes  before  us,  with  her  hand  in  the  hand  of 
God;    her  eyes  continually  fixed  on  Christ;    her   feet 


390        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

always  walking  in  paths  of  righteousness.  We  can 
cheerfully  follow,  and  rejoice  that  we  are  worthy  to  be 
called  her  disciples.  You  are  tenderly  mindful  of  my 
seeming  needs. 

My  heart  is  filled  with  gratitude  as  I  behold  your 
useful,  loving  gift,  and  know  that  you  nestle  in  every 
nook  and  corner  of  my  home  which  I  symbolically 
discern,  and  which  my  Father  has  assigned  to  me.  I 
am  striving  to  redeem  it,  and  God  will  illumine  me  till 
type  and  symbol  disappear,  and  I  behold  my  home  in 
Soul.  It  is  our  home.  You  must  enter  and  enjoy  it. 
What  it  means  to  me  you  can  never  know — a  refuge 
from  the  storm,  a  pavilion  in  which  I  may  hide  from 
the  "blast  of  the  terrible  ones, "  a  place  in  which  quiet 
and  rest  will  enable  me  to  continue  to  assimilate  myself 
to  God  and  to  reflect  more  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  to  my 
beloved  church  and  my  students.  God  will  gird  me  with 
wisdom  and  love  to  labor  for  my  flock,  and  to  stand 
a  witness  to  the  might  and  majesty  of  divine  Love. 

I  thank  you,  and  love  you. 

Ever  tenderly  and  truly  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  17,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students: — 

The  love  and  gratitude  which  my  faithful  students 
are  expressing  to  me  in  this  hour  in  desiring  to  be 
represented,  and  to  comfort  and  cheer  me  in  my  home, 
where  from  floor  to  ceiling,  I  shall  read  the  hand- 
writing, "Love  hath  sent  you  this" — give  me  fresh 
courage  to  grapple  with  the  perplexing  problems  of 
dreams  and  shadows,  human  concepts,  which  Truth 
and  Love  must  and  will  soon  dispel. 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        391 

The  sunlight  of  God's  presence  is  seen  and  felt  in  you, 
as  the  Christ  becomes  more  and  more  apparent  on  the 
flesh,  as  the  hand  of  compassion  clasps  more  tenderly 
and  heart  speaks  to  heart  in  tones  which  restore  strength, 
and  cheer  and  impel  you  God-ward.  Earth's  phantoms 
are  fast  fleeing  before  the  ever-present  Christ,  and  the 
light  of  Love  is  revealing  God  and  His  earth  peopled 
with  immortal  beings,  who  reflect  omnipotence,  having 
dominion  over  the  earth,  and  co-existing  forever  with 
God,  their  creative  Principle.  An  endless  life  is  our 
birthright. 

We  are  awaking  to  take  possession  of  this  royal 
inheritance.  We  tread  on  serpents  ' '  on  the  way  there, ' ' 
but  we  are  not  pierced  by  their  sting.  We  take  them 
up,  handle  them  and  when  we  discover  their  nothing- 
ness, they  become  our  rod  and  staff.  We  find  that  it 
was  only  belief  that  had  the  sting,  and  not  the  serpent. 
Destroying  the  belief,  as  we  are  taught  to  do  by  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  we  find  all  so-called 
serpents,  in  whatever  form,  all  beasts,  however  fero- 
cious, harmless.  Some  one  has  said,  "the  beastliest 
beast  of  all  is  [mortal]  man" — but  understanding  dis- 
closes the  spiritual  fact  that  there  is  but  one  man,  the 
spiritual,  immortal  idea,  God's  image  and  likeness. 
Belief,  the  lie,  which  has  so  long  claimed  that  there  is 
life  and  intelligence  in  matter,  has  deceived  the  whole 
world. 

Christ  Jesus,  our  Way-shower,  demonstrated  his 
power  over  all  evil,  and  our  holy  Mother  in  Israel, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  has  so  closely  followed  Truth  in  her  life, 
that  she  has  found  for  herself  and  for  humanity  the 
lost  chord  of  Christ.  Having  attuned  her  own  harp 
to  its  harmonies,  she  calls  us  to  follow,  and  blend 
our  anthem,  and  paeans  of  praise  to    God,   with   the 


392        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

rhythm  of  Love.    We  are  one  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit 
and  in  the  bonds  of  Christ. 

Truth  has  set  us  free  from  much  bondage  to  the 
flesh,  and  will  finally  break  every  fetter  which  holds 
us  to  the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence  as  existent  in 
matter.  Then  we  shall  rejoice  in  the  freedom  of  the 
children  of  God,  and  having  forgotten  our  crosses  and 
cares,  our  tears  and  toils,  our  disappointments  and  con- 
stant fears,  pains  and  partings,  we  shall  soar  on  pinions 
of  spiritual  thought  into  the  atmosphere  of  divine  Mind, 
and  rise  from  height  to  height,  unfolding  always  the 
infinite  capacities  and  the  living  energies  and  possi- 
bilities of  man,  who  is  the  image  of  his  Maker.  There 
is  no  other  man. 

I  am  unable  to  express  my  gratitude  and  love  for 
you — words  fail  me.  Only  by  my  reflection  of  Love, 
as  I  am  lifted  Spirit- ward  and  draw  you  to  the  Christ, 
healing  and  blessing  you,  can  you  know  how  the  ever- 
present  Christ  broods  over  us,  quickening  us  with 
inspiration  to  strive  to  possess  the  qualities  of  Spirit. 

With  tender  love,  I  am, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  18,  1906. 

My  beloved  Students : — 

My  loyal  students  seem  to  hail  with  joy  the  appearing 
of  the  type  and  symbol  of  my  home.  The  love  which 
is  flowing  to  me  is  unselfed,  pure  and  Christly.  Its 
influence  brings  cheer  and  comfort  as  I  ponder  on  the 
undestroyed  illusions  which  hide  from  my  vision  the 
home  which  is  behind  the  shadows.  God  will  reveal 
it  when  we  rise  above  the  mists. 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        393 

Already  the  law  of  Love  is  dispelling  the  clouds,  and 
with  the  eye  of  faith  and  understanding  we  discern  the 
perfect  home  of  Soul,  wherein  is  no  sickness,  sorrow,  or 
parting.  In  this  redeemed  mansion  the  hearth-fires 
burn  brightly.  It  is  lighted  by  the  sunlight  of  Love's 
presence.  Its  doors  need  no  bars,  but  open  at  the 
touch  of  God's  angels,  who  go  in  and  out  panoplied 
in  Truth,  nor  know  aught  but  the  protecting  wings  of 
Love.  In  this  sacred  home  which  is  awaiting  all  who 
continue  faithful  to  Christ,  there  is  rest  and  joy  and 
peace,  dominion  and  an  endless  life. 

Oh!  for  the  wings  of  a  dove,  that  we  might  fly  away 
to  this  place  which  is  prepared  for  us,  and  remain 
there  forever  at  rest.  Some  day  we  will  be  in  the  true 
consciousness,  where  no  arrow  wounds  the  dove. 
When  we  rise  with  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
to  see  the  things  which  "God  hath  prepared  for  them 
that  love  Him,"  when  we  obey  the  law,  "Thou  shalt 
have  no  other  gods  before  Me,"  and  "Love  thy  neigh- 
bor as  thyself,"  we  shall  see  the  smile  of  God  in  the 
universe,  and  on  the  face  of  man.  The  true  meaning 
of  Mother,  home  and  heaven  will  be  understood,  and 
like  little  children,  we  shall  be  care-free,  clothed  and 
fed  by  Spirit,  ever  unfolding  in  joy  and  power  to  demon- 
strate the  glories  of  God's  creation. 

My  love  never  ceases  to  enfold  you.  My  arms  are 
ever  stretched  out  to  God  in  prayer  for  you,  that  you 
may  rise  with  our  holy  Leader,  nor  ever  fail  to  listen 
for  her  voice,  and  follow  and  obey  her  teachings. 
This  prayer  will  be  answered.  You  are  true  and  loyal 
soldiers — valiant  in  battle  against  error,  and  have  won 
many  victories  over  false  sense.  Defeat  is  not  in  your 
vocabulary.  Press  on,  dear  students,  and  hand  in 
hand  we  will  ascend  the  hill  of  Christian  Science,  nor 


394       Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

murmur  on  the  "  rugged  way. "  We  must  sing  and 
rejoice  that  our  eyes  already  catch  glimpses  of  the 
home  gathering,  and  our  ears  already  hear  the  faintly 
wafted  "Well  done." 

I  send  you  love  which  is  inexpressible. 

Fondly,  faithfully  thine, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  20,  1906. 

My  dearly  beloved  Students : — 

I  am  unable  to  find  words  which  will  express  my  ap- 
preciation of  your  exquisite  gift  to  me — harp-shaped 
andirons.  I  am  mute  before  the  type  and  symbol  of 
light  and  harmony,  which  you  are  putting  into  my  home. 

For  years  I  have  been  without  a  home  of  my  own  in 
a  great  city,  and  have  been  most  grateful  to  warm  my- 
self by  others'  firesides,  and  have  appreciated  the  light 
of  the  homes  where  I  have  ministered  to  the  sick  and 
sorrowing.  My  Father  is  now  revealing  to  me  one  of 
His  "many  mansions,"  and  love  is  furnishing  me  with 
many  useful  things,  among  which  yours  is  most  signi- 
ficant. The  light  and  the  harmony  are  perfect  and 
magnificent.  I  almost  find  myself  waiting  for  the 
Master's  hand  to  sweep  across  the  harp,  and  accompany 
the  invisible  choir,  which  is  always  sounding  forth  the 
praises  of  God. 

The  fire-light  of  ever-present  Love  will  illumine  the 
home,  and  the  fragrance  of  flowers — the  smile  of  God, 
and  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  will  give  us  a  foretaste  of  our 
"Home,  Sweet  Home"  in  heaven — harmony.  Peter 
asked  of  the  Master,  what  he  would  have  by  forsak- 
ing his  false  sense  of  father  and  mother,  brothers  and 
sisters.     Jesus  answered  that  he  would  have  father  and 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        395 

mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  houses  and  land,  with 
persecutions. 

Our  beloved  Leader  says  "When  a  false  sense  suffers, 
the  true  sense  comes  out"  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  276).  So  I,  through  leaving  all  for  Christ,  have 
found  all  these  in  the  real  and  eternal.  I  no  longer 
count  my  weary  footsteps.  Roses  are  strewn  along 
the  way,  where  my  false  sense  once  found  thorns. 
Looking  through  a  more  spiritual  sense  I  catch  glorious 
glimpses  of  the  reality  of  being,  and  sing  instead  of 
sigh  as  I  journey  on  to  the  home  of  Soul.  I  am  inex- 
pressibly grateful  for  your  fidelity  to  Principle,  and  to 
our  dear  Leader,  and  to  me  during  all  the  years  of  my 
warfare  with  error  in  this  great  city.  You  have  indeed 
"continued  with  me  in  my  temptations"  and  you  will 
receive  the  reward  of  the  faithful. 

I  must  so  rise  in  spiritual  understanding  that  the 
type  and  symbol  of  my  home  will  disappear,  and  the 
eternal  home,  the  "house  not  made  with  hands,"  will 
appear.  God  is  faithful.  He  will  fulfil  His  promise 
to  us,  and  we  shall  enter  into  the  consciousness  in  which 
there  is  no  sin,  sickness  nor  death,  no  cruel  partings — 
no  longing  for  the  "touch  of  a  vanished  hand,  nor 
sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still,"  for  the  spiritual  forms  of 
our  loved  ones  will  be  revealed.  In  this  home  of  Spirit 
the  hearth-fires  will  burn  brightly,  revealing  our 
Father- Mother  God,  and  the  children,  with  not  a 
"vacant  chair."  Each  harp  of  a  thousand  strings  is 
attuned  to  the  harmonies  of  Spirit,  and  psalms  of  grate- 
ful love,  and  Te  Deums  of  praise  ascend  to  the  eternal 
Father  for  immortal  existence,  under  the  law  of  Love. 

Let  us  work,  watch,  and  wait,  ever  praying  for 
strength  and  grace  to  fulfil  the  law  of  Love, — which  is 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  within  and  without.     Again 


396        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

let  me  try  to  tell  you  how  much  I  value  your  dear  care 
of  my  home,  in  providing  this  useful  gift.  I  am  antici- 
pating much  pleasure  in  your  visit  to  me  when  my  house 
is  finished. 

With  love,  I  am, 

Yours  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  21,  1906. 

My  dear  Mr.  E.  .  .  : — 

Your  kindness  is  evidence  of  your  Christliness. 
"Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of 
these  ...  ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  It  seems  a 
material  thing  which  you  sent  me,  but  Love  moved  you 
to  do  something  for  me,  and  my  temporal  needs  were 
met  by  your  loving  efforts.  It  matters  not  who  minis- 
ters to  us,  so  long  as  Love  finds  Her  own  channels. 

It  is  indeed  true  that  if  we  leave  "house,  or  brethren, 
or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or 
lands,  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's,  ...  he  [we]  shall 
receive  .  .  .  houses,  and  brethren,  and  sisters,  and 
mothers,  and  children,  and  lands,  with  persecutions." 
But  what  of  persecution  ?  Only  through  the  destruction 
of  a  false  sense  can  we  gain  the  true  sense  of  each  other. 
I  delight  in  the  cross  which  has  elevated  me  to  see  God 
and  His  idea,  Christ.  Let  us  work  for  the  Truth  which 
sets  us  free  from  the  illusions  and  delusions  of  material 
sense. 

I  thank  you  more  than  any  words  can  express  for 
your  love  offering.  I  shall  enjoy  the  gift,  and  you  will 
feel  many  a  loving  thought  as  it  reminds  me  of  the 
giver. 

When  I  am  settled  in  my  new  home,  I  would  like 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        397 

you  to  call  upon  me.      Again  with  grateful  thanks, 
I  am, 

Faithfully,  affectionately, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


LETTER  TO  CLASS  OF  JANUARY,  1892 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  26,  1906. 
My  very  dear  Students: — 

Pardon  my  delay  in  replying  to  your  sweet  letter 
and  remembrance.  I  need  no  material  manifestation 
to  assure  me  of  your  faithful  love  and  devotion  to  our 
beloved  Leader  and  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science, 
and  to  me,  your  teacher. 

For  years,  through  "  evil  report  and  good  report"  I 
have  always  found  you  at  your  post  of  duty,  and  with 
each  test  of  your  faith  you  have  risen  higher.  You 
cannot  lose  your  way  in,  or  through  the  wilderness, 
if  you  continue  watching  and  praying,  and  waiting  on 
God.  There  are  heights  of  glory  and  bliss,  dominion 
and  peace,  to  which  we  must  rise;  and  with  our  eyes 
fixed  on  the  goal,  and  our  hearts  warm  with  love  for 
God  and  His  anointed  One,  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  for  each  other,  and  for  humanity,  we  shall  stand 
on  the  Mount  and  behold  all  the  land  of  promise, 
which  stretches  out  before  us.  He  is  faithful;  we  are 
trusting. 

Love  never  faileth;  then  may  we  not  now  sing  and 
rejoice  and  praise  our  God,  knowing  that  the  clouds  of 
personal  sense  are  rolling  back  and  dispersing?  Soon 
the  sunlight  will  chase  away  every  mist,  and  Love's 
smiling  universe  will  greet  our  view.  With  this 
understanding  of  Life's  reality  can  we  falter  or  faint 


398        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

by  the  way?  I  am  always  striving  to  attain  "unto  a 
perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the 
fulness  of  Christ."  The  life  he  lived,  I  must  live,  if  I 
would  gain  spiritual  power  to  demonstrate  Principle, 
as  he  did.  For  this  I  labor,  watch,  pray,  and  wait  on 
God.  My  efforts  are  not  alone  for  myself,  but  for  my 
dear  flock,  who,  if  they  are  faithful,  as  I  am  lifted  up, 
will  rise  with  me.  This  is  mental  unfolding  and  thus  we 
ascend  together  to  the  Father.  I  send  you  my  devoted 
love.  It  ever  flows  to  you,  my  dear  students,  and  to 
all  mankind.  They  whose  hearts  are  open  to  Truth  and 
Love  receive  Love's  affluence,  through  every  channel,  and 
are  refreshed  continually.  Let  us  follow  and  obey  our 
holy  Mother  in  Israel.  Keeping  step  to  the  anthem  of 
"on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men,"  we  shall  "  run, 
and  not  be  weary;"  we  shall  "walk,  and  not  faint;"  we 
shall  enter  into  the  pure  atmosphere  of  the  Christ-mind, 
and  heaven  will  come  down  to  earth.  This  new  heaven 
and  new  earth  are  not  afar  off;  we  know  they  will  be 
soon  revealed  to  those  who  endure  unto  the  end  of  all 
belief  of  life  and  intelligence  in  matter. 

Ever  faithfully  and  devotedly, 
Yours  in  Christ, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  30,  1906. 

To  the  Choir  and  Choral  Union  of 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 
My   beloved  Students  and   Friends,   Sweet   Singers  of 

Israel: — 

You  have  for  many  years  poured  forth  anthems 
and  Te  Deums  of  praise  to  our  Father- Mother  God, 
which  have  touched  the  hearts  of  listening  worshipers, 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        399 

with  strains  of  music,  which  inspired  the  seeker  after 
Truth  to  quicken  earnest  endeavor,  and  which  gave  to 
the  weary  and  heavy  laden  fresh  hope  and  renewed 
courage  to  press  on  to  the  goal  of  sinless  humanhood 
here  on  earth.  Your  fidelity  to  God,  to  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  to  me,  her  humble  follower  and 
student,  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  to  each  other, 
and  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  is  beyond  expression. 
Always  at  your  post,  always  cheerful  and  obedient  to 
the  call  of  duty,  always  loving  and  united  in  your  work 
as  a  choir  and  choral,  you  have  proved  many  years  the 
power  and  omnipotence  of  divine  Love. 

Our  beloved  Leader  asks  in  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
page  116,  "Are  we  filling  the  measures  of  life's  music 
aright,  emphasizing  its  grand  strains,  swelling  the 
harmony  of  being  with  tones  whence  come  glad  echoes?  " 
Again,  on  page  106,  she  says  that:  "the  music  of  Soul 
affords  the  only  strains  that  thrill  the  chords  of  feeling 
and  awaken  the  heart's  harpstrings."  As  your  teacher, 
ever  watchful  that  the  enemy  enter  not  and  create  tones 
of  discord  to  mar  the  sweet  concord  of  hearts  which 
pulsate  to  the  law  of  Love,  I  rejoice  to  be  able  to  say, 
"Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful."  No  arrow  shot 
from  the  archer,  barbed  with  envy  and  jealousy,  has 
been  aimed  high  enough  to  reach  you,  and  separate 
the  members  of  our  dear  church  choir.  The  evil  one 
has  utterly  failed  in  every  attempt  to  bring  discord 
into  your  choir-body,  and  to-day  Love  unites  each 
member  of  this  choir  and  choral  in  the  unity  of  spiritual 
love  and  obedience  to  the  law  of  God.  May  you  rise 
to  meet  the  higher  demands  of  Christian  Science  and 
continue  to  demonstrate  spiritual  unity. 

My  heart  is  overflowing  with  love  for  you,  and  grati- 
tude  to   our   Father   for   your   faithful   adherence   to 


400       Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

Principle,  and  for  your  devoted  love  for  our  holy 
Mother  in  Israel — God's  anointed  in  this  age.  She 
is  leading  us  to  the  infinite,  as  we  follow  Christ.  We 
must  open  our  eyes  if  we  would  see  what  she  so  earnestly 
desires  us  to  behold.  You  are  well  armed  with  the  letter 
of  Christian  Science ;  you  need  only  the  spirit  to  reveal 
to  you  all  the  glories  of  earth  and  heaven  and  man.  This 
I  am  sure  you  will  finally  attain,  since  you,  with  me,  are 
"persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  .  .  .  shall  be 
able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,"  good. 

How  I  labor  to  rise  into  a  purer  consciousness,  that  as 
I  am  lifted  up  I  may  draw  you  God-ward.  You  are 
ever  quick  to  respond  to  the  mental  call  of  our  Leader, 
and  thus,  together,  we  will  listen  for  her  voice,  and  obey 
and  follow  her,  the  spiritual  idea,  until  we  sing  with 
her  the  song  of  the  redeemed.  Be  watchful.  Be 
vigilant.  Pray  without  ceasing,  which  means — think 
Cod's  thoughts  after  Him  continually.  Since  we  are 
thoughts,  we  must  think  constantly;  then  let  us  see 
that  we  think  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Let  us 
contemplate  goodness,  truthfulness,  mercy;  knowing, 
as  we  do,  that  Mind  is  all,  and  that  there  is  but  one 
Mind — God.  There  is  no  reality  in  any  thoughts  but 
those  of  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  When  we  are  permit- 
ting false  thoughts  to  occupy  us,  we  are  ceasing  to  live, 
to  love,  and  to  reflect  God.  To  entertain  a  mortal 
thought  is  to  entertain  a  death  thought.  To  consider 
the  body  as  sentient  substance  is  to  be  in  darkness. 
Let  us  strive  to  be  absent  from  the  material  sense  of 
our  body  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord.  We  are 
advancing,  and  whither?  We  are  ascending,  being 
moved  onward  and  upward  by  the  divine  impulsion. 
How,  like  wandering  children,  we  are  coming  back  to 
our  Father's  house! 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        401 

My  home  is  type  of  the  mansion  in  my  Father's  house. 
May  I  be  ever  found  about  my  Father's  business 
until  I  am  worthy  to  behold  and  enter  my  house  not 
made  with  hands.  I  pray  for  humility,  meekness  and 
divine  love  to  finish  the  race  for  immortal  womanhood. 
With  thanks  inexpressible  for  your  loving  gift  for 
my  home,  I  am  ever, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  4,  1906. 

My  dear,  dear  Friend: — 

I  have  tried  several  times  to  speak  to  you  about 
leaving,  and  to  express  my  deep  gratitude  for  all  you 
have  done  for  me  in  the  years  when  I  needed  some  one 
to  give  me  the  shelter  of  a  home,  away  from  the  routine 
of  my  busy  life,  where  I  could  hide  from  the  many  de- 
mands made  upon  my  time  and  strength.  No  one 
will  ever  know  what  your  protecting,  loving  care  has 
meant  to  me. 

It  is  difficult  to  articulate  my  appreciation  when  I 
attempt  to  tell  you,  and  so  I  write  you  now,  hoping  I 
may  partially  convey  my  gratitude  for  your  many,  many 
acts  of  kindness.  I  have  prayed  that  I  might  reflect 
divine  power  to  bless  you  and  yours,  and  thus  in  a 
degree  reciprocate  your  goodness.  I  know  that  I 
have  been  able  to  do  something  in  return  for  your 
generosity. 

My  affection  for  you  and  your  boys  is  beyond  words 
to  express.  I  shall  want  to  come  to  you  all  occasionally, 
and  feel  that  I  have  your  home  in  the  future,  as  in  the 
past,  as  a  hiding  place  from  the  heavy  demands  of  the 
hour.    My  work  is  laborious.    It  taxes  me  beyond  human 


402        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

strength.  But  my  strength  is  divine  and  in  God,  and  I 
draw  heavily  on  my  Father.  No  one  knows  the  varied 
calls  and  the  many  details  of  my  work.  Sometimes  I 
am  surprised  to  rind  that  I  can  accomplish  so  much. 

I  shall  have  more  strength  rather  than  less  as  I  go  on. 
I  need  my  quiet  home  in  which  to  work  out  of  the  mate- 
rial into  the  spiritual  sense,  thus  inspiring  my  students 
and  followers  to  more  spiritual  attainments.  I  am 
anxious  to  get  my  house  settled  and  in  running  order, 
that  you  and  M.  .  .  may  break  bread  with  me  there. 
I  may  not  wait  until  I  am  sure  of  competent  help,  but 
will  have  you  come  with  the  boys  soon.  I  shall  not 
feel  really  happy  till  this  has  been  accomplished. 
Your  dear  husband  has  been  so  kind,  and  has  done  so 
much  for  me.  I  feel  I  may  have  made  it  disturbing 
for  you,  by  my  irregular  coming  at  dinner,  and  the 
frequent  telephone  calls,  which  must  have  given  you 
both  much  inconvenience.  You  never  made  me  feel 
that  you  were  the  least  disturbed. 

I  am  sure  your  love  made  you  patient  with  me.  God 
bless  and  keep  you.  I  cannot  repay  you  except  to 
labor  to  reflect  more  divine  Love,  that  I  may  always 
help  you  onward — Christ-ward.  I  hope  I  shall  soon 
see  you  in  my  new  home. 

With  deep,  age-abiding  love  to  you  both  and  to  the 
dear  boys,  I  am, 

Always  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  23,  1906. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

As  I  look  upon  the  evidence  of  your  fidelity,  and 

Christly  love,  I  realize  as  never  before  the  precious 


Letters  on  Building  the  Home        403 

import  of  Jesus'  words,  "Ye  are  they  which  have 
continued  with  me  in  my  temptations."  As  I  entered 
my  home,  on  Thursday,  carrying  a  heavy  burden  of 
care,  in  the  seeming  evil  which  Truth  has  aroused  since 
our  communion,  when  divine  Love  stirred  error  to  the 
surface,  and  which  is  directed  to  Truth's  standard 
bearers,  I  saw  your  magnificent  gift,1  and  if  God  had 
spoken  audibly  to  me,  His  voice  would  not  have  been 
more  unmistakable,  than  when  I  saw  Love  through 
you,  crowning  my  work.  You  began  long  years  ago 
to  walk  side  by  side  with  me,  "o'er  crag  and  torrent,"  all 
the  rugged  way  of  this  wilderness  journey,  and  I  pray 
that  you  both  will  endure  later  the  coming  test  of  your 
faith  and  understanding. 

Our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  The  Mother 
Church  was  the  cross — the  Extension  is  the  crown. 
When  you  were  securing  this  crown  you  knew  nothing 
of  this  Word  of  God  which  she  voiced,  in  her  statement 
that  her  work  is  crowned;  but  Love  moved  you  to  crown 
your  teacher's  work.  You  did  not  know  why  you  could 
not  get  the  crown  ready  when  I  entered  my  new  home, 
type  of  the  real  home  in  divine  Mind;  but  Love  knew 
the  hour,  and  until  Her  word  went  forth,  you  could  not 
objectify  the  thought. 

Oh!  my  dear  students,  I  can  no  more  convey  to  you 
my  sense  of  the  meaning  of  your  heavenly  privilege  of 
being  chosen  to  do  this  work,  than  I  could  weigh  my 
gratitude,  or  measure  my  boundless  love  for  you. 
"Thou  hast  been  faithful. "  I  am  thanking  our  Father 
day  and  night  for  such  Christly  love  as  yours.     Beloved 

1  The  gift  was  a  large  crown  that  had  been  on  our  church  edifice  at  143 
West  48th  Street  for  seven  years.  When  the  church  was  sold  this 
crown  was  removed  by  the  workmen,  thrown  into  the  rubbish  and  car- 
ried off.  Two  students  found  it,  had  it  regilded  and  put  on  a  beautiful 
marble  pedestal  and  placed  in  my  home. 


404        Letters  on  Building  the  Home 

students,  you  and  I  have  suffered  with  our  Leader, 
and  shall  we  not  reign  with  her?  False  concepts  must 
pass  away;  and  spiritual  sense  must  reveal  the  new 
heaven  and  the  new  earth — the  new  man  created  by 
our  Father-Mother  Love.  In  our  true  consciousness 
there  is  no  discord,  no  pain,  sorrow  nor  death.  Have 
we  not  this  sense  of  God,  and  our  oneness  with  Him  now? 
The  veil  is  growing  thin.  Spiritual  sense  discerns  the 
eternal  verities  of  being,  and  catches  occasional  tones  of 
heavenly  harmony.  The  sunlight  of  Love's  presence  will 
melt  away  the  mists  of  finite  sense,  which  hide  the  child 
of  God.  You  are  led  by  the  Spirit,  to  minister  the  cup 
of  cheer,  and  to  quicken  my  earnest  endeavor  to  the  end. 

At  this  point  of  my  demonstration  I  am  crowned  by 
you,  and  I  go  forward  more  confident,  since  I  know  that 
up  to  this  hour  my  work  has  been  approved  by  divine 
Love  through  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  The  way  will 
grow  brighter  and  brighter  unto  the  perfect  day,  if  you 
hold  fast  to  Christ.  I  will  watch,  and  labor,  and  pray  that 
these  whom  God  has  given  me,  may  be  with  me  in  the 
joy  and  affluence  of  eternal  consciousness  of  Life,  Love, 
and  Truth.  We  will  go,  side  by  side,  mentally  declaring 
for  our  dominion  over  the  material  world,  the  flesh 
and  all  evil,  till  our  spiritual  power  over  all  the  enemy 
startles  the  sleeping  world  to  admit  that  God  is  with  us. 

Love  will  lead  you  to  the  fulfilling  of  Her  law,  and 
if  you  continue  faithful  to  Truth  unto  the  end  of  physi- 
cal sense  you  will  be  crowned  by  Christ,  with  immortal- 
ity, sinlessness,  and  everlasting  bliss.  "Choose  ye"  to 
continue  with  Christ  that  ye  may  reign  with  him.  My 
words  are  weak;  my  love  is  mighty,  and  struggling  for 
utterance.     May  you  be  my  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


• 


CHAPTER  IX 
LETTERS  TO  CHILDREN 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of 
God  as  a  little  child  shall  in  no  wise  enter  therein. — Luke  xviii.,  17. 

Beloved  children,  the  world  has  need  of  you, — and  more  as  children 
than  as  men  and  women:  it  needs  your  innocence,  unselfishness,  faith- 
ful affection,  uncontaminated  lives.  You  need  also  to  watch,  and  pray 
that  you  preserve  these  virtues  unstained,  and  lose  them  not  through 
contact  with  the  world. — Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  no. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  2,  1900. 

My  darlings  I.  .  .  and  H.  .  .  : — 

How  sweet  it  will  be  to  feel  your  dear  little  hands 
about  my  neck  when  I  wear  the  dainty  ribbon  bands 
which  you  prepared  for  me.  I  know  that  every  stitch 
was  Love's  activity,  Her  ceaseless  motion,  weaving  in 
and  out,  producing  form  and  utility — and  was  sent  to 
me  through  you. 

The  type  seems  necessary  to  us  in  our  present  mental 
condition.  I  shall  feel  very  restful  as  I  use  your  gifts 
and  realize  who  made  them.  It  is  very  dear  of  you, 
precious  children,  to  take  your  time  to  do  this,  and  I 
fully  appreciate  it.  I  have  little  time  to  consider  the 
material  demands,  for  I  must  "be  about  my  Father's 
business."  He  will  clothe  and  feed  me,  while  I  give 
you  spiritual  food,  and  Love  will  clothe  you  in  Her  own 
spotless,  seamless  garments  as  you  rise  above  the  mists 
of  matter  illusions. 

405 


406  Letters  to  Children 

Thank  you  again  and  again  for  your  loving  remem- 
brance. May  our  dear  Father- Mother  Love  keep  you, 
and  tenderly  guide  you,  till  you  rise  beyond  the  dream 
of  this  material  world  into  the  sunlight  of  eternal  Mind, 
your  spiritual  selfhood. 

Ever  yours  lovingly,  faithfully, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  27,  1900. 

My  darling  L.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  shows  me  what  a  selfless  little  girl  you 
are.  Christian  Science  teaches  us  to  be  grateful  for  all 
that  Love  gives  us.  I  am  happy  to  see  that  my  precious 
little  lambkin  was  so  grateful  for  all  that  Love  had 
given  her,  that  she  had  to  send  me  some  of  her  sweets 
as  an  expression  of  her  gratitude.  I  return  many 
thanks  and  much  love. 

You  are  a  little  Christian  Science  soldier,  and  I 
rejoice  in  the  assurance  that  my  dear  Sunday-school 
children  know  who  fought  against  error  to  free  them 
from  the  bondage  of  belief.  It  was  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  who  gave  us  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures.  I,  and  the  dear  Sunday-school 
teachers,  and  the  church  members  all  work  for  you. 
Therefore  you  will  escape  much  that  the  children  of  the 
nineteenth  century  suffered.  Be  a  strong,  true  worker 
for  Christ,  darling,  and  love  more  and  more  those  who 
cannot  see,  as  you  and  I  do,  that  this  is  the  second 
coming  of  Christ  to  mankind  through  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  will  fulfil  the  law  of 
Love. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  to  Children  407 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96 th  Street,  June  22,  1904. 

My  darlings,  little  D.  .  .  and  M.  .  .  ; — 

Your  letter  was  sweet.  It  had  the  touch  of  spiritual 
love,  and  I  am  always  so  happy  to  feel  that  the  dear 
Father  has  found  some  one  through  whom  to  send  me 
a  message.  Love  is  so  very  near  to  us  all  that  we  cannot 
think  or  speak  without  voicing  Her.  Then  Her  words 
are  tender  and  sincere  and  loving,  and,  when  they  reach 
you,  they  just  fill  your  heart  with  such  joy  and  peace, 
that  you  almost  feel  as  if  an  angel  had  come  to  you  and 
asked  you  if  you  knew  that  you  were  in  heaven. 

We  know  that  we  are  there,  do  we  not?  Some  people 
do  not  yet  know  that  there  is  but  one  world, — the  spirit- 
ual,— and  one  God  who  created  and  governs  it.  We 
know  that  we  are  God's  children,  happy,  loving  and 
true,  and  that  error  cannot  deceive  us  longer  nor  make 
us  admit  that  there  are  two  worlds,  one  where  people 
are  sick  and  sad,  and  another  where  people  are  happy, 
healthy  and  good.  Truth  gives  us  power  to  break  this 
error,  and  scatter  the  mists  that  would  hide  the  real 
world  and  our  real  selves. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kindly  thought  of  me.  I  shall 
soon  be  at  home.  Give  my  love  to  all  in  your  dear 
home,  and  remember  that  I  love  you  fondly,  because 
I  love  God,  and  you  are  His  ideas,  good  and  true — 
little  lambkins  of  our  precious  Leader's  fold. 

Lovingly  ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  3,  1904. 
My  darling  little  F.  .  .  : — 

I  have  been  so  pleased  with  the  lovely  hatpins  you 

nent  me  that  every  time  I  put  them  in  I  say,  dear  little 


408  Letters  to  Children 

F.  .  .  will  hold  my  hat  firmly.  Both  I  have  named 
F.  .  .  ,  because  then  I  think  of  you,  darling,  and  if  I 
only  were  spiritual  enough,  I  should  see  your  dear  real 
self.  I  am  trying  very  hard  to  get  away  from  every 
mortal  thought,  and  get  my  God-thoughts,  which  will 
bring  out  all,  and  every  one  in  their  real  substance 
embodiment. 

You  know  there  is  but  one  body,  Christ,  the  mani- 
festation of  God,  and  that  we  are  individual  members 
of  that  body.  We  are  not  matter  nor  error,  for  there 
is  no  so-called  mortal  mind  in  Truth.  Our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  taught  us  this  truth.  Then 
when  we  get  our  spiritual  sense  we  shall  see  our  real 
selves.  Will  not  that  be  happiness?  I  shall  wait 
patiently  till  I  find  your  real  spiritual  self,  the  image  and 
likeness  of  Love  and  Truth,  and  in  the  meantime  we 
will  both  declare  that  God  is  our  Father  and  Mother, 
our  Principle  whom  we  love  and  serve  and  who  will 
take  us  into  our  heavenly  consciousness,  where  there 
is  no  matter  nor  error. 

Ever  fondly,  with  my  dearest  love, 
Yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  January  25,  1905. 
My  dear  Sunday-school  Children: — 

You  know,  without  being  told  by  me,  how  dis- 
appointed I  was  not  to  have  been  with  you  at  your 
party,  but  I  had  to  do  some  work  which  no  one  else 
could  do,  so  I  sent  you  my  loving  thought,  and  went  on 
doing  the  Master's  work.  You  know  we  must  never 
be  grieved  nor  disappointed  when  we  cannot  have  our 


Letters  to  Children  409 

own  way,  and  do  as  we  want  to  do.  Love  always 
leads  us  safely  when  we  are  willing  to  do  as  God  directs, 
and  we  can  always  talk  with  our  Father-Mother  God, 
since  He  is  ever-present  and  we  are  one  with  the  divine 
Mind. 

I  love  to  think  of  you,  my  dear  little  lambs  in  the 
Sunday-school,  as  you  grow  in  the  understanding  of 
Christian  Science,  and  develop  in  goodness  and  the 
beauty  of  holiness.  The  strength  of  eternal  Life  which 
you  manifest  day  by  day,  the  intelligence  which  you 
reflect,  and  the  sweetness  of  the  Christ-consciousness 
which  is  making  your  dear  little  faces  luminous  with 
purity,  sincerity  and  tender  love-light,  are  a  joy  to  me  as 
I  watch  your  progress  into  the  divine  Life.  You  are 
going  to  be  the  strength  of  our  church ;  in  fact  you 
are  now.  If  you  live  in  the  God-thought,  and  re- 
fuse to  obey  the  mortal,  false  thought,  you  will 
escape  the  discords  of  the  matter-dream,  and  will 
merge  into  the  health  and  harmony  of  the  ideal,  the 
God-child. 

I  love  you  more  than  words  can  express.  I  love  to 
think  of  you  in  your  real  selves  as  safe  from  all  sin, 
sickness  and  discord,  held  in  Love's  arms,  close  in  the 
secret  of  Her  presence,  joyous  in  the  power  of  good, 
clothed  and  fed  by  Spirit,  our  creator,  and  as  always 
sending  out  your  sweet  thoughts  into  the  world  to 
heal,  and  happify  and  bless  others. 

I  thank  you  from  a  full  heart  of  gratitude  for  your 
beautiful  gift. *■  I  am  sure  you  must  have  felt  the  joy- 
bells  ringing  in  your  hearts  as  I  sent  you  grateful  love 
for  it.  Be  good  reflectors  of  Love,  darlings,  and  you 
will  reap  a  bountiful  harvest  of  blessings.     I  love  you, 

•  This  gift  was  a  large  white  rabbit  filled  with  candies,  which  the 
children  were  to  present  to  me  at  their  party. 


410  Letters  to  Children 

precious  lambkins  of  our  blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
God  bless  my  brave  little  soldiers  in  Christian  Science. 
Ever  yours  faithfully, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  4,  1905. 

My  darling  little  M.  .  .  : — 

You  are  one  of  the  sweetest,  dearest  avenues  that  I 
ever  knew,  through  whom  Love  dispenses  Her  gifts. 
The  beautiful  spoon  which  you  have  given  to  me  for 
my  new  home  was  formed  by  the  same  Mind  that 
forms  the  bud  and  blossom,  and  this  Mind  worked 
through  your  loving  thought  to  evolve  its  object.  It 
is  the  daintiest  one  I  ever  saw,  showing  that  your  mental 
transparency  is  very  free  from  error,  such  as  selfishness, 
for  any  one  who  has  this  quality  could  not  have  brought 
out  such  a  dear  gift.  Things,  you  know,  are  thoughts 
objectified.  Of  course  no  one  has  yet  destroyed  all 
false  concepts,  but  we  are  all  working  to  conquer  self- 
love  and  the  false  self  as  fast  as  we  can.  Some  are 
getting  rid  of  error  faster  than  others,  but  only  because 
they  work  more  persistently  to  keep  their  minds  filled 
with  Truth  and  Love,  and  refuse  to  entertain  naughty 
mortal  thoughts. 

I  think  you  will  have  a  lovely  winter,  and  I  am  sure 
that  you  will  gain  your  true  self  if  you  continue  to  do  as 
you  are  now  doing.  When  you  gain  your  real  self — your 
spiritual  consciousness — you  will  be  like  Christ  Jesus 
and  our  dear  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  You  know  that 
Christ  Jesus  could  quickly  heal  disease  and  cast  out 
evil  thoughts,  which  cause  disease.  His  God-thought 
was  powerful  to  cast  out  the  belief  that  disease  was 
real,  and  the  disease  vanished.     He  could  always  de- 


Letters  to  Children  411 

stroy  all  error  with  his  spiritual  thought,  and  so  can 
you  and  I,  when  we  resist  all  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
through  the  power  of  our  Christ-mind. 

I  would  like  to  stop  the  rain  from  getting  every  one 
so  wet  to-day,  but  I  have  not  conquered  enough  of  error 
in  myself  to  do  it.  Jesus  could,  and  we  must  have  do- 
minion some  time,  for  God  gave  us  His  own  power.  He 
gave  men  dominion  over  all  things,  and  when  we  are 
governed  by  God  we  shall  exercise  that  dominion.  I 
know  that  when  we  are  better  Christian  Scientists  we 
shall  not  have  so  much  rain,  and  storm,  and  accidents, 
and  all  sorts  of  discord,  and  diseases,  which  are  the 
phenomena  of  mortal  belief ;  but  we  shall  have  harmoni- 
ous conditions,  healthy  bodies,  and  beautiful  weather. 

When  we  start  for  church,  good  thoughts  will  bring 
us  to  the  church  on  time.  Now,  we  are  subject  to  other 
people,  whose  erring  thoughts  bring  out  all  kinds  of 
discord,  tardiness,  and  we  are  not  yet  strong  enough  to 
dispel  the  universal  force  of  error,  which  claims  to  be  a 
power,  but  which  must  some  time  be  destroyed  by 
Truth  and  Love. 

Some  days  mortal  mind  sheds  so  many  tears.  There 
are  days  when  mortal  mind  is  very  cross  and  selfish, 
and  the  wind  and  thunder  and  lightning  appear.  All 
this  we  know  must  disappear,  for  Love  is  omnipotent, 
and  we  are  Love's  children  in  reality,  good  and  happy, 
and  healthy  and  loving.  These  thoughts  bring  sun- 
shine, beauty,  power,  and  joy  to  us,  to  the  birds,  to  the 
beasts  and  to  everything  on  the  earth.  This  we  shall 
see  when  error  is  destroyed.  Will  it  not  be  lovely  to  be 
governed  by  good,  and  have  no  discord, — to  love  and 
live  happy  and  free? 

I  thank  you  again,  my  darling  little  M.  .  .  ,  for 
your   unselfed   love   and   sacrifice   in   giving   me   this 


4i2  Letters  to  Children 

beautiful  spoon,  which  I  call  my  love-spoon.  You 
must  come  to  my  home,  when  it  is  finished,  and  eat  an 
orange  with  the  spoon.  I  love  you,  darling.  You  are 
a  heroic  little  Christian  Science  soldier.  You  will  be  a 
great  help  to  our  dear  Leader,  to  me,  and  to  your  parents 
as  God  develops  your  Christ-consciousness. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  8,  1906. 

My  darling  Children: — 

I  thank  you  for  your  sweet  letters.  I  see  in  every 
line  of  your  composition  the  dear  little  hands  working 
to  teach  me  unselfed  love.  Yes,  Christ  Jesus  loved 
little  children,  and  took  them  in  his  arms  and  blessed 
them,  and  said  that  they  were  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
This  was  long  ago.  Christ  said  he  would  come  again, 
and  I  think  he  has  come  to  me  and  to  you  many  times. 

Whenever  you  are  loving  and  unselfish  and  obedient, 
you  feel  happy.  Christ  Jesus  is  saying  to  you,  "Dear, 
good  little  child,  I  love  you. " 

He  always  comes  to  you  when  you  are  good,  and  then 
he  puts  his  hands  on  your  heads  and  you  can  feel  his 
arms,  love,  around  you,  and  your  hearts  are  so  happy 
that  you  sing  and  dance  for  joy. 

Christ  Jesus  is  right  here,  but  you  cannot  see  him 
until  you  are  like  him, — so  good,  so  loving,  so  obedient 
to  God,  that  you  will  see  the  Christ-man  who  is  close 
beside  you. 

You  will  change  your  thought  until  you  bring  out  the 
real  of  Christ  Jesus  and  of  yourself  and  of  every  one. 
I  think  our  dear  Leader,   Mrs.   Eddy,   must  feel  his 


Letters  to  Children  413 

arms  around  her  always,  and  she  must  see  him,  too, 
because  she  is  so  good. 

We  will  follow  her,  will  we  not,  and  she  will  some  day 
put  her  dear  arms  around  us,  and  put  her  loving  hands 
on  our  heads,  and  say,  "I  love  you,  dear  children,  be- 
cause you  are  like  Christ  Jesus.  You  can  do  just  what 
he  did.  Your  good  thoughts  can  heal  the  sick  and  you 
can  drive  out  naughty  error-thoughts  which  make 
people  sick  and  unlovely,  and  you  can  get  your  lessons 
perfectly  and  so  easily,  because  you  reflect  intelligence." 

She  is  talking  to  us  all  the  time,  and  walking  right 
beside  us.  We  would  see  her  if  we  had  all  God-thoughts. 
I  want  to  see  the  real  Christ  Jesus  and  Mrs.  Eddy,  and 
your  real  selves  and  the  beautiful  real  world.  So  I  am 
working  to  be  good,  and  so  are  you  all,  dear  little  ones. 

Ever  your  loving  friend, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


CHAPTER  X 

LETTERS  AS  TO  INDIVIDUALITY  VERSUS 
PERSONALITY 

To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna,  and 
will  give  him  a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone  a  new  name  written,  which 
no  man  knoweth  saving  he  that  receiveth  it. — Revelation  ii.,  17. 

The  immortal  man  being  spiritual,  individual,  and  eternal,  his  mortal 
opposite  must  be  material,  corporeal,  and  temporal. 

I  endeavored  to  lift  thought  above  physical  personality,  or  selfhood 
in  matter,  to  man's  spiritual  individuality  in  God, — in  the  true  Mind, 
where  sensible  evil  is  lost  in  supersensible  good. — Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  73. 

Hotel  Buckingham,  New  York  City, 
December  28,  1897. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Your  letter  gave  me  joy.  I  see  the  true  spiritual 
sense  appearing,  and  the  gradual  disappearance  of  the 
old  human  self,  which  gives  us  all  so  much  trouble. 
Human  self  is  our  only  enemy.  Its  constant  demands 
for  recognition,  for  pleasure,  and  diversion,  make 
material  existence  at  times  almost  intolerable.  I  thank 
God  for  the  uncovering  of  the  tyrant  of  mortal  self 
which  held  me  enslaved  to  sense  testimony  for  so  many 
years.  I  am  thankful  that  I  have  burst  the  fetters  so 
far  for  myself  and  for  others,  and  that  the  wiles  and 
snares  of  the  old  carnal  mind  are  unmasked,  and  are 
thereby  deprived  of  their  imaginary  power. 

Love  is  leading  us  out  from  the  shadow  of  physical 

414 


Individuality  versus  Personality      415 

forms  and  the  "image"  of  mortal  mind,  and  is  reveal- 
ing in  each  of  us  the  image  and  likeness  of  God.  We 
are  not  mortals,  but  immortals.  We  are  working 
faithfully  to  rid  ourselves  of  the  old  illusion  that  we 
are  mortal.  Assert  your  spiritual  rights,  and  declare 
for  your  harmonious  and  immortal  being  here  and  now. 
Matter  is  illusion.  Awake  from  the  dream,  and  sing 
the  song  of  the  child  of  Love.  Love  created  us.  Our 
Mother-God  is  immortal,  eternal,  and  ever-present 
Mind.  Then  we  are  the  same,  as  ideas,  reflecting 
creative  Principle. 

Love  is  mighty  to  cast  out  fear.  I  pray  that  the  war- 
fare between  the  flesh  and  Spirit  will  be  soon  ended. 
Then  you  will  find  yourself  confident  of  your  real  self 
as  spiritual  idea,  and  the  mortal  and  false  sense  will 
cease  to  demand  your  attention.  Good  only  is  real. 
Harmony  alone  is  Truth.  Joy  is  the  birthright  of  man, 
and  his  existence  is  in  the  great  Principle,  the  one  good 
or  Mind — Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Then  let  us  regard 
sin,  sickness,  and  death  as  nothing,  for  there  is  but  one 
power,  Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

I  know,  dear,  that  you  are  to  do  a  great  work  in 
Christian  Science.  I  am  sure  that  if  you  continue 
steadfastly  in  divine  Science,  you  will  find  that  Spirit 
will  operate  through  you  to  give  God's  little  ones  bread 
from  heaven, — health.  But  for  this  physical  discord 
which  is  the  warfare  between  the  human  and  divine, 
you  would  now  be  asleep  in  mortal  mind,  dreaming 
of  its  false  pleasures,  until  later  you  would  have  been 
suddenly  awakened  by  suffering. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "Waking  to  Christ's  demand,  mor- 
tals experience  suffering"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  22). 
You  have  nearly  fought  your  way  out  of  this  attack, 
and  will  be  able,  as  you  advance,  to  help  free  many 


416       Individuality  versus  Personality 

others.  I  hope  you  see  that  you  have  a  great  and 
holy  mission  for  which  God  is  now  fitting  you.  Be 
brave  and  you  will  be  sure  to  radiate  the  power  of  Truth 
to  others. 

Give  my  tender  love  to  your  dear  parents  and  your 
brother. 

Your  loving  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 
March  27,  1900. 

My  dearly  beloved  Students: — f 

When  I  asked  you  to  convene  in  our  auditorium  for  a 
meeting  of  the  Students'  Association,  I  anticipated  the 
pleasure  of  being  with  you  in  person,  and  of  giving  you 
some  advice  which  I  feel  is  necessary  in  this  hour.  I 
am  sure  you  will  understand  that  my  physical  personal- 
ity is  not  necessary,  and  that  I  am  with  you  in  spiritual 
personality  or  individuality  in  the  one  Mind,  as  you 
gather  together  in  our  dear  church,  whose  walls  ring 
out  with  praise  to  our  Father  for  His  great  gift  to 
us  of  His  holy  one,  our  precious  Mother  and  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

To-day,  as  we  pray,  let  us  reconsecrate  our  hearts, 
give  all  honor  to  God,  and  renew  our  vows  to  be  more 
worthy  to  be  called  our  Leader's  disciples.  Let  us 
strive  to  follow  her  example  of  patient  love  and  meek- 
ness, longsufTering,  and  untiring  efforts  to  establish  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  on  earth.  Let  us  do  as  she  enjoins 
in  all  her  teachings  and  example,  "Love  one  another" 
as  she  has  loved  us.  Thus  my  student-body  will 
fulfil  the  law  of  Spirit. 

It  is  now  the  hour  for  our  lamps  to  be  filled,  trimmed 

1  Written  to  my  Students'  Association. 


Individuality  versus  Personality      417 

and  burning — not  faintly,  but  brightly,  that  we  may 
see  "the  way"  and  behold  and  walk  safely  towards 
the  goal  of  joy  and  immortal  consciousness.  The  veil 
is  growing  thinner.  We  are  gaining  clearer  visions  of 
ourselves  and  of  each  other  as  Love's  perfect  mani- 
festation. The  "material  pigment"  {Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  79)  called  flesh  and  bones  does  not 
deceive  us  with  its  claim  of  substance,  as  formerly,  but 
looking  through  it  we  see  God's  dear  child.  This 
begins  to  reveal  our  heaven  on  earth,  and  patient 
firm  denial  of  the  claims  of  material  sense  will  gradually 
dissolve  those  false  claims.  We  shall  soar  into  higher 
altitudes  of  thought  where  Love  sings  to  us  Her  songs 
of  blissful  harmony. 

The  way  has  been  rugged,  but  Love  has  never  ceased 
to  watch  over  us,  and  call  us  from  danger  chasms.  At 
times  our  weary  feet  have  loitered  on  the  road,  but  our 
Mother's  voice  sounded  above  the  siren  suggestions  of 
mortal  belief  and  moved  us  onward  "o'er  crag  and 
torrent"  in  the  true  path  that  wound  upward. 

Dearly  beloved,  let  us  keep  our  eyes  fixed  on  Truth 
and  Love.  We  shall  not  sheathe  the  sword  till  the 
battle  is  won.  The  shot  and  shell  of  false  mentality 
aimed  at  us  will  fall  to  the  ground.  The  false  mental 
beliefs,  malice,  envy,  and  revenge  will  pass  over  our 
heads  and  homes  if  we  are  protected  by  the  invincible 
armor  of  Love.  Evil  has  no  power.  There  is  no  evil. 
Every  one  is  good,  and  loving,  and  true.  Impersonal 
evil  claims  a  power  to  convince  us  to  the  contrary, 
but  Truth  declares  that  evil  is  a  lie,  and  we  have 
proved  it. 

Sooner  or  later  we  must  be  perfect  "even  as  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect. "  Are  we  all 
striving  to  make  the  demonstration?     Do  we    love? 


4i 8       Individuality  versus  Personality 

Are  we  contemplating  the  world  of  Spirit,  girding  on  the 
breastplate  of  righteousness,  and  keeping  in  line  with 
our  Leader,  Mother,  and  Teacher,  who  is  giving  us  the 
key  to  eternal  Life,  or  are  we  lingering  on  the  road, 
playing  with  the  false  objects  which  personal  sense 
evolves,  and  toying  with  idols?  Dear  ones,  ask  your- 
selves, and  answer  to  Love.  I  know  that  you  are 
striving,  and  I  know  that  you  are  winning.  The 
smoke  of  battle  hides  the  path,  but  when  you  have 
sufficiently  conquered  material  self,  and  see  each  other 
through  spiritual  concepts,  you  will  rejoice  in  victory, 
and  the  illusions  of  finite  sense  will  disappear. 

Work,  watch,  and  pray  to  gain  your  birthright — 
eternal  Life,  the  power  of  divine  Mind,  your  oneness 
with  omnipotent  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  I  am  with 
you.     Matter  is  nothing. 

Love  inexpressible  to  you,  my  beloved  students. 
Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
May  25,  1901. 
Beloved  Students: — 

I  am  with  you  always  in  the  one  Mind.  Love  is 
never  separated  from  Her  idea.  God  is  ever-present, 
manifested  in  ideal  man.  We  are  individual  members 
of  the  body  of  the  one  Christ.  The  one  sun  of  the  solar 
system  shines  on  all,  and  knows  only  light.  Those  who 
represent  the  belief  of  evil  get  the  benefit  of  the  sun, 
as  well  as  those  who  are  good.  The  sun  knows  only 
to  shine,  and  has  no  knowledge  of  darkness;  so  our 
God,  who  is  Love,  knows  nothing  of  the  evil  which 
seems  to  be  working  to  make  its  false  claims  real. 
We,  as  God's  ideas,  know  nothing  of  hate  or  malice, 


Individuality  versus  Personality      419 

revenge  and  envy.  The  human  is  not  real  to  us,  when 
once  we  realize  the  Christ  power  which  illumines  all. 
Belief  of  life  and  intelligence  in  matter  is  a  myth.  The 
sense  that  sees  evil  is  material  and  mortal.  Spiritual 
sense  can  take  no  cognizance  of  anything  but  God, 
Love,  Life  and  Truth  and  the  ideas  of  Mind. 

Let  us  watch  that  we  be  not  deceived  by  personal 
sense  into  thinking  there  is  any  other  power  than  Mind, 
divine  and  perfect.  Dwell  consciously  in  this  Mind, 
and  know  that  there  is  no  other.  There  is  no  one  to 
believe  error.  Every  one  knows  Truth.  There  is  no 
matter.  No  one  is  deceived  by  it,  attracted  to  it,  or 
fears  it.  The  only  attraction  is  Spirit,  and  the  spiritual 
universe,  including  every  idea.  Live  in  spiritual  sense 
during  these  hours  of  struggle  for  the  supremacy  of 
divine  consciousness,  and  your  divine  sense  will  make 
error  unreal  to  you. 

Read  at  your  meetings  the  124th  Psalm  and  two 
verses  of  the  125th,  the  19th  chapter  of  Revelation, 
Science  and  Health,  page  560,  lines  28  to  5  next  page; 
page  563,  line  5;  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  340, 
lines  4  to  7;  page  341,  line  1  to  end  of  chapter;  page 
176,  line  20  to  end.  For  three  weeks,  during  this  trial 
in  Boston  (Woodbury  against  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy),  we  will  surely  watch  with  Christ,  and  not 
sleep  on  our  swords. 

Be  sure  that  each  of  you  three  times  a  day  retires 
for  communion  with  God,  asking  for  wisdom  to  reflect 
omnipotent  Truth  and  Love,  and  do  this  faithfully. 

The  love  I  send  you  is  substance.  You  are  my  joy 
and  crown  of  rejoicing.  As  /  rise,  you  rise;  as  we  both 
rise  to  spiritual  understanding,  the  universal  thought 
ascends  in  the  scale  of  being,  and  the  light  of  Truth  and 
Love  reaches  humanity,  and  illumines  the  entire  con- 


4^o       Individuality  versus  Personality 

sciousness.  Thus  the  claim  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death 
will  become  less  resistant  to  Truth  and  Love,  and 
humanity  will  more  readily  respond  to  the  healing 
Christ.  Let  us  be  faithful  to  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  who  is  carrying  a  heavy  cross  up  the  hill 
of  Christian  Science,  for  the  salvation  of  mankind. 
Love  without  measure  to  all. 

Ever  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
May  30,  1 90 1. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Love  never  fails.  If  you  have  ever  really  loved  your 
friend,  her  opposition  to  Christian  Science  will  not 
make  you  love  her  less.  I  would  do  all  I  could  to  show 
her  its  beauty  by  silence  and  goodness.  It  is  not 
necessary  for  you  to  speak  one  word.  By  your  life 
she  must  know  that  you  are  a  follower  of  Christ.  I 
am  sure  that  in  time  she  will  not  antagonize  you. 
Her  divinity  is  her  reality.  Her  human  sense  can- 
not shut  her  out  from  Love,  and  from  you,  Love's 
reflector. 

Oh,  the  mighty  power  of  Love!  Never  doubt  it. 
It  stirs  the  carnal  sense  to  resistance,  but  it  destroys 
carnality,  and  the  spiritual  idea  appears.  H  .  .  .  G  .  .  . 
is  a  sweet  child  of  promise,  who  is  looking  for  her  Christ, 
and  she  will  surely  find  him.  Love  will  lead  her, 
through  you,  if  you  are  only  patient  and  wise  and  do 
not  agitate  her.  Wisdom  and  Love  will  guide  you.  I 
would  leave  all  with  Love,  and  not  intrude  myself 
upon  her:  God  will  unite  you  in  His  own  time;  wait 
patiently  for  Him  to  move  your  friend  to  desire  your 


Individuality  versus  Personality       421 

presence,  then  go.     I  would  trust  more  to  divine  dic- 
tation.    Rest,  dearest,  and  all  will  be  yours.     Love  to 
your  dear  ones  and  kisses  to  my  dear  little  L  ".  .  . 
Lovingly,  faithfully  your  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
June  6,  1901. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

There  is  no  space,  since  infinite  Love  fills  the  uni- 
verse. The  way  does  not  appear  for  me  to  be  with  you 
on  Sunday,  the  first  Communion  I  have  ever  been 
away  from  you  personally  during  many  years.  This 
is  my  test  as  much  as  yours.  I  shall  be  imperson- 
ally in  your  midst,  and  the  dear  church  will  enfold 
us  all,  while  we  realize  the  impersonal  presence  of 
each  of  God's  ideas.  Matter  is  shadow.  We  exist  in 
Mind. 

The  great  battle  has  been  fought,  and  I  do  not 
think  one  of  us  is  wounded,  but  error  says  we  are  a 
little  weary.  Error  is  a  lie.  Our  Leader  says,  "God 
rests  in  action"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  519),  so  do  we, 
God's  manifestation.  The  accuser  is  cast  down,  and  oh ! 
what  nothingness  it  was.  Why  did  we  fear  it  ?  When 
we  all  rose  above  the  belief  of  any  mind  but  God,  we 
conquered.  Let  us  see  each  other  as  God's  ideas,  and 
love  God's  manifestation,  nor  confound  the  so-called 
mortal  with  the  immortal. 

Let  your  Communion  be  with  Christ,  who  will  feed 
you  with  the  bread  of  heaven. 

Love  to  you  all, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


422       Individuality  versus  Personality 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48th  Street,  August  IT,  1902. 
My  dear  Student: — 

For  several  days  I  have  tried  to  write  you,  to  let 
you  know  how  our  dear  church  is  getting  on,  but  there 
seems  no  time  for  a  letter  to  you,  there  has  been  so 
much  else  to  do.  This  transitional  stage  needs  my 
watchful  care.  I  have  never  felt  such  tender  solicitude 
for  all  as  now. 

It  was  a  great  test  for  the  dear  church  to  give  me  up 
as  Reader,  but  the  members  are  brave,  faithful,  and 
scientific.  They  know  that  they  have  a  wise  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  that  she  will  take  them  safely  into 
the  consciousness  which  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  if 
they  will  cling  to  the  Pastor,  Science  and  Health, 
and  the  Bible,  and  not  worship  personality.  Miss 
L  ...  is  doing  very  well,  and  will,  as  soon  as  all  are 
adjusted  to  the  new  conditions,  be  perfectly  satis- 
factory. She  has  poise  and  is  a  fine  character.  I  know 
that  as  she  develops  she  will  be  a  clear  transparency 
for  Truth.  Mr.  R  .  .  .  will  also  meet  the  demands  of 
Christ.  I  met  them  both  to-day,  and  heard  them  read 
in  the  pulpit.  I  must  remain  here  and  get  them  ready 
for  the  autumn  when  all  will  come  home  and  accus- 
tom themselves  to  the  new  Readers.  I  have  occupied 
the  pulpit  nearly  seventeen  consecutive  years,  first  as 
Pastor  and  then  as  Reader.  My  care  of  my  church 
will  be  even  greater  now. 

Are  you  not  beginning  to  find  the  power  and  peace 
and  joy  of  the  impersonal  work ?  I  have  had  some  strong 
evidence  that  I  am  fast  rising  above  the  false  and  finite 
sense,  and  this  encourages  me  to  press  on.  We  are 
watching  and  waiting  for  the  Word.  It  is  necessary 
that  we  keep  much  in  spiritual  communion,  that,  when 
our  Lord  shall  appear,  we  may  be  found  watching. 


Individuality  versus  Personality       423 

The  higher  revelation  is  to  be  attained  by  watching 
and  prayer.  We  must  rise  every  day  with  our  Leader 
to  higher  spiritual  sense. 

I  find  the  food  question  is  becoming  very  clear  to 
me.  The  two  hundred  and  twentieth  page  of  Science 
and  Health,  and  many  other  passages,  are  very  im- 
portant to  consider  and  demonstrate.  I  have  been  able 
to  discern  something  of  what  Jesus  meant  when  he  said, 
"I  have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of"  (John  iv., 
32).  With  the  bread  of  heaven  comes  a  wonderful 
strength,  and  spiritualized  thought  sometimes  rebels 
at  material  food — the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt. 

Truly  I  catch  a  faint  glimpse  of  the  words  of  our 
Master,  "If  any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  shall  live 
forever"  (John  vi.,  51).  It  is  worth  every  sacrifice, 
every  pain,  and  every  tear  we  have  ever  shed  in  our 
spiritual  warfare,  to  be  able  to  apprehend  our  reality 
and  our  spiritual  possibilities.  God  is  our  Life,  there- 
fore we  are  immortal  and  must  finally  prove  it. 

I  was  pleased  to  see  our  Leader's  letter.  She  thought 
you  had  seen  the  letter,  evidently,  and  she  was  quick 
to  disarm  your  mind  of  any  thought  you  might  have 
entertained  as  to  her  true  meaning.  Had  she  not 
watched  with  me,  I  would  have  fallen  under  the 
burden.  Her  quick  intuition  saw  this,  and  her  letter 
broke  the  seeming  power  of  belief  of  malicious  mental 
malpractice  against  whose  cruel  influence  I  was  labor- 
ing. She  always  does  her  work  at  the  right  time. 
She  was  not  going  to  let  you  be  in  doubt,  and  her  meek 
explanation  was  touching. 

I  am  going  to  be  in  Concord  the  twenty-seventh  and 
twenty-eighth  of  this  month  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H  .  .  .  , 
Mrs.  T  .  .  .  ,  Miss  P  .  .  . ,  and  the  E  .  .  .'s. 

I  beg  you  will  pardon  this  hasty  letter.     If  I  wait  to 


424       Individuality  versus  Personality 

write  a  proper  one  I  may  not  get  time  to  do  it.     Give 
my  dearest  love  to  dear  Mrs.  H  .  .  .  ,  and  believe  me, 
Your  faithful,  loving  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

■ 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  5,  1903. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  sure  that  you  know  what  pleasure  it  would  give 
me  to  be  with  you  in  person,  and  how  grateful  I  am  for 
your  invitation;  but  I  am  on  the  watch-tower,  clad  in 
armor,  and  it  looks  now  as  though  I  could  not  put  it 
off  for  a  furlough  for  some  time.  Surely  I  shall  not  be 
ready  for  dress  parade  until  the  present  demonstration, 
the  completion  and  dedication  of  our  church  edifice  is 
made. 

I  have  taken  three  new  patients  to-day,  one  a  little 
child  who  appears  to  have  no  intelligence.  I  must 
work  with  God  and  for  Him,  and  convince  myself  that 
she  is  not  in,  nor  of  matter,  and  that  there  is  a  true 
reflection  of  intelligence  in  her — an  idea  of  divine  Mind, 
in  the  place  of  the  belief.  I  must  first  realize  my  own 
completeness  in  my  Father-Mother  God,  the  only 
creator.  I  must  reflect  the  male  and  female  (the 
compound  idea)  of  His  creating  in  myself;  knowing 
in  the  understanding,  or  spirit,  what  we  all  have  long 
known  in  the  letter,  namely,  that  we  are  not  a  partial 
reflection  of  the  fatherhood  and  motherhood  of  God, 
but  complete  in  ourselves,  a  unit,  one  with  Omnipo- 
tence. This  will  destroy  the  belief  of  the  physical 
personality  as  substance,  and  will  reveal  the  spiritual 
personality  or  individuality — the  true  image  and 
likeness  of  Principle,  true  spiritual  selfhood. 

Christ,  the  ideal  man,  has  appeared  to  our  illumined 


Individuality  versus  Personality       425 

spiritual  sense.  He  was  manifest  once  in  the  flesh. 
He  said  he  would  come  again.  To-day  he  appears  to  us 
through  the  veil  of  the  flesh, — the  false  image,  or  forma- 
tion of  the  human  concept.  His  presence  is  felt  by  all 
who  are  ready  to  receive  him.  He  walks  invisibly  with 
all  who  call  upon  him,  and,  when  we  rise  above  the 
fleshly  concept,  his  true  image  will  be  manifest — the 
image  of  Principle,  good,  the  ideal*  man.  '"When 
Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear  [be  manifested], 
then  shall  ye  also  appear  [be  manifested]  with  him  in 
glory"'  {Science  and  Health,  p.  325).  I  long  for  the 
awakening,  but  I  must  do  the  work  of  reflecting  Spirit, 
and  help  to  arouse  others  from  the  mesmeric  sleep  and 
deep  dream  of  Adam,  who  expressed  the  image  of  his 
sensuous  concept  in  Eve,  who  was  Adam's  own  thought 
said  to  have  been  his  rib  and  who  ever  since  has  dark- 
ened history  by  reproducing  false  images — the  material 
creation. 

Our  beloved  Leader  and  Mother  in  Israel,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
was  the  first  to  see  Christ  at  his  second,  impersonal 
appearing.  She  felt  his  presence  and  heard  his  voice. 
We  cannot  say  whether,  under  divine  illumination, 
she  caught  a  spiritual  glimpse  of  the  ideal  image  or 
substance-idea, — the  Son  of  God,  who  destroys  the 
false  human  selfhood,  but  we  sing  her  words,  "And  o'er 
earth's  troubled,  angry  sea  I  see  Christ  walk"  {Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  p.  397),  and — mentally,  through 
spiritual  sense — we  perceive  his  invisible  presence.  We 
follow  her  as  she  follows  Christ,  and  when  the  holy 
One,  the  pure,  true  Leader  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  rises  to  higher  spiritual  altitudes, 
we  shall  rise  with  her. 

Just  as  Jesus'  resurrection  was  the  resurrection  of 
his  disciples,  so  also  will  her  resurrection,  with  the  de- 


426       Individuality  versus  Personality 

scent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  elevate  us  to  higher  spiritual 
realization.  Christ  Jesus  represented  the  fatherhood 
of  God,  worked  out  his  problem  of  scientific  being,  and 
found  his  oneness  with  Principle.  At  the  Ascension, 
when  he  knew  that  he  was  losing  the  material  sense 
which  had  enabled  him  to  mediate  in  the  flesh,  he 
told  his  disciples  he  was  about  to  leave  them  (as  a 
physical  visible  personality) ;  but  that  he  (his  invisible 
divine  personality  or  individuality,  his  true  image  or 
body,  the  eternal  man),  would  never  leave  them,  but 
would  be  ever  with  them  to  aid  and  cheer.  Had  they 
risen  with  him,  they  would  have  continued  conscious 
of  his  presence,  and  had  they  understood  his  divine 
individuality  they  would  have  revealed  him  in  his 
spiritual  embodiment — the  image  of  creative  Mind — 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

Our  dearly  loved  Leader  discerned  the  presence  of 
Christ.  To  her  was  given  the  cup  which  she  must  drink, 
if  she  would  follow  Christ,  and  lift  a  sin-blind  world  to 
see  the  ideal  man  at  his  second  appearing,  without  sin, 
flesh.  She  represents  the  motherhood  of  Love.  She 
has  called  mortals  to  awake,  and  to  behold  the  Christ- 
idea,  whose  presence  can  only  be  felt  and  seen  through 
spiritualized  sense.  With  this  illumination  comes  the 
destruction  of  false  concepts  and  their  false  formations. 
Then  man  takes  hold  of  eternal  substance,  which  is 
immortal  being — God  and  man. 

In  this  hour,  as  in  the  past,  our  Leader  is  guiding  us 
to  God.  She  has  taught  us  how  Jesus  demonstrated 
his  dominion,  and  through  her  spiritual  recognition 
of  his  work,  and  his  invisible  presence,  she  teaches  us 
to  listen  for  the  voice  of  Christ,  as  he  leads  the  world 
to  God  and  to  our  home  in  heaven — harmony,  which 
is  here  on  earth.     "  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the 


Individuality  versus  Personality      427 

fulness  thereof."  Her  divine,  impersonal  presence  as 
an  idea  of  God,  is  becoming  more  real  to  me  every  day. 
I  do  not  see  her  in  the  mental  as  corporeality  or  in 
physical,  finite  form,  as  I  once  did.  That  sense  is 
fading  and  I  feel  a  tender  presence.  I  hear  a  sweet 
voice  saying,  "This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it."  Thus 
we  find  on  the  highway  to  holiness  that  Jesus  and 
Mary  have  learned  "the  way,"  and  the  sons  of  God 
are  coming  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  on  earth.  Oh, 
the  riches  of  this  understanding!  The  "two  witnesses " 
are  fulfilling  the  law  of  Spirit. 

May  we  realize  the  second  appearing  of  the  Son  of 
God,  and  appreciate  our  great  Leader,  whose  ear  heard 
Christ's  impersonal  call  to  turn  from  flesh  and  follow 
Spirit.  As  she  drinks  of  his  cup,  that  she  may  find  her 
oneness  with  Love  and  show  us  the  way,  so  may  we, 
with  loving  obedience,  see  Christ,  Truth,  and  finally 
awake  in  the  perfect  image  and  likeness  of  Love.  Then 
bliss  and  eternal  existence  will  be  ours. 

I  need  not  go  to  you  in  person,  my  dear  student. 
You  will  feel  and  recognize  me  in  idea,  in  my  impersonal 
individuality. 

My  love  to  Mr.  T  .  .  .  and  the  dear  children,  and 
all  in  your  home. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


4440  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
October  23,  1904. 

My  beloved  Students: — ' 

I  am  waiting  on  God — no  one  yet  knows  anything 
that   is   to   be   done.     All   are   very   happy,   and   the 

1  Written  to  my  Students'  Association  in  New  York  City  during  a 
meeting  of  the  National  Teacher's  Association  in  Chicago. 


428       Individuality  versus  Personality 

Association  will  give  a  power  to  the  body,  as  all  these 
old  soldiers  (teachers),  battle-scarred  but  strong,  take 
a  firmer  hold  upon  the  infinite,  and  press  forward  to 
the  end  of  all  error.  I  pray  that  you  all  may  feel  the 
pulse  of  the  great  heart  of  Love,  and  that  you  will 
rise  into  newness  of  life  and  see  the  reward  of  your 
efforts  for  self-abnegation,  consecration,  divine  love 
and  unity.  Oh!  watch  with  your  Christ.  Protect 
your  Christ-child,  your  spiritual  consciousness,  or 
Herod,  mortal  so-called  mind,  will  destroy  it. 

Choose  to  walk  with  God,  and  trust  God  to  care  for 
you.  Learn  to  lose  with  God.  Lose  your  material 
sense  of  yourselves  and  of  others — lose  your  trust  in 
material  ways  and  means  to  an  end, — lose  your  sensuous 
appetites  and  tastes,  and  see  that  God  is  substance, 
who  supplies  our  material  needs  until  He  is  found  to 
be  our  only  support. 

Be  not  murmurers  in  the  wilderness,  nor  cry  for  the 
"quail"  and  "garlic."  I  pray  that  you  will  be  cir- 
cumspect and  never  repeat  to  the  unbelievers  what 
sacrifices  of  personal  sense  and  self  you  make  to  reach 
eternal  Life,  and  your  oneness  with  Principle.  They 
would  not  understand  your  consecration,  and  could 
not  see  your  reward  in  love,  peace,  and  joy.  We  are 
faithful  to  our  vows — to  work  for  Christ,  and  to  make 
all  error  unreal. 

How  few  are  ready  to  grow  gradually  out  of  the 
human  into  the  divine.  If  we  are  ready,  we  should  not 
reprove  another  who  is  not  able  to  run  so  fast  as  we  the 
race  for  immortality,  nor  offend  him  by  repeating  our 
victories  over  material  sense.  "If  meat  make  my 
brother  to  offend,  I  will  eat  no  flesh,"  etc.  (i  Cor.  viii., 
13).  God  bless  each  of  you,  my  ^ear  students,  and 
may  I  bring  you  fresh  inspiration  for  the  rest  of  the 


Individuality  versus  Personality       429 

journey  from  sense  to  Soul  from  this  meeting  of  the 
National  Christian  Scientist  Association. 

I  love  you  with  a  love  which  human  language  cannot 
express.  I  believe  "These  are  they"  whom  God  has 
given  me,  who  will  walk  beside  me  in  white  robes,  pure 
spiritual  thoughts:  Love  will  show  us  the  way.  We 
will  keep  our  eyes  to  the  heavens — our  face  to  the 
blast — until  the  "Sun  of  righteousness"  bursts  the 
clouds  of  mortal  sense,  and  reveals  the  eternal  real — 
the  universe  of  God's  creating,  where  God  will  feed  and 
clothe  us,  and  eternal  bliss  will  be  our  only  consciousness. 
Ever  lovingly  and  faithfully  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  26,  1904. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Love  spans  all  space.  I  come  into  your  presence  to- 
day and  reflect  to  you  the  love  that  fills  my  heart  for 
the  steadfast  loyalty  to  Principle  and  idea  that  I  find 
in  you.  If  I  allowed  my  emotions  to  control  me,  I 
should  weep  tears  of  gratitude  this  Christmas-tide 
that  so  many  of  my  beloved  students  have  been  able 
to  stand  during  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  from  the 
unreal  to  the  real,  and  are  still  with  me,  giving  me 
the  comfort  and  care  which  keeps  me  from  fainting  by 
the  way. 

No  one  can  understand  the  depth  of  my  love  for 
those  who  have  come  up  with  me  through  great  tribu- 
lation, and  are  still  standing,  as  we  pass  through  the 
fires  which  must  purify  even  the  gold  of  human  char- 
acter. I  rejoice  that  they  will  share  the  boundless 
bliss  of  the  ideal  life  which  they  are  fast  attaining. 

God  gives   us  strength  to  resist  all  that  is  unlike 


43°       Individuality  versus  Personality 

the  Christ,  and  to  receive  the  blessings  rich  and  rare 
which  our  Father  is  pouring  out  upon  us  in  our  new 
consciousness.  Our  concepts  are  changing.  We  are 
rising  into  the  understanding  of  God's  allness  and  our 
oneness  with  Him — therefore  that  all  is  eternal  Life, 
Love  and  Truth,  and  that  we,  and  all  the  world,  are 
His  reflection. 

I  send  you  endless  love,  dear  L  .  .  .  I  have  little 
time  to  enjoy  my  beloved  students  personally — so  much 
church  work  and  care  of  patients  and  students  de- 
volve upon  me,  but  I  shall  rest  some  day  and  enjoy 
their  companionship — rest  in  action  with  the  faithful. 
I  thank  you  for  your  loving  thought  of  me.  You  always 
bring  out  such  beauty  and  affluence,  from  an  unlimited 
spiritualized  thought.  Do  not  forget  my  gratitude, 
and  believe  me, 

Faithfully  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  July  2,  1906. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

I  cannot  be  with  you  in  person,  as  you  "sail  the  seas 
o'er,"  but  I  can  be  near  you  in  spiritual  sense,  and 
only  thus  can  you  know  the  presence  which  is  substance. 
You  are  surely  learning  life's  lesson  of  the  allness  of 
Mind,  and  the  nothingness  of  matter.  Our  mental 
messages  defy  obstruction,  for  God  fills  all  space.  You 
will  find  the  ever-presence  of  Love  always  near  when  you 
call  upon  Her.  You  must  lean  more  trustingly  upon  the 
sustaining  infinite  when  you  feel  that  finite  sense  is 
trying  to  arrest  your  attention  and  hold  you  to  the 
false  and  untrue  argument  of  life  in  matter. 


Individuality  versus  Personality       431 

I  send  you,  my  three  dear  ones,  much  love.  Enjoy, 
and  hear  good  in  every  manifestation  of  Mind.  I  send 
you  a  letter  of  introduction  to  my  student,  Mrs.  S  .  .  .  , 
in  Rome.     Au  revoir.     Bon  voyage. 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  September  15,  1906. 
My  dear  Student: — ' 

Since  the  Communion  Service  in  Boston  with  its 
uplifting  influence,  I  have  realized  more  clearly  than 
ever  the  great  responsibility  that  rests  upon  Christian 
Scientists  in  this  hour.  The  subtle  action  and  argu- 
ment of  impersonal  evil,  through  ignorant  or  malicious 
avenues,  or  physical  personalities,  must  be  seen,  met, 
and  handled  by  the  defenders  of  Truth,  in  order  that 
our  Cause  may  be  protected,  and  that  our  Leader's 
heart  may  be  cheered  by  our  understanding  of  scientific 
being,  as  revealed  through  her  teachings.  Only  con- 
stant vigilance,  and  a  great  struggle  will  enable  us  to  win 
this  battle  for  spiritual  personality,  or  true  individual- 
ity. Read  our  Leader's  Message  for  iqoi,  beginning 
with  the  headline,  "God  is  the  Infinite  Person." 
Study  this  carefully,  and  in  quiet  communion  with  God, 
ask  that  her  meaning  may  be  revealed  to  you. 

Much  confusion  is  apparent,  the  result  of  ignorance, 
or  a  lack  of  spiritual  discernment  as  to  the  true  meaning 

1  This  letter  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Eddy  at  the  time  it  was  written,  with 
the  request  that  she  read  it,  and  tell  me  if  it  were  absolutely  scientific. 
She  replied  that  it  was,  and  returned  it  with  some  marginal  notes  of 
commendation  in  her  own  handwriting.  This  letter  was  shown  to  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  and  read  at  the  trial  as  a  proof 
of  the  correctness  of  my  teaching,  which  they  decided  was  "  pretended 
Christian  Science." 


432       Individuality  versus  Personality 

of  the  word  personality.  Many  are  blinded  to  the  Christ- 
man  by  their  false  sense  of  it.  If  you  will  put  the  ad- 
jectives physical,  material,  finite  before  it,  you  will  soon 
discern  the  difference  between  infinite  personality,  spir- 
itual personality,  spiritual  individuality,  and  physical 
or  corporeal  personality,  or  the  illusive  mortal  sense  em- 
bodiment. Read  Science  and  Health,  page  1 1 6,  beginning 
at  line  27,  and  also  read  all  that  bears  upon  personality 
and  individuality  in  our  Leader's  other  works. 

Can  you  not  see  the  effort  of  anti-Christ  to-day  to 
hold  up  physical  personality  to  terrorize  those  who  are 
struggling  to  redeem  their  spiritual,  individual  selfhood? 
The  word  self  is  also  used  freely  in  such  expressions 
as  abnegate  self,  destroy  self,  ignore  self,  which  in  the 
sense  of  physical  self,  personal  sense,  or  mind  in  matter, 
we  should  do,  but  in  a  higher  sense,  we  should  recognize 
and  defend  our  spiritual  selfhood.  We  should  exalt 
Christ, — we  should  manifest  our  Principle,  and  show 
forth  God's  glory  in  the  eternal  self,  or  substance- 
idea,  which  is  the  image  and  presence  of  good.  The 
material  sense  of  personality  must  give  place  to  a 
spiritual  sense,  which  is  our  identity  or  individuality. 

I  detect  the  intent  of  malicious  mental  malpracti- 
tioners  to  deprive  the  Christian  Scientists  of  their  birth- 
right, by  persistent  arguments  for  the  necessity  of 
meekness,  and  voluntary  humility.  If  Christian  Scien- 
tists become  weary  of  the  struggle  to  defend  their  in- 
dividuality and  yield  to  this  suggestion,  they  cease  to 
reflect  the  dominion  of  omnipotent  Truth.  "For  this 
cause  many  are  weak  and  sickly  among  you,  and  many 
sleep"  (1  Cor.  xi.,  30). 

There  is  a  mental  laziness  which  must  be  seen  and 
handled.  It  results  in  haziness  which  clouds  the 
spiritual  sense,  and  prevents  the  recognition  of  spiritual 


Individuality  versus  Personality       433 

individuality,  which  is  man,  governed  by  God,  revealing 
health,  happiness,  and  the  loving  Father's  affluence, 
that  supplies  every  need.  If  the  wings  of  faith  and 
understanding  are  clipped,  they  cease  to  soar,  and  the 
victim  drops  to  the  level  of  his  own  false  sense,  and 
fails  to  prove  the  possibilities  of  his  spiritual  personality 
as  a  reflector  of  Love. 

Our  Master  is  admitted  by  all  to  have  been  the  meek- 
est man  that  ever  lived,  but  did  not  he  contend  for  his 
rights  as  a  Son  of  God?  Did  he  not  say  "  Destroy  this 
temple  [physical  personality],  and  in  three  days  I  [with 
my  spiritual  consciousness]  will  raise  it  up"  (appear, 
manifest  myself  to  you)?  He  reflected  or  manifested 
God,  and  with  the  courage  of  his  spiritual  selfhood  he 
rebuked  and  resisted  personified  evil. 

We  often  hear  the  novitiate  in  Christian  Science 
speak  of  a  person,  or  a  body  of  people,  as  being  "very 
impersonal, "  without  specifying  whether  he  wishes  to 
imply  that  they  manifest  impersonal  good  or  impersonal 
evil.  However,  all  are  judged  by  Jesus'  test — their 
fruits.  Jesus  constantly  asserted  himself,  and  his 
oneness  with  the  Father.  This  willingness  to  appear 
aggressive  to  those  who  were  trying  to  prevent  his 
demonstration  of  the  power  of  divine  Love  over  sin, 
disease,  and  death,  was  true  meekness.  He  knew  the 
nothingness  of  physical  personality,  which  has  no  princi- 
ple, and  is  but  a  shadow  or  substanceless  myth.  He 
admitted,  as  real,  no  presence  but  the  divine. 

Every  Christian  Scientist  must  fight  the  battle  for 
individual  manhood  and  womanhood ;  he  must  be  true 
to  his  spiritual  selfhood;  must  be  mighty  in  meekness, 
if  he  would  destroy  the  false  sense  of  a  power  opposed 
to  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  The  claim  of  a  mortal  mind, 
with  a  physical  embodiment,  possessing  life  and  sensa- 


434       Individuality  versus  Personality 

tion,  with  its  false  appetites,  pleasures,  and  pains,  must 
disappear  as  our  Christ  selfhood  is  lifted  up  to  oneness 
with  divine  Love,  and  all  must  finally  behold  the  face 
of  our  Father-Mother  God  in  His  Christ,  the  universe 
or  body,  including  the  individual  members.  When  we 
cease  to  discuss  physical  personality  and  find  our  way 
out  of  the  carnal  concept,  that  perfect  divine  personality, 
God's  man,  will  appear  in  the  beauty,  majesty,  and 
continuity  of  his  creator,  God. 

What  did  our  beloved  Leader  anticipate  when  she 
called  us  to  Pleasant  View,  "to  look  upon  our  dear 
faces"?  Her  invitation  was  the  call  of  Love.  We 
heard  God's  voice  speaking  to  us  through  her,  His 
chosen  one,  and  we  lost,  for  a  time,  the  sense  of  a  finite 
personality  as  we  lingered  in  that  holy  presence.  If  we, 
standing  before  her,  could  lose  the  material  concept  for 
a  moment,  what  may  not  our  great  Leader  have  seen 
in  the  upturned  faces  of  that  multitude? 

The  meeting  with  our  dear  Leader,  and  the  bread, 
truth,  with  which  she  fed  us,  will  enable  us  to  continue 
our  march  toward  the  final  realization  of  Truth,  when 
we  shall  no  longer  stand  and  wait,  but  shall  rest  with 
her  in  the  encircling  arms  of  divine  Love. 

Let  me  return  for  a  moment  to  the  two  words  that  I 
wish  to  impress  upon  you,  and  add  that  those  who  say 
that  impersonal  healing  and  impersonal  teaching  is 
enough  in  this  hour,  fail  to  remember  that  our  Leader 
still  requires  personal  healing  and  teaching.  If  all 
need  for  personal  work  was  over,  and  it  was  no  longer 
necessary  to  teach  or  heal,  we  should  rejoice  to  be 
freed  from  the  responsibilities;  but  we  have  not  arrived 
at  this  point  of  demonstration,  and  no  argument  of  the 
enemy  shall  lull  me  or  tempt  me  in  the  heat  of  battle 
to  lay  down  my  sword  just  before  the  victory  is  won. 


Individuality  versus  Personality       435 

Love  will  quicken  us  to  strive  lawfully  to  demon- 
strate the  Christ-mind  in  healing  and  teaching;  to 
hold  our  position  in  the  body,  rising  ever  higher  in  the 
scale  of  being,  while  we  trust  more  trustingly  in  God, 
to  move  our  tongues  to  teach  so  long  as  our  Leader 
requires  it;  to  move  our  hearts  to  heal  by  reflecting 
Love,  and  to  move  our  bodies  to  the  bed  of  the  sufferer, 
by  day  or  by  night,  until  the  bonds  of  sin  are  broken. 

It  is  easy  to  read,  talk,  and  dream.  It  requires  effort 
to  conquer  the  love  of  ease,  and  the  dislike  of  disagree- 
able personalities  and  their  loathsome  diseases.  It 
would  be  easy  to  put  Science  and  Health  in  the  hands 
of  our  patients  and  send  them  away  with  the  assurance 
that  they  can  be  healed  by  reading  it, — which  is  true, 
if  they  will  follow  the  advice,  but  they  need  encourage- 
ment. It  is  a  hard  problem  to  conquer  carnal  self  and 
to  rise  to  our  spiritual  individuality,  the  pure  Mind  of 
Christ,  that  we  may  patiently  bear  with  their  unceas- 
ing demands  until  disease  and  error  flee  before  the 
Christ  love,  or  until  we  find  that  we  are  "casting  pearls 
before  those  who  trample  them  under  foot,  thereby  rob- 
bing both  themselves  and  others"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  234).  I  pray  that  I  may  be  able  to  keep  that  which 
has  been  committed  to  my  trust. 

Active  workers  are  needed.  Lazy  drones  cannot  re- 
main in  the  hive  of  Christian  Science,  finding  excuse 
in  the  words  "God  will  do  the  work. "  We  must  show 
forth  His  power  and  glory  as  His  ideas.  We  must  sing, 
not  sigh,  work,  and  practise,  not  rest  in  sensuous  ease. 
Self -righteousness  is  destroying  more  than  one  to-day. 
Only  the  hireling  refuses  to  stand  until  Love  delivers. 
Humility  turns  from  the  smile  of  the  Pharisee,  clings 
to  God,  and  waits  for  His  approval. 

Another  word  is  becoming  the  shibboleth  for  imper- 


436       Individuality  versus  Personality 

sonal  evil, — "  Democracy. "  This  is  absolute  Christian 
Science,  and  will  be  the  ultimate  when  man  is  governed 
by  God.  But  the  hour  is  not  yet  for  me.  I  recognize 
and  obey  my  Leader  and  Teacher.  She  is  at  the  head 
of  an  organized  body,  or  church.  Her  rules  and  By- 
Laws  for  the  government  of  her  church,  I  strictly  ob- 
serve and  obey  and  teach  my  students  to  obey.  She 
calls  her  students  and  places  them  where  she  sees  that 
God  requires  them  to  do  more  in  His  service.  She 
is  God's  manifestation,  reflecting  more  of  the  God 
qualities  than  any  other  personality.  Those  who  look 
upon  her  through  a  material  concept  see  physical 
personality,  personal  control,  etc.  Those  who  discern 
her  spiritually,  behold  her  spiritual  individuality,  or  the 
spiritual  idea  of  good,  who  voices  the  law  of  Spirit  and 
is  chosen  to  lead  meekly  from  material  sense  up  to  the 
spiritual  ideal.  It  is  wise  for  us  to  listen  for  her  voice, 
and  to 

.   .   .  follow  and  rejoice 

All  the  rugged  way. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  am  strong  and  joyous  in  the  understanding  that  we 
have  an  individual,  spiritual  body,  "whose  builder  and 
maker  is  God. "     With  love, 

Ever  yours  faithfully, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  November  24,  1907. 
My  dear  Student : — 

You  are  too  good  a  Scientist  to  believe  that  I  do  not 
often  think  of  you  and  frequently  send  you  helpful 
thoughts.     My  silent  pen  may  seem  to  contradict  this 


Individuality  versus  Personality       437 

but  you  know  better.  I  find  that  my  cares  continually 
increase,  leaving  me  less  and  less  time  to  devote  to 
students  because  there  are  so  many  more  to  whom  I 
must  attend. 

I  want  to  thank  you  for  the  beautiful  picture  you 
sent  me.  It  was  dear  of  you  to  remember  me.  I  am 
slow  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  love,  but  I 
appreciate  it,  dear.  I  feel  so  confident  that  you  are 
always  responding  to  my  mental  touch,  or  reflection 
of  Love,  as  I  commune  with  Spirit,  that  the  medium  of 
pen  and  paper  to  convey  my  thought  seems  slow. 

We  are  rising  to  the  understanding  that  we  are  men- 
tal beings  and  are  dividing  between  the  mortal  mind  and 
the  immortal  Mind — between  the  carnal  belief  of  life 
in  matter  and  life  in  spiritual  consciousness.  So  you 
see  that  we  are  often  together,  when  material  sense 
testimony  declares  that  we  are  separated.  Then  I 
feel  I  reach  you  and  all  my  dear  students,  without  the 
cumbersome  medium  of  pen  and  paper,  yet  we  are  still 
able  to  convey  messages  which  the  human  seems  to 
require  to  prove  its  tangibility. 

I  see  your  dear  mother  often.  She  is  a  blessed  child 
of  God,  who  does  her  own  work  so  faithfully  that  she 
requires  very  little  of  my  personal  attention.  She 
feels  my  thought  and  rises  as  I  rise  giving  me  the 
support  of  her  spiritual  realization  and  thus  comforts 
and  aids  me.  Your  brother  and  sister  also  are  always 
in  their  places  and  always  a  joy  to  me.  God  is  good 
to  give  me  such  blessings.  I  would  like  to  have  you 
here  to  give  thanks  on  Thursday,  but  you  are  giving 
thanks  where  you  are  and  we  are  in  the  one  Mind. 
Space  is  no  separator  of  spiritual  individuals.  I  trust 
that  we  shall  be  revealed  in  due  time  as  the  ideas  of 
ever-present  Love.     Love  is  our  creator  or  Principle, 


438       Individuality  versus  Personality 

and  Love  will  reveal  Her  universe  and  Her  ideas  as  we 
lift  our  thought  above  the  false  mental  concept  and 
its  material  embodiment,  to  the  great  verities  of  Soul 
and  Soul's  embodiment. 

I  sometimes  feel  that  I  would  like  to  immediately 
dissolve  this  "too  solid  flesh"  and  put  on  my  immortal 
selfhood  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  but  that  I 
cannot  do.  I  must  merge  gradually  from  the  false  to 
the  true  sense  and  wait  on  divine  Love.  And  so  I  gird 
on  my  armor  more  securely  and  with  staff  in  hand, 
"I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. " 

I  wish  you  would  give  my  dearest  love  to  dear  A  .  .  . 
D  .  .  .  Tell  her  I  often  send  her  helpful,  wireless 
messages  and  that  I  would  like  to  hear  from  her  when- 
ever she  can  write  without  inconvenience. 

I  send  you  much  love,  dear,  and  hope  to  see  you  soon 
in  person. 

Lovingly  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  18,  1909. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  trust  that  you  have  seen  the  powerlessness  of  error 
to  hold  you  to  the  belief  of  life  in  a  corporeal  body. 
You  are  only  meeting  the  false  claim  of  a  power  opposed 
to  God  and  His  idea.  You  know  the  ever-present  and 
omnipotent  Christ  can  destroy  all  lies  concerning  the 
reality  of  a  corporeal  body.  All  my  loyal  students  who 
have  risen  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  demands  are  beginning  to 
build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation"  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  and  as  fast  as  we  can 
we  are  rising  above  the  physical  and  false  embodiment 


Individuality  versus  Personality       439 

of  a  mortal  mind  and  a  material  universe.  These  days 
reveal  glorious  visions  of  the  ideal  man  who  reflects 
his  perfect  Principle. 

The  universe  of  Love's  creation  and  Love's  pure 
and  perfect  idea  is  here  and  now.  As  the  false,  material 
sense  dies,  the  spiritual  sense  discloses  the  blessed 
substance-idea.  We  are  none  other  than  perfect  ideas 
now,  and  forever,  and  we  must  meet  and  master  every 
claim  to  life  in  matter.  It  is  grand  to  enter  upon  the 
warfare  with  evil,  and  prove  its  false,  illusive  claim  to  be 
unreal.  I  rejoice  in  the  conflict  between  Christ  and  the 
carnal  in  universal  consciousness.  As  we  rise  Spirit- 
ward,  error  screams  at  us,  but  we  have  no  time  to  argue 
with  nothingness,  as  it  hastens  on  to  self -extinction. 
Our  aim  is  to  find  our  home  in  Spirit,  Mind,  and  to 
rest  in  divine  Love,  the  source  of  all  reality.  Joy  and 
peace  are  our  portion,  and  I  am  in  possession  of  enough 
of  these  fruits  of  the  Spirit  to  nerve  me  more  and 
more  to  desire  to  possess  all  that  belongs  to  my  divine 
birthright. 

You  must  work  and  pray  and  wait,  and  Love  will 
deliver  you.  Handle  impersonal  evil  in  every  false 
suggestion,  and  do  not  be  blind  to  its  avenues.  You 
know  that  impersonal  evil  is  powerless  to  reach  you 
through  any  avenue  or  personality,  if  your  mind  is 
filled  with  Truth  and  Love.  You  must  not  believe 
there  is  a  claim  of  evil  to  reach  ycu  through  any  channel, 
since  God,  good,  is  all  power  and  presence.  You  must 
not  believe  in  a  belief,  nor  believe  that  any  one  believes 
in  a  belief.  They  who  hold  evil  over  any  personality 
are  increasing  their  own  false  sense  and  injuring  them- 
selves. Know  that  you  are  one  with  God,  mental, 
spiritual,  and  that  you  have  no  other  mind  but  the 
Mind  of  Christ.     Be  a  reflector  of  Love.     Be  Christ's 


44°       Individuality  versus  Personality 

representative,  and  you  will  have  the  power  of  God  and 
be  able,  in  every  trial  of  your  faith,  to  stand  against 
the  "fiery  darts  of  the  wicked." 

Give  much  love  to  Mrs.  H  .  .  .  Remember  me  to 
your  dear  father  and  mother.  I  am  very  happy,  per- 
fectly well,  and  the  forces  of  the  claim,  malicious  animal 
magnetism,  the  evil  instincts  of  the  carnal  mind,  directed 
to  me  through  various  channels,  have  no  effect  on  me. 
Let  me  hear  how  you  all  get  on.  The  others  are  not 
my  students  to  care  for.  They  have  a  dear  teacher  who 
will  do  her  duty  by  them  according  to  our  Leader's  in- 
junction in  her  By-Laws.  See  Article  xxvi,  Section  2, 
of  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  "Care  of  Pupils." 
Ever  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  u,  1910. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

God  bless  you  and  keep  your  heart  fixed  in  Truth 
and  Love.  Never  did  I  cling  to  the  cross  and  kiss 
it  as  during  this  experience — when  evil  thinkers,  evil 
speakers  and  doers  would  terrify  me,  if  our  revered 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  had  not  taught  me  the  power- 
lessness  of  the  claim  of  evil,  and  the  omnipotence  of 
divine  love  to  protect  me  from  the  wrath  of  mortal  man. 
The  awful  wrongs  and  falsities,  and  human  brutality 
which  are  being  manifested  in  my  present  persecution 
show  me  that  I  must  be  willing  to  suffer  with  Christ, 
if  I  would  free  myself  from  evil  which  is  personified  in 
mortal  mentalities,  who  see  through  material  sense  and 
have  no  idea  of  divine  metaphysics. 

Only  the  might  of  the  Word  of  God  can  deliver  me ; 
so  I  panoply  myself  in  love,  and  having  done  all,  I 


Individuality  versus  Personality       441 

stand  in  Truth,  waiting  for  deliverance  in  God's  own 
time  and  way.  I  am  proving  that  I  am  immortal;  for 
no  one  could  endure  the  united  forces  of  the  so-called 
carnal  mind  expressed  in  mental  poison,  envy,  jealousy, 
revenge,  unless  he  were  encased  in  the  protecting  armor 
— the  impenetrable  shield  of  Love. 

Be  strong,  dear  heart,  and  trust  in  God  to  separate 
us  from  the  claim  of  evil,  and  give  us  genuine,  true,  and 
good  Christian  Scientists  with  whom  to  fellowship  in  our 
journey  towards  immortal  being, — a  "wholly  spiritual" 
consciousness  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

I  hope  you  occasionally  see  dear  Mrs.  C  .  .  .  and 
M  .  .  .  B.  .  .  .  How  valiantly  they  have  stood  for 
Christ  and  for  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  How 
they  have  worked,  and  how  they  have  won  an  under- 
standing of  their  oneness  with  Principle,  and  their 
God-being  in  Mind. 

The  battle  between  Spirit  and  flesh  continues. 
Malicious  animal  magnetism  so-called  fears  the  power 
of  Spirit  as  the  true  and  faithful  reflect  the  potency  of 
Love  and  Truth.  We  must  not  yield  to  the  argument 
of  a  power  opposed  to  Mind,  God,  but  must  rise  to 
overcome  "all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked."  Handle 
malicious  animal  magnetism  in  its  every  subtle  argu- 
ment. There  is  no  power  but  Mind,  Spirit,  Soul. 
We  are,  and  ever  have  been  the  reflection  of  Mind. 
We  are  now  immortals,  and  Truth  and  Love  will  enable 
us  to  destroy  all  that  is  carnal  and  human  in  belief 
until  we  awake  in  the  likeness  of  Christ. 

Much  love  to  you.  Please  remember  me  kindly  to 
Mr.  W  .  .  .  God  is  good  to  me  and  mine.  I  am 
trusting  Him  implicitly. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


442       Individuality  versus  Personality 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  25,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

In  reply  to  your  questions,  "Can  you  condemn  evil 
as  impersonal  and  not  include  the  personality  which 
manifests  it?"  and,  "What  does  it  mean  to  'come  out 
from  among  them,  and  be  separate'?"  I  would  ask 
"">«,  How  long  have  you  been  studying  Science  and 
Health  and  our  beloved  Leader's  other  writings? 
These  questions  are  answered  on  every  page  of  her 
works,  but  material  sense  does  not  discern  spiritual 
truth.  Spiritualization  of  thought  is  requisite  to  show 
the  unreality  of  mortal  mind  and  its  matter  body. 

Spirit  is  all,  the  only  creator,  and  the  universe  of 
Spirit  is  filled  with  spiritual  ideas,  and  is  the  only 
universe.  As  we  spiritualize  thought,  we  begin  to 
comprehend  the  immortality  and  ever-presence  of  this 
spiritual  universe,  and  to  detect  the  falsity  of  the  claim 
of  another  cause  or  creator  than  God,  with  its  claim  to 
a  material  world  composed  of  sinning,  sick,  and  dying 
beliefs,  or  material  bodies. 

On  pages  31,  32  of  Unity  of  Good,  by  our  dear  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  we  read: 

It  can  be  shown,  in  detail,  that  evil  does  not  obtain  in 
Spirit,  God;  and  that  God,  or  good,  is  Spirit  alone;  whereas, 
evil  does,  according  to  belief,  obtain  in  matter;  and  that  evil 
is  a  false  claim, — false  to  God,  false  to  Truth  and  Life. 
Hence  the  claim  of  matter  usurps  the  prerogative  of  God, 
saying,  "  I  am  a  creator.  God  made  me,  and  I  make  man 
and  the  material  universe. " 

Thus  you  see,  evil  has  a  manifestation  and  calls  it 
man.  This  mortal  mind  and  its  image  must  be  dis- 
solved. Mrs.  Eddy  called  it  "a  lie  from  the  beginning" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.    567).     Our  Leader  writes  in 


Individuality  versus  Personality       443 

Science  and  Health,  page  267:  "Every  object  in  ma- 
terial thought  will  be  destroyed,  but  the  spiritual  idea, 

whose  substance  is  in  Mind,  is  eternal." 

... 
If  Spirit  is  all,  universal  man  is  the  spiritual  idea,  or 

Christ,  and  each  idea  or  child  of  God  is  a  member  of  the 
body  of  Christ.  Thus  you  see  that  there  is  no  room  for 
mortal  thought,  nor  its  visible  manifestation,  a  matter 
body  or  a  material  universe,  since  Spirit  fills  all  space. 
The  argument  of  the  lying,  talking  serpent,  that  material 
man  and  the  material  universe,  are  God's  people  and 
universe,  has  deceived  the  whole  world  with  its  dark- 
ness, "chaos  and  old  night."  But,  thank  God  for  our 
wise  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  has  taught  us 
the  Science  of  being  and  how  to  interpret  the  Word  of 
God,  the  Holy  Bible.  Jesus  said:  "Ye  shall  know  the 
truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free.  "  Thousands 
are  awaking  and  freeing  themselves  from  the  claim  of 
life  in  matter,  and,  to  such,  "the  accuser  of  our  brethren 
is  cast  down,  which  accused  them  before  our  God  day 
and  night. " 

As  we  contemplate  Spirit, — Christ,  "the  true  Light, 
which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world" 
dispels  the  darkness  or  claim,  and  shows  its  false 
images  or  forms  to  be  without  life  or  intelligence. 
They  are  but  myths  or  illusions.  As  we  gain  the  Mind 
of  Christ,  the  perfect  image  or  likeness  of  a  perfect 
Principle  will  be  revealed.  On  page  32  of  Unity  of  Good, 
Mrs.  Eddy  says,  referring  to  mortal  mind,  or  imper- 
sonal evil:  "This  so-called  mind  and  matter  can- 
not be  separated  in  origin  and  action. "  Continuing, 
she  asks:  "What  is  this  mind?  It  is  not  the  Mind  of 
Spirit;  .  .  .  This  mortal  mind  declares  itself  material, 
in  sin,  sickness,  and  death." 

Again  I  ask  you,  What  is  it  that  is  sick?     Is  it  not 


444       Individuality  versus  Personality 

the  embodiment  of  error,  a  matter  body?  If  evil  never 
is  personified,  what  are  you  treating  as  diseased?  Is 
not  error  manifesting  itself  on  its  own  fleshly  embodi- 
ment? What  is  it  that  dies?  Paul  asks,  "  Who  shall 
deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death? " 

Mrs.  Eddy,  on  page  61  of  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
records  the  following  query: 

"  What  then  does  sin  ?  .  .  .  For  instance,  the  man  is 
held  responsible  for  the  crime ;  .  .  .  and  certainly  I  saw 
him,  or  his  effigy,  dangling  at  the  end  of  a  rope.  This 
'  man  '  was  held  responsible  for  the  '  sin.'  " 

To  which,  Mrs.  Eddy  replies: 

According  to  the  Word,  man  is  the  image  and  likeness 
of  God.  Does  God's  essential  likeness  sin,  or  dangle  at 
the  end  of  a  rope  ?  If  not ,  what  does  ?  A  culprit ,  a  sinner , — 
anything  but  a  man!  Then,  what  is  a  sinner?  A  mortal; 
but  man  is  immortal. 

Again:  mortals  are  the  embodiments  (or  bodies,  if  you 
please)  of  error,  not  of  Truth;  of  sickness,  sin,  and  death. 

It  must  be  apparent  to  you  that  evil  does  personify 
itself  in  material,  so-called  man,  for  mortal  mind  and 
body  are  one, — the  sin  and  the  sinner.  This  so-called 
evil  or  corporeal  man  is  real  to  humanity,  until  Chris- 
tian Science,  or  spiritual  understanding,  reveals  the 
falsity  of  the  claim,  and  destroys  its  qualities, — fear, 
hatred,  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  revenge,  lust,  hypocrisy, 
etc.,  which  are  expressed  in  the  flesh. 

On  page  22  of  No  and  Yes,  Mrs.  Eddy  writes: 
"Jesus  defined  devil  as  a  mortal  who  is  full  of  evil. 
'Have  I  not  chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  of  you  is  a 
devil?'"  Was  not  evil  personified  in  Judas?  Jesus 
pointed  out  the  personality  when  he  said:  "He  that 
dippeth  his  hand  with  me  in  the  dish,  the  same  shall 


Individuality  versus  Personality       445 

betray  me. "  Jesus  came  to  destroy  the  works  of  the 
devil.  Judas  was  a  mortal  who  personified  the  devil. 
When  the  Christ  denounced  impersonal  evil,  Judas 
went  out  and  hanged  himself.  Thus,  "Error,  urged  to 
its  final  limits,  is  self-destroyed"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  476). 

Mrs.  Eddy  also  states,  on  page  23  of  No  and  Yes: 
"To  conceive  of  God  as  resembling — in  personality,  or 
form — the  personality  that  Jesus  condemned  as  devil- 
ish, is  fraught  with  spiritual  danger." 

In  Retrospection  and  Introspection,  read  page  64: 

You  cannot  separate  sin  from  the  sinner.  .  .  .  The  sin 
is  the  sinner,  and  vice  versa,  for  such  is  the  unity  of  evil; 
and  together  both  sinner  and  sin  will  be  destroyed  by  the 
supremacy  of  good.  This,  however,  does  not  annihilate  man, 
for  to  efface  sin, alias  the  sinner, brings  to  light, makes  appar- 
ent, the  real  man,  even  God's  "image  and  likeness."  .  .  . 

In  Christian  Science  the  fact  is  made  obvious  that  the 
sinner  and  the  sin  are  alike  simply  nothingness. 

Impersonal  evil  embodied  itself  recently  in  a  per- 
sonality called  Gallagher.  Impersonal  evil  moved  the 
feet  of  that  personality  to  pursue  Mayor  Gaynor  to  the 
steamer;  moved  its  tongue  to  ask  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest  who  was  present,  "Which  is  Mayor  Gaynor?" 
Then  moved  its  hand  in  the  endeavor  to  destroy  this 
man,  believing  that  life  was  in  matter  and  that  he  (Gal- 
lagher) could  take  it.  Had  impersonal  good  operated 
through  the  human  Gallagher,  it  would  have  extended 
the  hand  to  help  and  bless. 

God,  who  is  Love,  is  operating  in  humanity  to-day, 
eliminating  evil,  "making  mankind  better  physically, 
morally,  and  spiritually"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  466). 
Mrs.  Eddy  declares  in  Unity  of  Good  (pp.  35,  36) : 


446       Individuality  versus  Personality 

The  material  atom  is  an  outlined  falsity  of  consciousness, 
which  can  gather  additional  evidence  of  consciousness  and 
life  only  as  it  adds  lie  to  lie.  .  .  . 

From  the  beginning  this  lie  was  the  false  witness  against 
the  fact  that  Spirit  is  All,  beside  which  there  is  no  other 
existence. 

Thus  you  see  the  nothingness  of  mortal  mind  and  its 
physical  personality.  Christian  Scientists  are  not  en- 
deavoring to  spiritualize  mortal  mind's  embodiment, 
but  the  argument  of  the  lying,  talking  serpent  is  working 
to  continue  the  delusion,  and  to  hold  Spirit  in  the  bonds 
of  matter.  This  is  the  dragon's  subtlest  sophistry — 
"Evil  is  impersonal,  never  personal."  Adam,  the  false 
belief,  has  always  endeavored  to  hide  his  manifestation 
or  corporeal  body  from  Truth's  demand,  "Where  art 
thou?  "  Christian  Science  uncovers  the  bald  imposition 
calling  itself  man;  calls  it  by  name,  error,  belief,  and 
bids  it  come  forth  and  answer  for  the  deeds  done  in  its 
body.  The  seed  of  the  woman  has  crushed  the  serpent's 
head.  "Error  found  out  is  two-thirds  destroyed" 
says  our  Leader  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  355),  and, 
let  me  add,  that  the  other  third  of  the  body  of  sin  and 
death,  from  which  Paul  prayed  for  deliverance,  will 
sting  itself  to  death  with  its  own  lust  and  hypocrisy. 

To-day  Christ  reigns.  The  supremacy  of  Mind  is 
understood,  and  thousands  are  demonstrating  the  power 
and  presence  of  omnipotent  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 
Christian  Scientists  are  striving  to  bring  every  material 
thought  into  obedience  to  Christ, — to  conquer  the 
material  senses  which  once  held  them  in  the  bonds  of 
matter.  They  repudiate  mortal  mind's  phenomena, 
evil,  sin,  sickness,  and  death  (which  embody  themselves 
in  the  flesh),  as  being  no  part  of  God's  creation.  They 
"love  not  the  [material]  world,  neither  the  things  that 


Individuality  versus  Personality       447 

are  in  the  [material]  world,"  knowing  that  these  bring 
only  sorrow,  suffering,  and  death.  They  dwell  continu- 
ally on  the  things  (thoughts)  of  Spirit.  They  meditate 
upon  and  strive  to  emulate  the  life  of  Christ,  and  of  our 
revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  they  demon- 
strate the  power  of  spiritualized  consciousness,  in  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit, — love,  peace,  and  joy. 

All  phenomena  are  the  expressions  of  thought.  As 
we  rise  in  the  scale  of  spiritual  thinking,  we  gain  spirit- 
ual ascendancy  over  the  illusions  of  physical  personality, 
with  its  claim  to  life  and  intelligence.  As  we  continue 
to  unfold  in  the  realization  of  God's  allness,  and  of  our 
oneness  with  Him,  we  are  gradually  lifted  above  the 
human  into  the  divine  Mind,  and  perceive  the  infinite 
capacities  and  possibilities  of  man  when  governed  by 
God,  his  divine  Principle. 

It  is  then  that  we  apprehend  how  the  deeds  of  Christ 
are  wrought ;  how  with  the  Word  (his  spiritual  power) 
he  healed  the  sick,  destroyed  the  belief  of  the  reality 
of  mortal  mind  with  the  understanding  that  behind  the 
shadow  or  mortal  body  is  the  real  man — God's  idea, 
perfect  and  immortal.  "Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the 
perfect  man,  who  appeared  to  him  where  sinning  mortal 
man  appears  to  mortals.  In  this  perfect  man  the 
Saviour  saw  God's  own  likeness,  and  this  correct  view 
of  man  healed  the  sick"  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  476, 

477)- 

So  long  as  humanity  is  governed  by  mortal  thought, 
it  will  express  a  mortal  body  and  a  material  universe, 
and  will  see  man  through  a  corporeal  concept.  Chris- 
tian Scientists  are  to-day  waiting,  watching,  and  pray- 
ing for  the  Mind  of  Christ,  or  the  spiritual  concept 
which  will  reveal  spiritual  man. 

As  brave  wrestlers  for  the  prize  of  immortality,  I 


448       Individuality  versus  Personality 

often  wonder  why  such  contestants  do  not  awaken 
sooner  to  the  Truth  and  come  forth,  clothed,  and  in 
their  right  mind: — why,  when  they  read,  "the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God,"  they  do  not  investigate 
this  carnal  mind  more  thoroughly,  and  learn  how  much 
they  possess  of  it,  how  far  they  obey  it;  why  they  do 
not  study  cause  and  effect,  and,  with  Truth  and  Love, 
emancipate  themselves  from  this  false  causation  and 
its  disastrous  consequences.  Christian  Scientists  must 
not  murmur  in  the  wilderness,  nor  cry  "0  Lord,  how 
long?"  The  glory  of  God  is  being  continually  revealed 
to  us  in  health,  peace,  harmony,  and  spiritual  love,  which 
is  a  foretaste  of  heaven,  here  and  now. 

Through  the  teachings  of  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  our  revered  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  the  faithful  demonstrators  of 
divine  metaphysics,  or  Christian  Science,  the  world  is 
awaking  to  learn  the  meaning  of  the  Scriptures,  "And 
God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our 
likeness :  and  let  them  have  dominion  .  .  .  over  all  the 
earth."  This  dominion  is  gained  through  the  teaching 
and  demonstration  of  Christian  Science.  Science  and 
Health  is  the  greatest  gift  that  God  has  ever  sent  to 
humanity,  because  it  is  the  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
unlocks  the  hidden  treasures  of  the  Holy  Bible,  the 
Word  of  God.  We  owe  an  unutterable  debt  of  love 
and  gratitude  to  our  Christly  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
through  whom  God  gave  it. 

Is  not  your  question,  "What  does  it  mean  to  come 
out  from  among  them  and  be  separate "  already 
answered  ?  Some  persons  reflect  more  of  good  than 
others.      In  Unity  of  Good  we  read  on  page  56  : 

If  Jesus  suffered,  as  the  Scriptures  declare,  it  must  have 


Individuality  versus  Personality       449 

been  from  the  mentality  of  others;  since  all  suffering  comes 
from  mind,  not  from  matter.  .  .  . 

Holding  a  quickened  sense  of  false  environment ;  and  suffer- 
ing from  mentality  in  opposition  to  Truth,  are  significant 
of  that  state  of  mind  which  the  actual  understanding  of 
Christian  Science  first  eliminates  and  then  destroys. 
. 

Prophets  and  apostles  suffered  from  the  thoughts  of 
others.  Their  conscious  being  was  not  fully  exempt  from 
physicality  and  the  sense  of  sin. 

Mortals  classify  themselves.  The  spiritually  minded 
are  at  peace  with  the  spiritually  minded.  They  meet 
on  the  stairs  of  spiritual  love  and  exemplify  the  unity 
of  good.  Christian  Scientists  struggle  with  this  false 
mentality,  in  their  effort  to  gain  the  Mind  of  Christ — 
their  spiritual  individuality.  They  do  not  shrink  from 
contact  with  the  materially  minded,  if,  by  association, 
they  can  aid  them  in  gaining  an  understanding  of  the 
Science  of  being,  which  destroys  sin  and  sickness.  But 
they  "Never  breathe  an  immoral  atmosphere,  unless 
in  the  attempt  to  purify  it "  {Science  and  Health,  p.  452) ; 
therefore,  they  separate  themselves  from  those  who 
adhere  to  error.  Truth  attracts  and  classifies.  Jesus 
says,  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw 
all  men  unto  me. "  As  Christian  Scientists  are  lifted 
spiritually,  they  draw  those  who  love  God,  and  who  are 
striving  to  gain  their  spiritual  personality. 

You  must  differentiate  between  the  terms  "spiritual 
personality"  and  "physical  personality."  Spiritual 
personality,  or  individuality,  is  our  divine  selfhood. 
Physical  personality  is  the  flesh  that  (to  sense)  wars 
against  the  Spirit.  We  hear  on  every  side,  "There  is 
no    personality."     There    is    in    reality    no    physical 


45°       Individuality  versus  Personality 

personality,  but  there  is  a  strong  claim  which  must  be 
made  unreal. 

The  physical  personality  of  Jesus  was  the  mediator, 
during  this  earth-life,  to  those  who  saw  only  physical 
personality;  but  his  spiritual  personality  or  individual 
identity  was  "Emmanuel,  .  .  .  God  with  us."  He 
asked,  "Have  I  been  so  long  time  with  you,  and  yet 
hast  thou  not  known  me,  Philip?  "  Through  a  material 
concept,  Philip  saw  only  physical  personality.  Peter, 
through  a  more  spiritual  concept,  said,  "Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God" — in  other  words 
Peter  discerned  the  ideal  man,  which  was  his, — Jesus' 
divine  selfhood — or  the  Christ-man. 

Thus  by  avoiding,  and  denouncing  personality,  and 
fearing  it,  we  fail  to  reveal  the  spiritual  individuality 
of  our  brother  in  God's  image  and  likeness.  In  speak- 
ing of  those  who  do  not  understand  the  difference  be- 
tween spiritual  personality  and  physical  personality, 
Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  Retrospection  and  Introspection, 
page  74: 

He  who  does  this  is  ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  the  word 
personality,  and  defines  it  by  his  own  corpus  sine  pectore 
(soulless  body),  and  fails  to  distinguish  the  individual,  or 
real  man  from  the  false  sense  of  corporeality,  or  egotistic 
self. 

Finite  personal  sense,  hypnotism  and  mesmerism, 
have  existed  since  the  belief  of  life  in  matter — since  a 
mythological  Adam  and  Eve  are  said  to  have  believed 
the  arguments  of  a  lying,  talking  serpent.  This  claim 
of  hypnotism  or  mesmerism  can  be  summed  up  in  the 
term,  "physical  personality,"  which,  under  the  light 
of  divine  Science,  reflected  by  spiritual  personality, 
loses  its  power,  and  vanishes  into  its  original  nothingness. 


Individuality  versus  Personality       451 

My  dear  student,  strive  to  attain  the  Mind  of 
Christ.  You  will  gain  your  spiritual  concept  if  you 
labor  for  it.  You  sacrifice  your  time,  and  make  persist- 
ent efforts  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  music,  devoting, 
sometimes,  six  or  seven  hours  a  day  to  practice.  What 
would  you  think  of  confining  yourself  for  that  length  of 
time  to  the  Bible,  and  Science  and  Health,  that  you 
might  make  their  hidden  treasures  your  own? 

You  possess  the  qualities  of  Christ,  and  you  must 
redeem  these  qualities  by  meeting  and  overcoming  the 
so-called  qualities  of  mortal  mind.  Give  all  the  time 
that  you  can  possibly  spare  to  the  study  of  the  Holy 
Bible,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
our  Leader's  other  works,  including  the  Manual  of  The 
Mother  Church,  spiritually  interpreted.  Learn,  from 
communion  with  God,  that  spiritual  sense  will  teach 
you  that  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  is  the 
highest  visible  manifestation  of  Truth  and  Love  on 
earth  to-day;  that  she  is  leading  all  who  listen  to  her 
voice  to  follow  and  obey  Christ, — the  impersonal  idea, 
— out  of  matter  into  Mind — out  of  flesh  into  Spirit. 

Let  no  doubt  intervene  to  cloud  your  sense  of  her  as 
the  great  Leader  of  Israel's  army — Love's  representa- 
tive. She  is  our  forever  Leader,  and  we  should  dwell 
continually  in  the  "secret  place  of  the  most  High" 
(spiritual  consciousness) ,  that  we  may  feel  her  Christly 
touch,  and  hear  her  loving  voice  as  she  calls  us  to  scale 
the  height  of  Christian  Science,  nor  to  be  satisfied  until 
we  put  all  beliefs  under  our  feet,  and  stand  with  her  on 
the  summit  of  spiritual  love. 

We  must  not  weary  of  this  struggle  for  immortality. 
At  every  demonstration  over  material  sense,  we  hear, 
"Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  "(the  end 
of  the  belief  of  a  mortal  man  and  a  material  universe). 


452       Individuality  versus  Personality 

If  we  endure  unto  the  end  we  shall  see  face  to  face  and 
know  even  as  we  are  known. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  21,  19 10. 

My  dear  Student: — 

You  ask  me  for  an  explanation  of  the  following 
quotation  from  the  Christian  Science  Monitor,  which 
I  will  answer  as  I  understand  the  teachings  of  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  in  our  text-book, 

and  her  other  writings.     The  quotation  reads : 

■ 
Women  sometimes  follow  a  personal  spiritual  adviser 
through  enthusiasm  for  the  teacher,  but  no  true  develop- 
ment of  spirituality  can  come  from  such  a  following. 
Jesus  understood  this  when  he  said,  "No  man  can  come 
unto  me  except  the  Father  call  him." 

Thousands  of  women  have  followed  Mrs.  Eddy  as  a 
"personal  spiritual  adviser,"  and  true  development  of 
spirituality  has  come  as  demonstrations  of  her  teachings 
have  been  made.  Enthusiasm  for  Christian  Science, 
and  grateful  love  for  Mrs.  Eddy's  selfless  life,  holy 
example,  and  spiritual  instruction  have  given  her  a 
true  following  of  faithful  students.  Through  her 
spiritual  guidance,  we  learn  to  differentiate  between  the 
finite  personality,  and  the  spiritual  personality.  Not 
comprehending  Principle  and  idea,  or  God  and  His 
manifestation,  the  spiritual  personality  or  individuality, 
many  lose  sight  of  God's  demonstrator, — the  Christ- 
man,  manifest  to  human  sense  in  the  flesh,  but,  to  the 
spiritually  illumined,  never  in  nor  of  the  flesh. 

It  was  his  "divine  nature"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  26) 


Individuality  versus  Personality       453 

to  which  Jesus  alluded  when  he  said,  "No  man  can 
come  to  me,  except  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me 
draw  him"  (John  vi.,  44).  Who  was  this  "me"  ? 
It  was  his  spiritual  individuality  which  proceeded  from 
the  Father,  and  to  which  he  referred  when  he  said, 
I  and  my  Father  are  one. 

Jesus  referred  to  this  unity  of  his  spiritual  identity  thus :  .  .  . 
"  I  and  my  Father  are  one;"  .  .  .  The  one  Spirit  includes 
all  identities  {Science  and  Health,  p.  333). 

In  speaking  of  his  demonstrations  he  said,  "I  speak 
not  of  myself:  but  the  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me, 
He  doeth  the  works"  (John  xiv.,  10).  Again  the  query, 
who  was  this  "we"  through  whom  the  Father  re- 
flected Himself?  God  does  not  work  through  matter, 
nor  does  He  use  mortal  mind  as  an  agent  to  draw 
humanity  to  Christ. 

When  Jesus  said,  "Come  unto  me,  .  .  .  and  I  will 
give  you  rest,"  did  he  intend  the  people  to  infer  that 
he  meant,  "Come  unto  my  finite  personality,  that  finite 
personality  may  give  you  rest "  ?  No.  He  said  "  Come 
unto  me  "  ("the  divine  idea  of  God  outside  the  flesh," — 
Science  and  Health,  p.  482),  and  the  power  of  Principle 
which  I  (my  Ego)  reflects  will  cast  out  the  beliefs  of 
false,  finite  sense,  and  give  you  rest  from  the  discords 
produced  by  belief  of  life  in  matter.  In  the  1901 
Message  to  The  Mother  Church,  page  44,  we  read: 

Is  man,  according  to  Christian  Science,  more  transcen- 
dental than  God  made  him?  Can  he  be  too  spiritual,  since 
Jesus  said,  "Be  ye  therefore  perfect,  even  as  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect"?  Is  God  Spirit?  He  is. 
Then  is  man  His  image  and  likeness,  according  to  Holy 
Writ?  He  is.  Then  can  man  be  material,  or  less  than 
spiritual?     As  God  made  man,  is  he  not  wholly  spiritual? 


454       Individuality  versus  Personality 

The  reflex  image  of  Spirit  is  not  unlike  Spirit.  The  logic 
of  divine  metaphysics  makes  man  none  too  transcendental, 
if  we  follow  the  teachings  of  the  Bible. 

Jesus  never  called  personalities  to  his  human  person- 
ality. He  constantly  denied  finite  personality  for 
himself  and  for  others,  and  never  admitted  a  power 
opposed  to  God.  But  he  continually  called  people  to 
him  as  a  spiritual  teacher,  and  declared  for  his  divinity 
as  the  Son  of  God.  He  directed  humanity  to  God  as 
the  only  cause  and  creator,  and  as  the  source  of  his 
existence  and  power. 

This  Life,  Truth,  and  Love — this  trinity  of  good — was 
individualized,  to  the  perception  of  mortal  sense,  in  the 
man  Jesus  {Rudimental  Divine  Science,  p.  3). 

Again,  Jesus  said,  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the 
earth  [material  illusions],  will  draw  all  men  unto  me' 
(John  xii.,  32),  and  also,  "I  will  come  and  heal  him' 
(Matthew  viii.,  7). 

God  is  ever-present  and  ready  to  heal,  but  man  is 
required  by  God  to  reflect  His  power.     Mrs.  Eddy  says 

I  went  to  his  bedside.  In  a  few  moments  his  face  changed 
its  death-pallor  gave  place  to  a  natural  hue.  The  eyelids 
closed  gently  and  the  breathing  became  natural;  he  was 
asleep.  In  about  ten  minutes  he  opened  his  eyes  and  said : 
"  I  feel  like  a  new  man.  My  suffering  is  all  gone  "  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  103). 

The  Principle  of  Christian  Science  is  divine.  Its  rule 
is,  that  man  shall  utilize  the  divine  power  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  69). 

Jesus  said  of  Lazarus:  "Our  friend  Lazarus  sleepeth; 
but  I  go,  that  I  may  awake  him  out  of  sleep"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  75). 


Individuality  versus  Personality       455 

Jesus  said:  "My  Father  worketh  hitherto,  and  I 
work."  Both  God  and  man  do  the  work,  for  they  are 
inseparable  as  Father  and  Son.  Man  is  spiritual; 
there  is  no  other  man.  So-called  mortal  man  "is 
neither  person,  place,  nor  thing"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  71). 

Evil  is  neither  quality  nor  quantity:  it  is  not  intelligence, 
a  person  or  a  principle,  a  man  or  a  woman,  a  place  or  a 
thing,  and  God  never  made  it  {Message  for  iqoi,  pp.  48, 49). 

Jesus  said  to  Philip,  "Have  I  been  so  long  time  with 
you,  and  yet  hast  thou  not  known  me,  Philip?" 
Philip  threw  his  finite,  fleshly  concept  over  Jesus,  and 
beheld  him  through  the  lens  of  so-called  mortal  mind, 
just  as  many  are  doing  to-day,  who  call  themselves 
Christian  Scientists.  Jesus  endeavored  to  open  Philip's 
blind  eyes,  when  he  said,  "He  that  hath  seen  me  hath 
seen  the  Father. "  Did  he  expect  Philip  to  regard  him 
as  God?  No.  But  he  knew  himself  as  spiritual, 
immortal  man,  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  the  Father, 
endowed  with  power  from  God,  who  gave  him  dominion 
over  all  the  earth.  He  defended  his  sonship  with 
God.  Philip  did  not  understand  his  own  sonship. 
Jesus  beheld  in  Philip  "the  perfect  man"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  476),  but  Philip  beheld  in  Christ  Jesus,  a 
fleshly  embodiment.  Philip  profited  by  the  teachings 
of  Jesus  as  was  shown  later  in  his  interview  with  the 
eunuch. 

Philip's  requirement  was,  that  he  should  not  only  acknow- 
ledge the  incarnation, — God  made  manifest  through  man, — 
but  even  the  eternal  unity  of  man  and  God,  as  the  divine 
Principle  and  spiritual  idea  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  77). 

Divine  metaphysicians  behold  in  our  beloved  Leader, 


456       Individuality  versus  Personality 

"Emmanuel,  .  .  .  God  with  us;"  they  see  and  feel 
the  power  of  God  working  through  His  Son,  or  the 
compound  idea — man.  They  acknowledge  the  Son  as 
the  demonstrator  of  the  Father,  eternal  Life,  Truth, 
Love.  John  said,  "Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God." 
Jesus  said,  "Before  Abraham  was,  I  am. " 

Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "John  the  Baptist  had  a  clear 
discernment  of  divine  Science:  ...  he  antedated  his 
own  existence,  began  spiritually  instead  of  materially 
to  reckon  himself  logically;  hence  the  impossibility 
of  putting  him  to  death,  .  .  .  through  violent  means 
or  material  methods  "  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  pp.  181, 
182).  There  is  but  one  God,  one  Christ,  or  man,  the 
spiritual  universe,  and  countless  sons  or  members  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  who  are  governed  by  and  are  reflectors 
of  Spirit.  This  is  the  only  creation  which  Jesus  ac- 
knowledged. He  said,  "  Call  no  man  your  father 
upon  the  earth:  for  one  is  your  Father,  which  is  in 
heaven. " 

Mrs.  Eddy's  world-wide,  wise  leadership  is  known 
to  all;  but  mortals,  uninstructed  in  Christian  Science, 
or  Christian  Scientists  who  have  not  attained  to 
spiritual  discernment  which  reveals  the  ideal  of  all, 
believe  her  power  to  be  the  exercise  of  a  great  human 
mind,  or  will.  They  do  not  perceive  man's  relation  to 
God,  and  they  confuse  the  physical  personality  with 
the  spiritual  individuality,  or  idea.  They  do  not  give 
credit  to  the  Son  of  God,  who  demonstrates  the  Prin- 
ciple of  scientific  being. 

"Jesus  sent  forth  seventy  students  at  one  time,  but 
only  eleven  left  a  desirable  historic  record.  Tradition 
credits  him  with  two  or  three  hundred  other  disciples 
who  have  left  no  name"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  2j). 
Mrs.  Eddy,  in  her  wisdom,  has  sent  out  disciples  to 


Individuality  versus  Personality      457 

demonstrate  the  healing  power  of  Christian  Science, 
and  we  recognize  her  as  our  spiritual  Leader  and  Guide 
to  eternal  Life.  From  Moses  to  the  present  hour,  all 
who  have  struggled  to  demonstrate  their  spiritual 
individuality  have  been  maligned  and  persecuted, 
"scourged  with  worse  cords  than  those  which  cut  the 
flesh"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  474). 

The  Pharisees  claimed  to  worship  God,  but  would 
not  acknowledge  His  Son.  They  said,  "We  know 
that  God  spake  unto  Moses:  as  for  this  fellow,  we 
know  not  from  whence  he  is"  (John  ix.,  29).  Jesus 
understood  his  immortal  selfhood — "he  said,  'Heaven 
and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my  words  shall  not  pass 
away ! '  and  they  have  not :  they  still  live ;  and  are  the 
basis  of  divine  liberty,  the  medium  of  Mind,  the  hope 
of  the  race"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  163). 

Jesus  was  accused  of  making  himself  equal  with  God : 

And  the  men  that  held  Jesus  mocked  him,  and  smote  him. 

And  when  they  had  blindfolded  him,  they  struck  him  on 
the  face,  and  asked  him,  saying,  Prophesy,  who  is  it  that 
smote  thee? 

Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us.  And  he  said  unto  them,  If 
I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe: 

And  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me,  nor  let  me  go. 

Then  said  they  all,  Art  thou  then  the  Son  of  God? 
[immortal  man].   And  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  say  that  I  am. 

And  they  said,  What  need  we  any  further  witness?  for 
we  ourselves  have  heard  of  his  own  mouth  (Luke  xxii.,  63, 
64,67,68,  70,  71). 

Mrs.  Eddy  claims  for  herself  immortality  here  and 
now.  She  has  discovered  the  deep  things  of  God, 
always  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  immortal.     She    in- 


458       Individuality  versus  Personality 

structs  her  students  to  claim  their  divine  birthright 
as  children  of  God,- — to  follow  the  teachings  and  ex- 
ample of  Jesus,  and  she  says,  "follow  your  Leader  only 
so  far  as  she  follows  Christ"  {Message  for  iqoi,  p.  70). 
Those  who  discern  her  impersonal  identity  do  not 
regard  her  as  a  finite,  personal  Leader  and  Teacher 
but  as  God's  interpreter  to  humanity. 

Jesus  said,  "I  will  come  again."  It  is  evident  to 
those  who  have  spiritual  perception  that  Christian 
Science  is  the  second  appearing  of  Christ  to  the  world. 
Jesus  asked,  "When  the  Son  of  man  cometh,  shall  he 
find  faith  on  the  earth?"  (Luke  xviii.,  8).  "Faith 
is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of 
things  not  seen"  (by  the  physical  senses).  Christian 
Science  is  demonstrable  Truth.  Christ  makes  demands 
for  demonstrators.  Spiritual  sense  discerns  the  im- 
mortal and  infinite  idea,  and  crowns  it  the  Messiah. 

Abuse  of  the  motives  and  religion  of  St.  Paul  hid  from 
view  the  apostle's  character,  which  made  him  equal  to  his 
great  mission.  Persecution  of  all  who  have  spoken  some- 
thing new  and  better  of  God  has  not  only  obscured  the  light 
of  the  ages,  but  has  been  fatal  to  the  persecutors.  Why? 
Because  it  has  hid  from  them  the  true  idea  which  has  been 
presented.  To  misunderstand  Paul,  was  to  be  ignorant  of 
the  divine  idea  he  taught.  Ignorance  of  the  divine  idea 
betrays  at  once  a  greater  ignorance  of  the  divine  Principle 
of  the  idea — ignorance  of  Truth  and  Love  {Science  and 
Health,  pp.  560,  561). 

Let  me  refer  again  to  the  quotation, 

Women  sometimes  follow  a  personal  spiritual  adviser 
through  enthusiasm  for  the  teacher. 

We  remember  that  a  few  faithful  women  followed  Jesus 
to  Calvary,  but  they  did  not  discern  the  impersonal 


Individuality  versus  Personality       459 

Christ  sufficiently  to  tarry  with  him  at  the  cross,  and 
to  declare  for  the  immortal  substance-idea  that  he  was 
about  to  demonstrate.  They  were  deceived  by  the 
evidence  of  the  personal  senses,  having  regarded  him 
merely  as  a  personal  teacher.  While  he  was  personally 
present  with  them  he  quickened  them  with  his  reflection 
of  Love  and  Truth,  but  they  had  not  sufficiently  de- 
veloped the  qualities  of  Truth  and  Love,  therefore  they 
could  not  follow  him  in  his  demonstration. 

History  is  again  repeating  itself.  To-day  Christian 
Science  attracts  many,  but  few  are  willing  to  pay  the 
price  of  deliverance  from  sin  and  death,  which  Christ 
requires.  Jesus  paid  it  for  himself.  He  opened  the 
way  for  others,  and  won  an  immortal  crown.  He  left 
an  invaluable  legacy  to  humanity — his  example  and 
demonstration — the  way  to  eternal  Life.  Mrs.  Eddy 
has  discovered  and  founded  the  Science  of  Christianity. 
She  has  taught  the  Principle  and  rule  by  which  we  can 
demonstrate  man's  dominion  and  oneness  with  God. 
She  says,  "No  human  pen  nor  tongue  taught  me  the 
Science  contained  in  this  book,  Science  and  Health" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  no). 

Jesus  never  denied  his  own  works,  but  said,  "I  have 
finished  the  work  which  Thou  gavest  me  to  do."  He 
demonstrated  Principle,  or  the  Science  of  being.  The 
Ego-man  reflected  the  Ego-God.  Therefore  his  state- 
ments, "I  and  my  Father  are  one,"  and  "my  Father 
is  greater  than  I,"  implied  his  divine  or  spiritual 
individuality.  He  said,  "I  am  come  a  light  into  the 
world"  (John  xii.,  46).  "No  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father,  but  by  me"  (John  xiv.,  6).  Again  I  repeat, 
this  I — ego — was  the  spiritual  idea  or  the  ideal  man, 
not  corporeal  personality.  False  material  sense  and 
its  embodiment,  Jesus  continually  denounced,  and  his 


460       Individuality  versus  Personality 

struggles  against  the  claim  of  life  in  matter  terminated 
on  Calvary,  and  closed  forever,  for  him,  the  conflict 
between  the  human  and  the  divine. 

Christians,  like  students  in  mathematics,  should  be  work- 
ing up  to  those  higher  rules  of  Life  which  Jesus  taught  and 
proved  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  29). 

He  said  to  those  who  believed  in  the  false  claim  of 
life  in  matter,  or  a  power  opposed  to  God,  "Ye  are  of 
your  father  the  devil,"  and  again,  "Ye  are  from 
beneath;    I  am  from  above." 

Christian  Scientists  declare  for  their  immortality 
here  and  now.  They  contend  that  they  proceed  from 
the  Father,  are  therefore  from  above,  and  must  de- 
monstrate God,  the  source  and  supply  of  being.  Jesus 
said  to  his  disciples,  "The  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do 
also ;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do ;  because 
I  go  unto  my  Father. "  He  did  not  claim  to  monopolize 
Principle  or  to  be  the  only  representative  of  God,  but 
labored  to  instruct  those  dull  disciples  how  they,  by 
obeying  his  teachings  and  example,  could  demonstrate 
the  Principle  and  rule  of  divine  Science,  in  health, 
holiness,  and  immortality. 

Thus  he  claimed  his  oneness  and  power  with  God,  and 
taught  others  that  God  was  also  their  Father.  Let 
us  be  brave  defenders  of  our  spiritual  individuality — 
our  oneness  with  the  Father.  Let  us  emulate  the 
example  and  life,  and  obey  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the 
Christ,  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  Christian  Science;  let  us  honor  the  Son  or 
divine  idea, — "Emmanuel,  .  .  .  God  with  us,"  and  let 
us  continue  to  pray  without  ceasing, — "Let  not  the 
flesh,  but  the  Spirit,  be  represented  in  me"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  33).     Mrs.  Eddy  says: 


Individuality  versus  Personality       461 

Dispensing  the  Word  charitably,  but  separating  the 
tares  from  the  wheat,  let  us  declare  the  positive  and  the 
negative  of  metaphysical  Science;  what  it  is,  and  what  it 
is  not  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  172). 

The  harvest  is  ripe.  Christ  demands  laborers,  and 
the  laborers, — those  who  are  willing  to  leave  all  for 
Truth,  take  up  the  cross  and  be  in  the  front  of  battle 
every  day  — are  few..  I  pray  that  all  my  dear  students 
may  teach  and  practise  true  demonstrable  Christian 
Science.  Then  will  the  Son  prove  the  Principle  and  rule 
of  divine  metaphysics,  and  the  Father  will  honor  the  Son. 

We  constantly  hear  the  beginner  in  Christian  Science 
say  to  patients,  "I  did  not  heal  you;  God  did  it." 
Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "God  will  heal  the  sick  through  man, 
whenever  man  is  governed  by  God"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  495).  Thus  it  is  evident  that  as  we  work 
with  God,  God  and  the  ideal  man  cooperate  in  the 
healing.     Mrs.  Eddy  also  says: 

The  Principle  of  Christianity  is  infinite :  it  is  indeed  God ; 
and  this  infinite  Principle  hath  infinite  claims  on  man, 
and  these  claims  are  divine,  not  human;  and  man's 
ability  to  meet  them  is  from  God;  for,  being  His  likeness 
and  image,  man  must  reflect  the  full  dominion  of  Spirit — 
even  its  supremacy  over  sin,  sickness,  and  death  (Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  16). 

Who  is  a  liar  but  he  that  denieth  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ  ? 
He  is  antichrist,  that  denieth  the  Father  and  the  Son 
(1  John  ii.,   22). 

Study  faithfully  the  Holy  Bible,  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  our  Leader's  other  writings, 
and  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church.  Then  divine 
Love  will  guide  you.  You  will  walk  in  the  footsteps 
of  His  flock,  and  will  be  a  clear  transparency  for  eternal 


462       Individuality  versus  Personality 

Life  and  Love.  You  will  demonstrate  Truth  and 
relieve  suffering  humanity,  until  through  meekness, 
selflessness,  and  divine  love,  you  will  instantaneously 
dispel  the  illusions  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death — thus 
opening  the  prison  doors  to  them  that  are  bound,  and 
will  set  the  captive  free  to  proclaim: 

Now  is  come  salvation,  and  strength,  and  the  kingdom  of 
our  God,  and  the  power  of  His  Christ :  for  the  accuser  of  our 
brethren  is  cast  down,  which  accused  them  before  our  God 
day  and  night  (Rev.  xii.,  10). 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


CHAPTER  XI 
LETTERS  ON  CHURCH  PROBLEMS 

Furthermore  then  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  and  exhort  you  by  the 
Lord  Jesus,  that  as  ye  have  received  of  us  how  ye  ought  to  walk  and 
to  please  God,  so  ye  would  abound  more  and  more. — i  Thessalonians 
iv.,  I. 

Never  was  there  a  more  solemn  and  imperious  call  than  God  makes 
to  us  all,  right  here,  for  fervent  devotion  and  an  absolute  consecration 
to  the  greatest  and  holiest  of  all  causes.  The  hour  is  come.  The 
great  battle  of  Armageddon  is  upon  us. 

Will  you  give  yourselves  wholly  and  irrevocably  to  the 

great  work  of  establishing  the  truth,  the  gospel,  and  the  Science  which 
are  necessary  to  the  salvation  of  the  world  from  error,  sin,  disease,  and 
death?  Answer  at  once  and  practically,  and  answer  aright! — Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  177. 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  18,  1900. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  few  hurried  words  to  you  this  morning.  Love 
is  leading  you.  Keep  your  eyes  fixed  on  the  goal, 
and  do  not  swerve  from  your  adherence  to  Principle. 
Be  happy  in  God's  service.  See  your  brother  and 
sister  in  God's  image.  "The  Lord  is  in  His  holy 
temple."  "Ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living  God." 
Your  spiritual  consciousness  is  God's  temple,  His  own 
abiding  place. 

I  am  happy  in  contemplating  your  meekness  and 
am  anticipating  the  might  that  you  will  win  from 
humility  and  unselfed  love  for  God  and  humanity. 
Stand  in  Truth,  and  having  done  all,  stand.     You  are 

463 


464  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

meeting  only  what  your  Master  and  your  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  met,  and  what  all  pioneer  Scien- 
tists meet.  Do  not  pity  yourself,  nor  regard  yourself 
as  a  martyr;  this  is  error  talking  to  you, — the  "talking, 
lying  serpent"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  529)  which 
would  rob  you  of  your  birthright,  your  oneness  with 
God  and  your  dominion  over  all  things.  Meet  it 
with  Love  and  Truth.  Go  to  Principle  and  you  will 
be  governed  by  the  law  of  God,  and  all  will  be  well. 
Our  dear  Father's  arms  are  around  you;  He  guides 
and  guards  and  enfolds  you  and  your  dear  husband 
and  children.     Trust  Him  more  trustingly,  dear. 

Your  church  will  feel  the  pressure  of  your  prayer 
that  continually  ascends  to  God  for  your  precious 
flock.  You  will  hear,  "Fear  not,  little  flock;  for  it 
is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  king- 
dom. "  The  words  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
are  more  and  more  luminous  as  I  read  them.  I  am 
asking  my  students  and  my  dear  church  members  to 
read,  especially  for  a  few  days,  Unity  of  Good.  We 
must  learn  that  there  is  no  death,  by  understanding 
God's  allness,  the  omnipotence  of  eternal  Life,  and  by 
destroying  the  mental  cause  of  death.  Unity  of  Good 
has  strong  arguments  for  overcoming  the  "last  enemy," 
death. 

Now  rise  to  realize  that  God  will  bring  peace  and 
joy  in  His  own  time  to  His  flock.  The  wolf  cannot 
enter  your  fold  and  carry  away  the  lambs,  if  you 
stand  on  guard  and  clothe  yourself  with  meekness 
which  is  spiritual  might,  love  and  humility.  These 
Christly  qualities  prove  an  invincible  armor  to  all  who 
consecrate  themselves  to  God's  service.  What  if  by 
your  stripes  humanity  is  healed?  Jesus  gave  himself 
a  living  sacrifice,  and  our  dear  Leader,   Mrs.  Eddy, 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  465 

has  never  faltered  in  her  labor  of  love  to  uplift  mankind 
— to  exalt  the  Christ  in  human  consciousness,  and  to 
abase  the  human.  Then  rejoice  that  you  are  worthy 
to  suffer  with  Christ,  that  you  may  reign  with  him. 
Give  my  love  to  the  boys  and  your  husband,  and 
with  faithful,  tender  love,  I  am, 

Yours  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  28,  1901. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  sure  that  you  are  well  aware  of  the  great 
pressure  of  work — care  of  patients,  students  and 
church — which  has  been  brought  to  bear  upon  me 
since  I  was  in  your  dear  home.  I  have  been  often  with 
you  in  thought  and  I  fully  appreciated  your  hospitality, 
and  your  husband's  warm  welcome,  but  I  sent  word 
to  L.  .  .  which  I  hoped  would  be  a  just  plea  for  you 
to  wait  until  I  could  write  you  a  letter. 

The  Brush  will  case 1  has  been  a  fierce  mental  battle, 
from  which  I  have  emerged  with  the  proof  of  honesty 
and  truth  written  in  the  history  of  the  courts.  I  am 
weary,  but  have  no  time  to  rest  from  active  duty. 
My  hands  are  torn,  but  I  have  no  time  to  bind  them  up. 
The  dear  Love  must  heal  them,  while  I  go  to  others, 
and  pour  in  oil  and  heal  the  broken-hearted.  I  must 
forget  self,  and  labor  for  others.     This  is  life. 

I  want  you,  dear,  to  thank  Mr.  C.  .  .  for  all  he  did 
for  me  and  mine  while  we  were  with  you.     It  was  so 

1  Miss  Helen  Brush  bequeathed  about  seventy-five  thousand  dollars 
to  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City.  Two  members 
of  her  family  contested  the  will.  All  the  other  members  desired  this 
provision  to  be  carried  out.  The  trial  in  the  courts  resulted  in  a  victory 
for  the  church. 


466  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

sweet  of  you  both.  I  wish  I  could  come  when  I  am 
not  pursued  and  haunted  by  the  enemy  of  good,  which 
hates  troublesome  Truth  and  its  advocates.  I  do 
not  know  how  I  should  act  if  I  could  put  off  the  sword, 
and  go  on  a  furlough.  The  hour  is  not  yet.  God 
will  grant  it  some  day.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to 
Mr.  C.  .  .  Kiss  the  children  for  me.  You  know 
my  deep  love  for  you,  and  that  I  am  working  always 
for  you  and  yours. 

Lovingly, 

Ever  your  faithful  teacher, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
June  7,  1901. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  been  so  constantly  occupied  with  the  work 
on  this  trial,1  that  I  have  felt  it  wise  not  to  write  or 
think  outside  of  it  if  possible,  and  I  knew  that  so  far 
as  I  could,  I  must  leave  my  students  to  do  their  own 
work.  So  I  have  had  no  care  for  them.  The  victory 
has  come  at  last.  We  have  demonstrated  the  power - 
lessness  of  hypnotism,  witchcraft  and  mental  diabolism 
to  overthrow  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  and  the 
work  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  We  have 
realized  enough  of  Truth  and  Love  to  nullify  the  seem- 
ing power  of  the  foe.  Now  we  can  say  understand- 
ing^ "the  accuser  of  our  brethren  is  cast  down,  .  .  . 
unto  the  earth. " 

What  has  the  enemy  not  tried  to  do  all  these  years 
to  injure  our  Leader  and  me!  In  a  letter  written  by 
Mrs.  Eddy  to  me  are  these  words:     "The  lies  told 

1  Trial  in  Boston  of  suit  brought  by  J.  .  .  C.  .  .  W.  .  .  against  Mrs. 
Eddy. 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  467 

about  you  and  me  are  not  worth  your  notice  nor  mine. " 
I  thank  God  that  I  have  been  able  to  stand  until  error 
uncovered  and  destroyed  itself.  The  error  was  made 
so  unreal  that  instead  of  three  weeks,  which  the  Judge 
gave  for  the  trial,  it  was  over  in  four  days.  The 
enemy  was  coaquered  as  soon  as  we  rose  in  a  body 
to  spiritual  understanding  and  realized  the  allness  of 
God  and  the  nothingness  of  evil. 

There  will  be  grand  work  in  the  future  for  those 
who  have  stood  loyal  to  Truth,  to  our  Leader  and  to  their 
loyal  teachers.  I  am  obliged  to  remain  here  a  little 
longer,  and  shall  get  a  few  days  of  quiet  rest,  which 
I  seem  to  require.  There  is  no  reaction  in  Truth, 
and  we  know  it.  I  shall  be  mentally  with  my  flock 
on  Sunday.  I  feel  confident  that  the  communion  will 
be  blessed.  It  will  be  the  first  one  in  fourteen  years 
at  which  I  have  not  been  with  you  in  propria  persona. 
God  is  leading  us  all  to  find  our  real  selves.  We  are 
not  in  matter,  therefore  we  are  always  together,  and 
some  day  we  shall  not  alone  feel  each  other's  presence, 
but  shall  see  the  glorified  face  of  every  one. 

I  rejoice,  dearest  B.  .  .  ,  in  the  knowledge  of  your 
true,  grand  character,  your  loyalty  to  Principle  and 
idea,  and  your  unswerving  pursuit  of  Truth.  You 
will  receive  a  rich  reward,  my  dear  student.  The 
things  of  time  and  sense  are  losing  their  reality,  and 
the  real  and  substantial  are  appearing  to  you.  I 
hear  you  have  gone  through  your  anticipated  experi- 
ence and  all  is  well.  Give  my  love  to  dear  G.  .  .  and 
tell  her  to  begin  to  discipline  the  child  now,  so  that 
when  it  comes  to  Sunday-school  I  shall  not  have  to  teach 
it  obedience.  I  know  it  will  be  a  child  of  the  twentieth 
century,  and  will  reap  the  benefit  of  our  Leader's 
sufferings  to  make  sin  and  death  unreal  for  humai   " 


468  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

I  must  close  now.     Remember  me  lovingly  to  the 
family.     With  endless  devoted  love,  I  am, 

Always  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  16,  1904. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  see  God's  hand  in  this  deliverance,  as  I  have 
never  seen  it  before  in  any  other  church  problem  but 
our  own,  which  has  passed  through  all  the  experiences 
attending  the  human  footsteps  which  lead  up  to  the 
divine.  I  had  left  all  with  Truth  and  Love,  and  I 
knew  that,  if  it  were  right,  the  church  would  come  into 
line  and  be  saved.  I  had  worked  faithfully,  and  so 
had  you  and  the  dear  ones  who  are  the  strength  of  the 
church. 

Now,  dear,  you  know  you  must  love  divinely,  which 
means  you  must  conquer  your  own  false  sense  that 
any  one  is  evil,  or  if  evil  controls  any  one  you  must 
make  the  claim  of  evil  unreal  to  yourself.  I  have 
found  that  when  I  convince  myself  that  I  love  God 
because  I  love  His  idea,  the  true  individuality,  the 
corporeal  personality  does  not  trouble  me  so  much, 
and  finally  error  yields  to  Love  as  I  reflect  Her. 

I  would  be  wise  and  not  seem  to  be  aggressive  just 
now,  for  they  are  so  lawless  they  will  not  understand 
your  loving  motive.  Be  sure  that  you  are  pleasant 
to  every  one  even  though  you  know  that  they  arc 
enemies  of  good,  in  belief.  Be  social  after  church, 
and  make  no  distinction  between  the  true  Christian 
Scientist  and  the  false.  I  love  God  and  His  idea, 
therefore  I  reflect  the  power  of  divine  Love  through 
the  veil  of  the  flesh.      I  cannot  do  enough  for  every 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  469 

one  to  help  them  to  see  Truth.  Forget  yourself,  dear, 
and  be  loving  and  tender,  and  all  will  feel  your 
Christly  love,  and  you  will  enjoy  the  people. 

You  have  three  years  before  you  in  which  to  read. 
Remember  the  Manual  elects  for  three  years — your 
church  By-Laws  must  conform  to  the  Manual.  You 
must  use  the  1903  copy  and  study  it  well.  Read, 
the  first  of  every  month,  A  Rule  for  Motives  and 
Acts,  Article  xx,  Section  1. 

You  say  that  you  are  "  a  nonentity."  You  can  be 
if  you  believe  you  are.  You  may  feel  the  necessity 
of  enforcing  the  By-Law,  page  32,  Article  iii,  Section  7. 
I  would  be  very  gentle  with  the  one  who  is  allowing 
herself  to  personify  evil.  She  may  be  an  innocent 
victim  of  envy  or  jealousy,  and  you  must  "hurt  not 
the  oil  and  the  wine."  Let  God  judge.  He  is  just. 
I  would  be  happy  and  loving  until  my  people  were 
soothed  and  comforted  and  fed  with  Truth  and  Love. 

The  poor  dears  have  been  starved  for  the  true 
bread.  They  have  had  only  stones.  Now  give  them 
the  blessed  Truth.  Show  them  the  beauty  of  Christian 
Science — the  joy  of  the  Spirit — and  awaken  them  to 
love  God  and  His  idea.  Talk  of  courage  and  strength 
and  peace,  and  the  dear  Father's  care  for  those  who 
serve  Him,  and  the  possibilities  of  Christian  Science 
when  lived.  Make  no  remarks  which  can  be  con- 
strued into  condemnation  of  any  one,  nor  ever  talk 
over  another's  faults.  Study  your  Science  and  Health 
and  Miscellaneous  Writings,  and  be  a  law  to  yourself. 

God  has  put  you  there  as  Reader  through  your 
church  election.  Know  that  you  can  serve  three 
years.  Never  forsake  the  church.  I  hope  the  church 
Reading  Room  will  be  open  every  day,  and  that  patients 
will   come   there  to  be   treated.     Be   sure   that   you 


47°  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

allow  there  no  gossip  nor  criticism  of  any  one.  Say 
to  all,  "We  will  be  Christian  Scientists  and  see  that  we 
obey  the  '  Sermon  on  the  Mount, '  and  our  Leader's 
words;  and  we  will  demonstrate  health  and  happiness 
and  all  that  we  need,  as  God  has  promised. " 

Handle  mentally  the  false  suggestion — malicious  ani- 
mal magnetism — with  Truth  and  Love,  and  be  careful 
that  you  do  this  in  the  Wednesday  evening  meetings. 
Talk  on  the  love  of  God,  and  man  in  His  image,  and 
the  power  of  Christian  Science  to  heal  sin  and  sickness, 
for  strangers  do  not  know  what  malicious  animal 
magnetism  means.  Mention  our  Leader  occasionally, 
and  sing  one  of  her  hymns  at  every  service,  if  the 
people  do  not  object.  If  they  do  you  can  say  you  want 
her  to  be  brought  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  by  all 
uniting  in  singing  her  words. 

Make  all  feel  that  they  are  helping  you,  as  they  are, 
to  build  up  the  Cause  in  A.  .  .  It  may  be  I  should  not 
direct  you  but  leave  you  entirely  to  Principle,  but 
I  know  that  you  will  be  guided  by  Principle  if  I  do  my 
duty  as  your  teacher,  give  you  the  benefit  of  my 
experience,  and  encourage  you  in  your  hard  place. 
This  applies  also  to  J.  .  .  and  M.  .  .  .  I  think  you 
have  the  understanding  and  love  to  develop  the 
church.  The  children  are  the  strength  of  the  body, 
as  they  unfold  in  spiritual  sense.  Oh,  I  am  so  happy 
that  you  had  wisdom  to  stand  when  error  would  have 
driven  you  out!  I  should  have  given  you  up  as  hope- 
less had  you  abandoned  your  post.  You  lost  one 
point  when  the  church  offered  you  the  Readership 
before,  and  you  refused  it,  the  office,  and  I  was  afraid 
you  had  gone  back  instead  of  forward  this  time. 

You  are  troubled  by  the  opposers  just  as  far  as  you 
believe   that   error   is   real,    and   have   not   sufficient 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  471 

spiritual  power  to  make  evil  unreal.  You  will  have  to 
walk  right  over  all  obstacles  and  be  blind  to  all  "livid 
faces"  and  "fierce  expressions,"  and  you  will  make 
yourself  useful  to  your  church  and  grow  in  the  power 
of  divine  Love,  in  proportion  to  your  victory  over 
false  concepts.  I  hope  you  three  will  give  your  best 
efforts  to  quicken  the  body  and  bring  unity  in  the 
bonds  of  love.  You  can  always  speak  in  the  Board 
meetings,  even  though  you  are  only  ex  officio  and  can- 
not vote,  and  you  can  use  every  argument  for  Truth, 
but  you  must  do  it  in  your  prerogative  as  First 
Reader  and  because  you  are  obliged  to  aid  them  by 
your  understanding. 

Be  firm,  but  gentle  and  scientific,  and  never  let  error 
carry  the  day.  God  will  guide  you  three.  Cling 
steadfastly  to  Truth  and  Love.  Error  is  powerless; 
Love  wins.  The  false  belief,  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism, fails  to  overthrow  a  true  Christian  Scientist. 
Meekness  and  love,  faith  and  understanding  will 
conquer.  The  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism, 
can  never  destroy  the  good,  nor  permanently  give  the 
church  into  the  hands  of  evil. 

Lovingly  ever  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
December  18,  1907. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  can  take  but  a  minute  in  which  to  write  to  you. 
I  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  S.  .  .  to-day,  in  which 
she  says#  you  told  her  that  I  said  she  should  resign. 
I  know  you  could  not  have  said  that,  and  I  wrote  her 
that  I  said  to  you,  "If  it  be  true  that  Mrs.  S.  .  .  ad- 


472  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

ministered  a  pellet  or  prune  juice,  I  know  that  she  will 
acknowledge  it  or  resign. " 

I  never  interfere  with  another's  church  work,  nor 
in  any  way  meddle  with  another  teacher's  students. 
I  try  to  weed  my  own  garden,  and  that  keeps  me  always 
busy.  Now,  dear,  you  must  try  to  find  the  Christly 
way  to  benefit  your  church,  yourself,  and  each  member 
of  your  church. 

I  wrote  Mrs.  S.  .  .  that  if  error  had  handled  her  to 
do  wrong  she  knew  it  better  than  any  one  else.  She 
also  knew  that,  if  she  had  deflected  she  must  not 
justify  herself,  but  in  humility  admit  her  mistake. 
I  also  said  that  I  wanted  you  and  her  to  come  together 
in  unity  and  love,  for  Love  alone  is  real.  If  she  has 
done  wrong  and  does  not  admit  it,  she  cannot  advance. 
If  she  acknowledges  the  error,  is  penitent,  and  promises 
to  live  in  the  future  according  to  Christian  Science, 
then  the  church  must  decide  whether  it  will  give  her 
another  trial  and  let  her  go  on  reading.  This  is  all  to 
be  worked  out  in  meekness  and  love  on  both  sides. 

I  trust,  dear,  that  you  are  trying  to  love  divinely 
and  that  Mrs.  S.  .  .  is  doing  the  same.  I  will  write 
again  soon.  Be  meek,  it  will  make  you  mighty, 
loving  and  honest,  then  you  will  rise  to  a  scientific 
demonstration  of  Truth  and  Love. 

Lovingly  yours, 
Augusta   E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  24,  1907. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  letter  has  been  a  comfort  to  me.  I  feared 
that  you  had  been  handled  by  error  and  made  to  hold 
Mrs.  S.  .  .  in  error,  instead  of  seeing  that  impersonal 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  473 

evil  was  working  through  her,  and  that  this  should  be 
treated  as  you  would  treat  a  disease,  a  fever  or  a  cold, 
both  of  which  are  manifest  error.  We  must  meet  these 
mental  claims  with  divine  love  and  compassion,  as 
a  mother  would  meet  it  for  her  child. 

When  we  love  divinely,  and  separate  the  error  from 
the  individual,  we  help  the  person  who  is  voicing  error 
by  our  reflection  of  Truth,  which  destroys  impersonal 
evil  which  works  through  personalities.  Thus  we 
help  our  brethren  to  free  themselves  from  the  attacks 
of  so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism,  and  we  free 
ourselves  from  the  belief  that  our  brother  or  sister  is 
evil.  If  we  do  all  we  can  to  set  the  captive  free,  and 
if  he  is  so  bound  by  error  that  he  cannot  awake,  we 
must  leave  him  alone,  with  a  sense  of  pity  and  love — 
never  with  hardness  nor  unkind  criticism. 

We  must  defend  ourselves  against  the  seeming 
reality  of  evil  by  reflecting  Truth  and  Love.  If  we 
hold  another  in  error  we  are  doing  ourselves  the  most 
harm,  and  are  making  ourselves  a  channel  for  sin. 
We  must  work  indefatigably  to  conquer  our  belief 
that  evil  is  person,  place  or  thing.  Read  the  chapter 
entitled,  "No  Reality  in  Evil  or  Sin"  in  our  Leader's 
Message  to  The  Mother  Church  for  iqoi.  Mrs.  S.  .  . 
will  suffer  if  she  has  done  wrong.  I  could  help  her 
if  she  would  ask  me,  and  thus  save  her  from  the  cruel 
malpractice  or  impersonal  evil  which  she  seems  unable 
to  nullify.  She  is  God's  dear  child,  and  this  false 
finite  personality  is  but  her  "shade"  {Poems  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  p.  29).  Let  us  not  fear  a  shadow. 
There  has  been  much  false  teaching  regarding  "per- 
sonality," and  many  have  gone  astray  on  this  word. 
I  trust  that  you  are  clear  on  the  difference  between 
physical  personality  and  spiritual  personality. 


474  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

My  little  success  in  Christian  Science  has  been  due 
to  my  determination  to  see  God  and  His  idea,  and  to 
reflect  divine  Love.  I  will  not  judge  or  condemn  per- 
sons, but  I  will  judge  error  and  will  separate  it  from 
persons.  When  you  hear  any  one  say  there  is  "no 
personality, "  you  may  know  that  he  is  on  a  certain 
plane  of  consciousness  where  he  fails  to  differentiate 
between  corporeality — matter,  the  embodiment  of  mor- 
tal belief — and  the  real  man  or  spiritual  personality  or 
individuality. 

If  God  is  Person,  as  our  Leader  says,  then  He  is  All — 
one  creator,  one  causation,  one  consciousness,  individ- 
ual, Supreme  Being.  His  ideas,  or  children  or  thoughts 
are  reflectors  of  His  being.  He  being  Person,  His 
ideas  may  be  called  personalities,  but  this  is  spiritual 
personality,  the  reflection  of  the  infinite  Person — God ; 
not  finite  personality,  or  corporeality.  When  I  hear 
Christian  Science  students  condemning  personalities, 
without  the  adjective,  I  know  that  they  do  not  know 
the  difference  between  the  spiritual  personality,  and 
the  finite  personality,  or  corporeality. 

Spiritual  personality  and  individuality  are  synony- 
mous terms.  I  acknowledge  the  spiritual  personality 
as  God's  idea,  and  I  refuse  to  believe  in  the  corporeal 
or  finite  person,  as  anything  but  shadow  or  symbol. 
From  this  spiritual  idea  or  unseen  individuality  I  can- 
not run,  but  through  divine  Love,  I  must  reveal  the  real 
man  in  God's  image  and  likeness.  How  can  I  ever 
see  God  until  I  destroy  my  false  concept,  and  behold 
God  in  my  brother  and  sister  and  the  real  universe? 

You  see,  dear,  the  reason  that  there  is  so  much 
schism  and  separation  everywhere  to-day,  is  because 
Christian  Scientists  do  not  get  even  the  letter  of  Christ- 
ian Science  correctly,  therefore    they  cannot    get  its 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  475 

spirit,  and  love  divinely.  In  other  words,  they  remain 
under  the  old  belief  that  error  is  real,  and  they  attach 
error  to  physical  personality  or  corporeality. 

Let  us  love,  and  God  will  give  us  power  to  break 
the  chains  which  bind  ourselves  and  others.  Love 
is  omnipotent.  Then  let  us  be  Godlike.  Let  us  be 
Christly,  and  we  will  find  that  all  things  are  ours 
richly  to  enjoy.  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's,"  and  we 
shall  see  the  real  earth  and  the  real  heaven  when  we 
have  made  God,  good,  real,  and  evil  unreal.  We  must 
awake  and  put  on  our  strength.  We  have  always  been 
perfect  ideas  of  a  perfect  Mind.  We  have  only  to 
put  off  the  old  mind — belief  of  life  in  matter  and  evil 
as  power  or  reality — to  behold  God,  His  man  and  uni- 
verse.   My  kindest  regards  to  your  husband  and  family. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  18,  1908. 
My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  looking  forward  with  interest  to  the  result  of 
your  application  papers. 

It  does  not  seem  possible  that  she,  Mrs.  S.  .  .  , 
could  have  secured  the  confidence  of  the  people. 
Perhaps  she  told  them  that  I  endorsed  her.  Mrs. 
H.  .  .  knows  how  I  urged  for  unity  and  love.  I 
emphatically  declared  that  I  was  only  working  for  my 
student,  to  see  if  she  were  wrong  in  her  resistance 
to  what  she  thought  was  error  in  Mrs.  S.  .  .  Surely 
she  could  not  say  that  I  endorsed  her.  I  have  nothing 
to  do  in  her  case,  and  I  know  nothing  about  her  work 
except  what  I  have  been  told.  I  leave  my  students 
to  judge  for  themselves,  and  to  act  according  to  their 


476  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

understanding  of  right.  If  they  make  mistakes  after 
I  have  taught  them  how  to  demonstrate  Truth,  they 
will  learn  by  the  things  they  suffer. 

I  am  glad  that  Mrs.  B.  .  .  has  helped  you  in  regard 
to  your  work  with  the  Publishing  Society  and  Journal. 
I  hope  she  will  not  have  more  to  meet  on  this  account, 
but  she  is  not  afraid  of  unjust  criticism  and  will  do  her 
work,  and  God  will  deliver  her.  Do  not  talk  over  the 
condition  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary.  Perhaps 
you  will  have  no  further  trouble.  I  would  not  go  to 
law  for  the  title  of  First  Church.  It  is  not  right  and 
we  must  protect  the  Cause.  So-called  malicious 
animal  magnetism  would  like  to  get  you  all  up  before 
the  people  in  a  personal  conflict.  Error  would  do  this 
if  you  would  allow  yourself  to  be  manipulated.  Leave 
this  to  God,  and  work  to  heal  the  sick,  and  to  bring 
every  thought  into  obedience  to  Christ. 

I  am  sure  that  you  can  hold  your  services  and 
increase  your  membership  and  radiate  spiritual  power 
into  the  city,  which  will  draw  all  men  unto  your  spiritual 
individuality — as  idea.  I  have  always  worked  in  this 
way.  Let  error  attack  and  foam,  and  stir  up  all 
against  us,  while  we  open  not  our  mouth  but  work 
alone  with  God,  and  for  Him,  until  we  see  the  self- 
destruction  of  evil  and  its  utter  failure  to  injure  us. 

The  trouble  with  many  is  that  they  uncover  error 
and  then  continue  to  see  it,  and  talk  it,  until  it  is  real 
to  them,  and  the  true  consciousness  is  obscured. 
Keep  your  mind  on  Christ.  Know  that  error  may 
prosper  for  awhile,  but  that  it  will  be  finally  self- 
extinguished.     You  are  to  make  good  real. 

You  cannot  argue  for  both  good  and  evil.  Impersonal 
evil  cannot  find  an  avenue  in  you  or  in  any  one.  Love 
your  neighbor  as  yourself.     This  helps  you  and  helps 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  477 

your  enemy  by  weakening  the  claim  of  evil  in  him  to 
harm  you.  Pardon  haste.  My  love  to  all  the  dear 
ones  in  your  Society. 

Sincerely  yours, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Oswego,  New  York, 
June  13,  1908. 

My  dear  Students: — 

I  am  thinking  of  you  to-day  as  I  rest  in  this  delight- 
ful "Farm  Retreat "  among  the  trees,  birds,  and  flowers, 
and  mentally  work  for  God,  for  my  beloved  Leader, 
for  the  Christian  Science  movement,  and  for  my  dear 
blessed  students,  who  are  scattered  throughout  the 
country.  They  are  looking  for  a  change  from  routine 
work,  and  an  opportunity  to  contemplate  the  things 
of  God. 

I  have  much  joy  in  seeing  the  good  work  that  my 
students  are  doing  everywhere.  I  rejoice  to  hear 
from  your  church  through  Mr.  C.  .  .  ,  who  writes  me 
of  its  prosperity.  You  are  all  learning  to  labor,  watch, 
wait,  and  "love  more"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p. 
389).  We  are  learning  to  handle  impersonal  error, 
and  not  to  attach  it  to  the  physical  personality.  Also 
to  help  the  person  who  is  a  channel  for  impersonal 
evil.  Love  will  antidote  hate,  envy,  revenge, — the 
mental  qualities  of  mortal  mind  which  are  the  cause 
of  all  sorrow,  suffering,  and  death.  Love  will  cast 
out  fear  of  the  mental  assassin,  and  we  shall  learn 
that  God  and  His  idea  is  all.  The  lie  must  lose  its 
seeming  power,  and  cease  to  claim  our  attention.  God 
reigns.     Give  seeming  evil  no  power. 

Study  the  Message  for  iqoi  of  our  beloved  Leader — 
the  chapter  on  "  No  Reality  in  Evil  or  Sin  "  (p.  48).   You 


478  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

will  gain  much  from  reading  this  chapter  at  this  hour. 
Evil  claims  to  embody  itself  in  the  flesh.  As  there 
is  no  evil,  there  is  no  material  flesh,  no  matter.  The 
fleshly  mind  and  its  embodiment  is  sin,  but  as  God  is 
All,  there  can  be  no  reality  in  sin.  Thus  we  reduce 
the  claim  of  a  mind  opposed  to  God,  to  nothing,  and 
our  spiritual  power  asserts  its  dominion  and  God 
gives  us  the  victory.  We  do  not  fear  the  false  claim 
of  evil,  nor  hate,  nor  love  it  nor  its  embodiment.  All 
being  "infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  manifestation" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  468),  the  ghost  of  mortal  sense, 
the  lie,  disappears,  and  we  perceive,  back  of  the  shadow, 
the  ideal  man.     Thus  Love  reflects  Herself  in  love. 

We  are  all  learning  to  discern  the  real  from  the  false 
and  material.  I  am  gaining  much  from  constantly 
dwelling  in  the  one  Mind.  I  strive  to  enter  into  pure 
spiritual  consciousness,  and  to  abide  there,  that  as 
I  am  lifted  up  I  may  draw  you  and  all  true,  faithful 
seekers  for  Truth  with  me.  Peace  and  power  and  joy 
fill  me  with  gratitude  unspeakable.  I  long  to  have 
all  experience  it.  Love  will  bind  Her  own  in  the 
bonds  of  the  unity  of  Spirit.  Let  us  labor  to  attain 
our  divine  selfhood  and  to  behold  the  smile  of  God  in 
the  face  of  our  brother  and  sister. 

Please  remember  me  to  your  father  and  mother, 
and  with  devoted  love  to  you,  I  am, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  30,  1909. 

My  dear  Students: — 

Your  letter  is  before  me.     I  have  nothing  to  say, 
since  nothing  that  I  could  say  would  have  any  influence 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  479 

with  those  who  do  not  discern  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being  as  I  do.  I  have  great  peace  and  confidence  in 
God,  who  will  deliver  me  when  the  lesson  of  persecu- 
tion is  sufficient  to  exalt  me.  I  am  rising  to  the 
zenith  of  divine  Love  by  complying  with  the  orders 
of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  and  I  am 
opening  not  my  mouth  except  to  defend  Christian 
Science.  I  cannot  change  my  convictions.  God  will 
decide  the  question. 

The  investigation  that  is  going  on  through  our 
Trustees  is  to  ascertain  the  facts  concerning  our 
church.  Our  Trustees  must  determine  as  to  the  con- 
ditions said  to  exist  in  our  church,  and  that  "without 
fear  or  favor,"  as  the  Directors  advise  them  to  do. 
I  trust  my  teaching  of  absolute  Christian  Science, 
my  life  and  my  all  with  God.  Nothing  can  ever  turn 
me  from  loving,  grateful,  prompt  obedience  to  my 
beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  My 
immortal  self  is  safe  in  Mind.  I  dwell  continually 
in  my  spiritual  consciousness,  only  speaking  in  the 
human  to  talk  it  down.  I  must  obey  my  Leader 
and  "build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation" 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

The  "old  man,"  human  belief,  must  be  destroyed. 
I  am  more  grateful  than  words  can  express  that  I 
understand  the  workings  of  so-called  malicious  animal 
magnetism,  and  that  I  have  enough  of  the  Mind  of 
Christ  to  defend  myself  from  the  forces  of  the  claim  of 
so-called  evil,  which  is  poured  out  upon  me  by  evil 
thinkers,  who  use  every  avenue,  and  the  press.  To 
meet  these  volleys  of  error  and  rise  above  them,  through 
the  Christ  love  and  the  qualities  of  Spirit,  which  alone 
will  annul  evil,  or  the  claim, — for  there  is  no  evil, — 
this  is  my  test. 


480  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

My  students  are  proving  my  spiritual  teachings 
also,  and  are  being  weighed  in  the  balances  of  God. 
May  they  have  oil  in  their  lamps !  I  must  keep  my 
lamp  filled  and  burning  brightly,  that  I  may  be  wedded 
to  a  higher  ideal. 

Read  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  276  and  on  to  the 
end  of  the  chapter. 

With  love  to  you  both,  I  am, 

Yours  faithfully, 
Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City. 
December  31,  1909. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  few  lines  to  tell  you  that  the  hour  has  passed 
for  doubt  or  question  as  regards  the  conditions  of  the 
present  phenomena.  I  am  on  my  face  with  heart 
throbbing  with  gratitude  to  God,  and  adoration 
for  the  wonderful  experience  through  which  I  have 
passed,  and  which  has  exalted  me  to  grasp  more 
firmly  the  right  hand  of  my  Father-Mother  Love, 
and  to  behold  my  real  self,  my  immortal  self,  safe  in 
divine  Science.  I  can  never  tell  you  how  the  light 
floods  my  thought,  and  how  it  reveals  the  real  of  all, 
and  uncovers  the  error  of  those  who  believe  in  the 
false  testimony  of  material  sense. 

The  tares  and  the  wheat  can  no  longer  grow  together. 
They  must  separate.  It  is  inevitable.  Those  who 
have  grown  to  see,  through  spiritual  sense,  the  divine 
idea,  are  united  in  the  bonds  of  spiritual  love,  which 
makes  for  power  on  the  side  of  God.  Moral  chemicali- 
zation is  universal,  and  you  will  find  it  working  in  every 
body  of  Christian  Scientists.  The  few  who  have 
spiritual  discernment  will  stand  and  suffer  for  Christ. 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  481 

The  many,  who  are  only  camp-followers,  or  who  have 
the  letter  without  the  spirit,  will  unite  to  oppose  the 
faithful  who  can  no  longer  continue  in  material  organi- 
zation. The  battle  is  the  Lord's.  We  have  only  to 
stand  still  in  Truth  and  Love  and  see  the  salvation  of 
our  God. 

I  am  strong  and  free  and  am  reflecting  Christ  to  the 
world,  day  and  night.  I  know  that  my  dear  students 
who  are  watching  with  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
feel  the  mighty  power  of  the  love  which  comes  con- 
tinually surging  through  my  consciousness,  until  I  feel 
that  I  am  already  in  heaven.  I  know  that  I  under- 
stand the  words:  Let  "the  word  .  .  .  have  free  course, 
and  be  glorified"  (2  Thess.  iii.,  1).  No  material  sense 
can  obstruct  the  power  of  the  divine  idea.  The  night 
of  materialism  is  far  spent.  God  pity  all  who  have 
not  kept  oil,  spiritual  love,  in  their  lamps.  To-day 
many  are  following  blindly,  and  are  walking  in  the 
glow  of  the  light  wftich  shines  from  some  who  have 
kept  their  lamps  filled  and  burning;  others  follow  the 
majority,  or  popular  opinion.  Only  they  stand  who 
have  the  letter  and  the  spirit,  and  who  understand  the 
words  and  works  of  our  Master,  and  of  our  Leader  in 
her  works,  and  words,  and  holy  life. 

I  am  experiencing  more  light  and  power  with  God 
every  hour.  "Behold,  I  come  quickly"  is  being 
verified.  I  wish  I  could  impart  to  you  just  a  little  of 
the  visions  I  have  of  the  future,  when  I  shall  have 
won  a  complete  victory  over  the  belief  that  I  am  sub- 
ject, in  the  slightest  degree,  to  a  material  body.  I 
know  that  material  organization  must  be  abandoned 
by  those  who  have  made  the  demonstration  of  a 
perfect  material  organization,  and  that  now  we  must 
begin  "  to  build  .  .  .  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation  " 


482  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  and,  as 
I  find  that  I  am  out  of  material  churches,  it  seems 
almost  as  if  I  were  out  of  a  material  body  or  organized 
matter. 

I  am  absent  from  this  false  sense  so  much,  and 
present  with  Love  and  Truth  so  constantly,  that  I 
almost  see,  and  feel,  and  hear,  and  touch  the  real 
and  eternal  ideas  which  people  the  spiritual  and  only 
universe.  Oh,  how  I  work  day  and  night  for  humanity ! 
Let  "the  word  .  .  .  have  free  course,  and  be  glorified." 
I  know  that  my  precious  students  who  are  able  to 
discern  the  truth  in  Christian  Science,  feel  my  prayers, 
and  my  spiritual  presence,  and  are  lifted  to  a  greater 
reliance  upon  the  sustaining  infinite. 

Your  faithful,  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  19, 191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  S  .  .   .  : — 

Your  letter  appeals  to  me  as  from  one  who  is  seeking 
the  solution  of  a  perplexing  problem  which  seems  to 
exist  between  the  Board  of  Directors  and  myself. 

First,  there  is  a  difference  of  interpretation  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  writings,  the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures. 
Also  the  charge  of  mental  malpractice,  which,  in  a 
thorough  investigation  held  by  a  Committee  of  Inquiry, 
composed  of  the  Trustees  of  my  church  (all  advanced 
divine  metaphysicians),  was  proved  absolutely  ground- 
less. I  send  you  under  separate  cover  a  report  of  the 
Committee. 

The  publicity  of  the  position  in  which  the  Boston 
Directors  placed  me  before  the  world  two  years  ago 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  483 

could  not  have  been  borne  by  any  woman  who  had  not 
learned  the  "  sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way  "  (Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  p.  389),  and  leaned  heavily  and 
entirely  upon  the  sustaining  infinite — our  Father- 
Mother  God. 

If  you  are  not  a  divine  metaphysician  you  may  not 
readily  understand  my  definition  of  mental  malpractice, 
to  which  you  referred  in  your  letter.  Let  me  quote 
from  Miscellaneous  Writings,  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  page  31: 

Mental  malpractice  is  a  bland  denial  of  Truth,  and  is  the 
antipode  of  Christian  Science.  To  mentally  argue  in  a 
manner  that  can  disastrously  affect  the  happiness  of 
a  fellow-being — harm  him  morally,  physically,  or  spirit- 
ually— breaks  the  Golden  Rule  and  subverts  the  scientific 
laws  of  being.  This,  therefore,  is  not  the  use  but  the 
abuse  of  mental  treatment,  and  is  mental  malpractice. 

Christian  Scientists  admit  but  one  Mind  as  real, 
the  Mind  of  Christ.  They  worship  one  God,  one 
Spirit,  or  Soul,  one  creator — eternal  Life,  Truth 
and  Love.  They  regard  all  men  as  mental  beings, 
emanations  of  the  one  creative  Principle,  God,  and 
maintain  that  man  reflects  Life,  Truth,  and  Love; 
therefore  that  man  is  spiritual,  not  material.  This 
is  the  man  of  God's  creating,  and  is  found  in  the  first 
chapter  of  Genesis  which  is  the  history  of  the  real 
creation,  when  God  made  man  in  His  own  image  and 
likeness,    and   gave    him    dominion    over   all    things. 

Opposed  to  this  history  of  the  real  man  is  the  Adam, 
or  carnal,  so-called  man,  found  in  the  following  chapters 
of  Genesis.  Paul  said,  "  To  be  carnally  minded  is  death ; 
but  to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace"  (Ro- 
mans viii.,  6).  Thus  we  see  that  spiritual  thought — 
life,  truth,  and  love — is  a  force  for  good,  the  law  of  God. 


484  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

The  carnal  thought,  which  is  a  belief  of  life  and  intelli- 
gence in  matter,  and  which  expresses  itself  in  hate, 
malice,  jealousy,  envy,  revenge,  and  all  evil,  is  a  so- 
called  force  which  works  discord,  sin,  disease,  and 
results  in  death.  "For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in 
Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive"  (1  Cor.  xv,,  22). 

The  exercise  of  the  spiritual  thought  conveys  peace, 
harmony,  and  spiritual  uplifting,  upon  whomsoever 
it  may  rest.  It  naturally  follows  that  the  qualities 
of  the  carnal  mind,  indulged  and  sent  out,  would  have 
the  opposite  effect. 

Christian  Scientists  enlist  to  lessen  sin,  disease,  and 
death.  They  admit  the  claim  to  a  power  called  evil 
(which  Jesus  also  admitted  when  speaking  of  the  carnal, 
Adam,  so-called  man,  and  said:  "He  was  a  murderer 
from  the  beginning,  and  abode  not  in  the  truth,  because 
there  is  no  truth  in  him.  When  he  speaketh  a  lie, 
he  speaketh  of  his  own:  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father 
of  it")  but  they  do  not  believe  this  power  to  be  real — 
eternal — therefore  they  follow  the  teachings  of  Jesus 
the  Christ,  our  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life.  Obeying 
the  law  of  Spirit — the  truth  by  which  they  are  governed, 
they  labor  to  annul  the  qualities  of  the  human  mind, 
for  themselves  and  for  those  who  appeal  to  them  for 
help.  Thus  they  prove  the  omnipotence  of  the  law  of 
Spirit  to  free  them  from  the  claim  of  a  law  of  sickness 
and  death. 

Mrs.  Eddy  has  taught  her  followers  to  obey  the  law 
of  God,  to  follow  the  teachings  and  example  of  Jesus 
the  Christ;  to  have  that  Mind  in  them  which  was  also 
in  Christ  Jesus,  and  to  love  their  neighbor  as  them- 
selves. Admitting  but  one  power  as  real — the  spiritual 
consciousness  which  God  bestows, — a  tpue  Christian 
Scientist    could    not    malpractise.     He    knows    that 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  485 

wrong  thoughts  indulged,  or  entertained  of  another, 
would  react  most  heavily  against  himself,  and  he  would 
thereby  be  giving  power  to  evil  as  well  as  to  good. 
By  departing  from  the  strict  rule  of  divine  Love, 
he  would  vitiate  his  power  to  do  good,  or  to  heal,  and 
would  come  under  the  forces  of  evil,  which  he  knows 
are  destructive. 

During  twenty-six  years  of  my  Christian  Science 
warfare,  I  have  striven  earnestly  to  make  evil  thought 
unreal,  and  to  make  the  Christ-mind  real  and  potent 
in  the  healing  of  sin  and  disease  in  all  their  manifesta- 
tions. I  have  proved  divine  metaphysics  or  Christian 
Science  to  be  demonstrable  Truth.  The  severe  test 
through  which  I  have  passed  during  the  last  two  years 
has  driven  me  to  the  height  of  demonstration  of  divine 
Love.  I  have  been  enabled  to  make  injustice  and 
cruel  wrongs,  ignorance,  ingratitude,  and  disdain,  unreal 
to  myself.  I  have  so  well  succeeded  in  overcoming  and 
abnegating  the  human  selfhood,  that  to-day,  I  can  say 
with  the  Apostle,  "None  of  these  things  move  me." 
I  stand  immovable  for  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the 
Christ  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy — the  possible  demon- 
stration of  victory  over  sin,  disease,  and  death,  through 
obedience  to  the  law  of  God. 

I  was  accused  by  the  five  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church  of  mental  malpractice,  and,  as  I  have  said 
before,  a  thorough  investigation  of  this  charge  was 
made,  at  my  request,  by  the  Trustees  of  my  church  in 
New  York,  and  afterwards  at  the  request  of  the  Boston 
Board.  I  asked  that  this  be  done  by  them  without 
fear  or  favor.  After  an  exhaustive  examination  of 
twenty-five  of  my  students,  sixteen  of  whom  were 
later  dropped  from  The  Mother  Church  in  Boston, 
this  verdict  was    rendered — that    my   teachings  and 


486  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

practice  were  strictly  in  accord  with  Science  and 
Health,  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science.  Three 
others  stood  for  absolute  Christian  Science,  making 
nineteen  of  the  twenty-five  practitioners  who  stood 
immovable  with  me. 

When  reports  came  to  me  from  Boston  of  the  efforts 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  to  prove  my  teachings  and 
practice  unscientific,  I  was  incredulous.  I  knew  that 
I  was  teaching  and  practising  the  Principle  of  Christian 
Science  precisely  as  I  had  done  for  twenty-four  years, 
and  that  I  was  constantly  increasing  in  realization  of 
Truth,  and  in  demonstration  of  divine  metaphysics. 
I  could  not  believe  that  the  Directors  would  attempt 
to  assume  the  prerogative  of  my  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
who  had  always  commended  and  endorsed  my  work. 
I  have  always  obeyed  constituted  authority.  Even 
though  I  did  not  agree  with  them,  in  their  interpretation 
of  Christian  Science,  I  obeyed,  and  trusted  God  and  our 
Leader  to  direct  and  enlighten  me. 

The  accounts  of  their  determination  to  find  some- 
thing by  which  they  might  depose  me,  were  so  frequent 
and  well-authenticated,  that  I  decided  to  speak  to  the 
practitioners  (twenty -five  in  number)  with  whom  I  met 
every  day  to  discuss  metaphysical  points  relating  to 
Christian  Science  practice  and  to  go  through  the  weekly 
Bible  Lesson.  I  decided  that  I  must  protect  myself 
and  my  church  from  the  false  charges,  misrepresenta- 
tions and  absolute  reversal  of  my  teachings,  which 
were  made,  and  which  I  knew  was  mental  malpractice. 
My  only  protection  was  to  entrench  myself  in  the  citadel 
of  divine  Love  and  Truth,  and  reflect  the  qualities  of 
Spirit  to  each  one  who  was  holding  the  opposite  thought 
towards  me. 

I  never  for  one  moment  permitted  myself  (nor  did 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  487 

my  students  the  practitioners  with  whom  I  conferred), 
to  cease  declaring  that  these  Directors  were  brethren — 
God's  children;  and  that  envy,  hatred,  malice,  or  any 
quality  of  the  carnal  mind,  so-called,  could  not  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  God  and  unity  in  the  bonds  of 
Spirit.  We  obeyed  our  Leader's  injunction  as  to 
malpractice,  found  in  the  Church  Manual,  Article 
viii,  Section  8:  "Members  will  not  intentionally  or 
knowingly  mentally  malpractise,  inasmuch  as  Christian 
Science  can  only  be  practised  according  to  the  Golden 
Rule :  I  All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them.'  (Matt. 
7*   12)  " 

I  strictly  obeyed  this  By-Law,  as  I  have  always  done, 
and  during  this  controversy  with  the  Directors  I  con- 
tinued to  declare  for  the  omnipotence  of  Truth  and 
Love,  and  the  powerlessness  of  the  claim  of  evil  which 
opposes  itself  to  good.  This  was  called  malpractice 
because  I  spoke  directly  to  them.  I  leave  all  to 
judge  who  was  malpractising  and  who  has  been  so 
doing  during  the  past  two  years. 

I  am  never  heard  except  when  I  defend  my  spiritual 
interpretation  of  Science  and  Health,  and  repeat  my  ever- 
increasing  loyalty  to  my  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
I  must  fulfil  the  law  of  Love.  I  will  quote  from 
an  article  that  appeared  in  the  New  York  papers  of 
November  8,  1909,  in  which  I  explained  what  I  mean 
by  mental  malpractice: 

I  will  give  as  an  illustration  what  I  understand  to  be  the 
difference  between  mental  malpractice  and  "  Indispensable 
defence"  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  451,  452)  or  self -pro- 
tection. 

If  I  felt  sure  that  I  was  being  attacked,  either  ignorantly 
or  maliciously  by  any  person,  I  would  fill  my  thought  with 


488  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

the  qualities  of  God,  Truth  and  Love,  which  alone  render 
one  invincible  to  the  entrance  of  evil  in  any  form — fear, 
doubt,  envy,  malice,  revenge,  and  whatever  proceeds  from 
the  carnal  mind.  From  this  fortress  of  defence  I  should 
speak  to  the  person,  addressing  him  by  name,  and  should 
declare  God's  omnipotence  and  ever-presence,  and  that 
there  is  no  other  power  nor  presence. 

In  other  words,  I  should  come  to  him  reflecting  Truth  and 
Love,  and  should  declare  that  he  is  God's  image  and  likeness, 
a  spiritual  being,  perfect  and  immortal.  I  should  then 
speak  to  the  error  which  might  be  operating  through  the 
human  mind,  for  which  he  has  been  an  avenue.  I  should 
endeavor  to  see  him  as  our  Leader  writes  on  page  476  of 
Science  and  Health — "Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the  perfect 
man,  who  appeared  to  him  where  sinning  mortal  man 
appears  to  mortals. "  Then  I  should  declare  that  malicious 
animal  magnetism,  in  all  its  forms  and  phases,  was  power- 
less to  work  through  a  human  personality,  using  him  as  an 
avenue  to  injure  me  or  any  one,  or  to  hinder  the  progress 
of  Christian  Science.  This  could  only  bless  the  corporeal 
man,  and  is  doing  unto  others  what  we  would  be  willing 
to  have  others  do  unto  us.  It  would  heal  the  ill  by  casting 
out  the  evil  thoughts  which  produce  mental  and  physical 
disease.  It  is  the  superiority  of  spiritual  power  over 
material  sense,  and  is  not  malpractice. 

Mental  malpractice  is  the  influence  of  one  so-called 
mortal  mind  over  another,  and  may  be  either  innocent, 
ignorant,  or  malicious. 

Innocent  malpractice: — A  mother  is  often  an  innocent 
malpractitioner  upon  her  child.  With  her  own  thought 
filled  with  the  fear  of  disease  or  accident,  apprehensive  of 
danger  for  her  little  one,  she  produces  these  impressions 
upon  the  child's  mind,  to  be  afterward  manifested  on  the 
body  in  the  form  of  disease. 

Ignorant  mental  malpractice  is  constantly  in  operation 
among  those  who  are  ignorant  of  the  power  of  thought, 
and  exercise  their  human  wills  to  obtain  that  which  they 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  489 

desire.  Gossip  and  harsh  unjust  criticism  freely  indulged, 
strike  discord  into  many  a  heart,  and  are  mental  mal- 
practice. Thus  many  are  driven  to  Christian  Science, 
where  they  find  the  lost  chord  of  Christ,  and  a  compassion- 
ate, divine  Love,  which  attune  to  peace  and  harmony. 

Malicious  mental  malpractice  is  any  thought  entertained 
or  expressed  with  intention  to  govern  or  to  injure  another. 

True  Christian  Scientists,  admitting  but  one  Mind, 
striving  to  have  no  other  mind  but  the  Mind  of  Christ; 
to- have  one  God,  and  to  love  their  neighbor  as  themselves, 
can  only  bless  all  upon  whom  their  thoughts  rest. 

I  trust  I  have  not  presumed  too  long  upon  your 
valuable  time.  I  feel  that  if  I  answer  your  letter 
I  must  make  plain  my  position;  which  I  cannot  do 
in  a  few  words. 

This  letter  is  for  your  own  information,  in  reply  to 
your  request. 

Yours  very  sincerely 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  29,  191 1. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

Your  letter  reached  me  yesterday.     I  cannot  tell 

you   the   sorrow   it  brought.     It   seems  too  much  to 

believe  that  there  should  be  such  a  division  in  your 

dear  church.     I  wrote  E.  .  .  at  once  and  asked  her 

what  it  all  meant.     She  had  mailed  me  a  letter  after 

the  meeting  and  I  received  it  to-day.     She  said  very 

little,  but  mentioned  the  church  meeting,  and  added  that 

you  and  several  others  had  not  worked  with  the  church 

for  some  time,  and  that  you  were  called  to  answer 

whether  you  were  willing  to  unite  and  work  with  the 

members  in  love. 


49°  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

She  said  that  you  all  regarded  the  church  as  inde- 
pendent, and  considered  their  present  members  as 
a  "new  organization,"  when  it  was  under  the  same 
old  By-Laws,  with  but  a  little  amendment.  They  had, 
she  said,  been  unable  to  get  the  By-Laws  from  Mr. 
F.  .  .  who  took  them  with  him  when  he  resigned  as 
Clerk.  She  is,  I  am  sure,  most  earnest  to  have  all  the 
members  work  in  loving  spiritual  unity,  guided  by 
Principle.  I  cannot  understand,  my  dear  student, 
how  this  condition  came  about.  If  you  and  E.  .  . 
follow  Christ  and  our  beloved  Leader,  as  I  believe 
you  both  try  to  do,  how  did  this  separation  come? 

Governed  by  the  one  Mind,  we  are  one  in  cooperation. 
The  law  of  wisdom  and  intelligence,  of  Love  and 
Truth,  binds  us  in  bonds  which  can  never  be  severed. 
The  struggle  to  make  evil  unreal  and  good  real,  to  see 
each  as  Jesus  saw  man,  through  the  lens  of  spiritual 
understanding  and  love,  is  what  we  are  striving  to  do. 
This  compels  us  to  "love  more  for  every  hate," 
says  our  blessed  Leader  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  389),  and  so  we  conquer  self  and  live  in  love.  Oh! 
my  dear  H.  .  .  ,  do  you  realize  what  I  felt  when 
I  read  these  words  in  your  letter:  "Their  whole 
action  is  a  disgrace  to  self-respecting  people"?  I 
wondered  what  malicious  animal  magnetism  was 
doing  among  the  lambs  of  my  dear  student's  flock 
and  what  the  term  "new  organization"  meant.  I  was 
not  able  to  write  you  a  reply  till  I  had  roused  myself 
from  the  false  sense  of  things,  and  vigorously  handled 
the  "enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  910)  which  was  working  to  make  me  believe 
that  my  two  dear  students  were  at  variance.  After 
awhile  I  rose  into  the  clearer  atmosphere  of  Truth 
and  Love  and  I  saw  you  both  as  God's  perfect  children. 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  491 

He  who  hath  seen  the  spiritual  idea  as  the  only 
child  of  God,  does  not  accept  sense  testimony — 
the   lie. 

Then  I  sat  down  and  wrote  you  and  E.  .  .  She  will 
show  you  her  letter  I  am  sure,  if  you  wish  to  see  it. 
I  knew  that  for  some  time  there  had  been  an  indiffer- 
ence in  the  church,  and  that  Mr.  F.  .  .  had  resigned 
as  Clerk,  but  I  felt  that  this  was  normal  chemicaliza- 
tion, and  I  have  seen  so  much  of  this  conflict  among 
Christian  Scientists,  when  error  is  stirred  to  the  sur- 
face by  Truth,  that  I  gave  it  no  serious  consideration 
and  left  you  and  E.  .  .  to  solve  the  problem  and 
restore  harmony. 

Dear  H.  .  .  ,  you  say,  "the  organization  which 
claims  to  be  running  at  your  command  and  under  your 
protection  and  counsel  I  am  unable  to  take  part 
in."  I  do  not  know  anything  about  "the  organiza- 
tion, "  to  which  you  refer.  I  know  only  the  dear 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  your  city,  and, 
whenever  you  or  E.  .  .  ,  as  my  students,  need  and 
ask  for  my  advice,  I,  your  teacher,  shall  always  give 
you  the  benefit  of  my  experience.  You  know  what 
this  advice  is,  and  you  can  give  the  dear  members  the 
benefit  of  your  teaching.  I  have  no  hesitancy  in 
saying  that  I  am  willing  to  give  my  struggling  Christian 
Science  students  all  I  have  to  give  to  help  them  "On 
the  way  there,"  as  my  Teacher  for  years  has  given 
me.  I  am  not  idle.  I  feel  that  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  my  blessed  student,  M.  .  .  B.  .  .  ,  are 
behind  the  shadows  keeping  watch  over  that  church, 
and  all  the  claim  of  the  hosts  of  a  suppositional  hell 
can  never  overthrow  it. 

It  has  passed  through  deep  waters.  The  dreadful 
blow  was  felt  before  the  word  was  received,  and  the 


492  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

fatal  mental  dagger  did  its  work.  God  pity  those 
who  dealt  this  blow. 

Now  I  see  that  error  would  strike  again  and  de- 
moralize this  church-body,  by  bringing  in  division. 
Schism,  strife  and  the  poison  of  asps  under  the  tongue 
would  dismember  it.  Divine  Love  forbids  such  work, 
and  commands  that  the  serpent  be  uncovered  and 
destroyed  by  those  who  know  that  God  is  All  and  man 
is  good. 

I  shall  remain  in  the  citadel  of  love,  and  from  this 
vantage  ground  I  shall  send  forth  the  Word — God's 
law,  that  sensuous,  malicious  animal  magnetism,  envy, 
jealousy,  hate,  malice,  desire  for  place  and  power,  self- 
love,  self-will,  lust,  and  hypocrisy,  shall  go  out  of  that 
church,  even  if  but  two  witnesses  are  left  to  love  and 
fulfil  the  law  of  God.  I  know  too  well  my  mission.  I 
shall  stand  for  genuine  Christian  Science  as  my  Leader 
requested  me  to  do.  I  care  not  for  physical  personalities. 
They  are  the  image  of  mortal,  so-called,  mind,  and  as  I 
am  instructed  by  Science  and  Health  and  our  revered 
Leader's  other  writings,  and  her  personal  letters,  I  shall 
stand  for  Principle,  and  the  spiritual  personality  or  idea. 

I  shall  work,  watch,  pray,  and  fight  for  our  Leader's 
true  followers,  and  for  their  churches  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
everywhere.  God  has  given  me  the  "  spirit  .  .  .  of  power, 
and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. "  This  was  my  first 
text  preached  in  Boston  with  Mrs.  Eddy  sitting  beside 
me  in  the  pulpit.  I  am  absolutely  fearless.  I  have 
met  and  demonstrated  over  the  so-called  claim  of  hate, 
malice,  envy,  and  evil  of  individual  and  of  universal 
consciousness.  I  have  lived  through  all,  and  I  shall  stand 
and  defend  the  teachings  and  work  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Love  will  do  the  work,  for  I  love  divinely,  therefore 
efficaciously. 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  493 

I  feel  sure,  my  dear  student,  that  you  know  that  I 
am  standing  for  you  and  E .  .  .  ,  just  so  far  as  you 
stand  for  Principle.  If  you  stumble  and  fall  by  the 
wayside,  I  will  do  my  duty  and  pick  you  up  and  help 
you  to  your  feet,  if  you  desire  to  press  on  in  the  warfare 
against  the  claim  of  evil;  but  I  cannot  do  your  work 
for  you.  You  must  do  your  own  self-abnegation,  and 
both  you  and  E.  .  .  must  conquer  whatever  there 
is  in  your  mental  that  is  unlike  Christ. 

You  comprehend  my  deep  love  for  you,  my  dear 
H .  .  .  ,  only  so  far  as  you  love  God  and  your  brother 
and  sister.  I  would  do  anything  for  you  but  wrong 
you,  by  not  showing  you  the  danger.  I  am  happy 
to  say  that  I  have  only  love  for  those  who  have  tempo- 
rarily taken  my  church,  and  have  done  all  that  can  be 
done  to  destroy  my  influence.  But  when  I  say  love 
for  "those"  I  mean  for  the  ideal  man,  God's  man,  back 
of  flesh,  blood,  and  bones,  which  are  substanceless 
nothingness.  I  do  not  love  error  nor  its  embodiment, 
neither  my  own  corporeality  nor  another's.  I  refuse 
to  recognize  it  as  any  part  of  God  and  His  spiritual 
universe — the  only  universe,  since  God  is  All.  I  am 
building  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation"  (Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).     There  is  no  matter. 

The  power  is  given  to  the  Son,  and  you  and  I  discern 
our  sonship  and  reflect  God,  good,  Love,  Life,  and  Truth. 
I  am  strong  in  faith  that,  in  some  way,  the  wheat  and 
tares  will  soon  be  separated  in  the  entire  Field.  When 
we  rise  in  divine  Love  we  shall  demonstrate  a  world  or 
consciousness  in  which  is  no  discord.  There  no  arrow 
wounds  the  dove.  Rise  wTith  those  who  are  building 
on  Christ.  God  bless  and  keep  you  and  dear  Mr.  F .  .  . 
and  all  the  dear  members  of  that  church,  whose  super- 
structure is  Love. 


494  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

With  deepest  love  for  you,  dear  one,  and  prayers  that 
in  this  late  hour  you  and  E .  .  .do  not  lose  the  chord 
of  Christ  but  sing  the  song  of  unity  in  the  bonds  of  the 
Spirit,  I  am, 

Your  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  3,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  J.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  requesting  "any  pamphlets  concerning 
your  difference  with  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church,  Boston,  Massachusetts, "  is  before  me. 
I  am  sending  to  you,  under  separate  cover,  letters  which 
at  first  I  sent  typewritten  to  my  students  and  others 
who  appealed  to  me  throughout  this  country  and  from 
abroad.  They  were  confused  by  the  stand  taken  by  the 
Directors  which  they  declared  was  directly  opposed  to 
the  teachings  of  Science  and  Health  and  our  Leader's 
other  writings. 

I  soon  found  that  many  Christian  Scientists  through- 
out the  Field  were  appealing  to  me  as  to  what  this 
strange  reversal  of  Christian  Science,  by  those  in  author- 
ity, meant,  and  I  decided  to  print  my  letters  in  pamphlet 
form.  I  have  unswervingly  maintained  my  stand  for 
present  immortality,  and  for  the  correct  disposition  of 
the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism  as  I  was  taught 
by  my  revered  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy. 

The  Boston  Directors  do  not  agree  with  me  as  to  the 
question  of  immortality  and  the  handling  of  error.  It 
was,  and  is  a  matter  of  difference  of  interpretation  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings.  I  am  following  the  spiritual 
interpretation  of  the  Bible  and  of  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  given  me  by  Mrs.  Eddy 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  495 

during  twenty-five  years  of  her  personal  teaching  and 
in  nearly  four  hundred  letters  to  me  in  her  own  hand- 
writing. I  have  had  photographed  one  hundred  and 
eighteen  of  these  bearing  on  the  points  for  which  I 
contended  during  my  trial  by  the  Directors.  These 
letters  confirm  my  position.  The  Directors  were  in 
authority.  They  were  permitted  to  fulfil  their  mission. 
It  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  Science  of 
Christianity.  The  trial  through  which  I  passed  in  the 
test  of  my  fidelity  to  Principle,  and  to  my  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  has  been  recorded  in  history,  as  has  been 
my  emergence  from  material  organization. 

When  all  who  had  answered  to  the  call  of  our  Leader 
to  begin  "to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion" {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390)  were 
thrust  out  of  material  organization,  and  became  pio- 
neers for  a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness  or  char- 
acter, they  met  with  the  antagonism  of  the  materialists. 
This  revealed  my  position  to  all  who  were  able  to  dis- 
cern the  difference  between  materiality  and  spirituality. 
I  contend  for  Mrs.  Eddy's  ability  to  make  a  demonstra- 
tion of  her  teachings  of  immortality  as  did  Jesus.  I 
know  from  my  personal  association  with  her,  from  her 
letters,  and  from  my  spiritual  understanding  of  the 
Bible,  that  she  is  the  anointed  of  God  in  this  age, 
through  whom  Christ  is  to  appear  the  second  time  in 
the  fulfilment  of  the  law  of  Love. 

The  contemplation  of  a  cemetery,  tomb,  grave,  mon- 
ument, obituary  notices,  and  unity  with  the  League 
for  Medical  Freedom,  which  necessitates  association 
with  material  systems  and  seeks  protection  under  the 
so-called  material  law, — all  this  is  contrary  to  Christ- 
ian Science,  and  is  not  in  accordance  with  the  teach- 
ings of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  as  found  in  the  text-book  of 


496  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

Christian  Science,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,  and  her  other  writings. 

Even  at  this  early  stage  of  building  on  a  "wholly- 
spiritual  foundation, "  I  am  armed  with  sufficient  spirit- 
uality to  know  the  truth  of  the  scientific  statement  of 
being  which  has  given  me  courage  to  defend  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teachings  (as  she  charged  me  to  do)  until  she  manifests 
her  "wholly  spiritual"  individuality  and  continues  her 
leadership,  as  spiritual  idea. 

Divine  Science  teaches  the  second  coming  of  Christ, 
Truth,  when  the  ideal  man  will  reign  forever  among  men, 
and  will  gather  all  who  have  on  a  "wedding  garment " — 
all  who  have  oil  in  their  lamps  (spiritual  understanding) , 
and  will  lead  and  guide  them  forever  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  eternal  Life. 

I  am  not  contending  with  the  Board  of  Directors. 
I  am  defending  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science  as 
taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  If  the  Directors,  or  any 
feel  that  I  am  differing  with  them,  this  is  an  admission 
that  they  are  opposing  my  stand  for  our  Leader's 
teachings  of  present  immortality,  and  her  possible 
demonstration  of  Principle,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love,  expressed  in  the  ideal  man. 

My  protection  of  her  teachings  can  do  no  harm,  and 
need  not  be  opposed  by  any.  They  must  uplift  hope, 
faith,  and  understanding  to  the  contemplation  of  some- 
thing more  spiritual  and  more  in  accordance  with  the 
law  of  eternal  Life,  something  which  directs  thought 
away  from  cemeteries,  tombs,  graves,  monuments, 
obituary  notices,  and  an  alliance  with  osteopaths  and 
patent-medicine  vendors.  All  are  to-day  called  to 
choose  whom  they  will  serve. 

Our  beloved  Leader  seems  to  be  gone  "into  a  far 
country,"  and  the  stewards  seem  to  be  beating  the 


Letters  on  Church  Problems         497 

"  menservants  and  maidens"  (see  Luke  xii.,  41-46). 
But  the  genuine  Christian  Scientists  will  "occupy"  the 
post  of  spiritual  observation  till  Christ  comes,  and 
they  hear  the  voice  of  the  Christ-idea,  "Come,  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. " 

Loyalty  to  my  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  compels 
me  to  defend  her  teachings,  and  to  demonstrate  the 
power  of  spiritual  thought-force  to  destroy  all  the 
efforts  of  so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism  in  all 
the  forms  and  phases  which  it  assumes  in  its  powerless 
attempt  to  silence  the  voice  of  the  on-coming  and  re- 
appearing Christ-idea  known  to  human  sense  as  a 
woman — Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  5,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  T  .  .  .  : — 

There  is  a  tone  in  your  letter  which  touches  a  respon- 
sive chord  in  my  thought;  and  indicates  loyalty  and 
affection  for  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  If,  as 
I  trust,  you  do  see  her,  "as  the  revelator  of  Truth  to 
this  age,  and  the  promulgator  of  the  teaching  of  an 
endless  life, "  you  will  recognize  her  mission,  and  the 
necessity  of  her  demonstration  over  the  claim  of  life 
in  mortal  mind  and  its  embodiment — matter,  the  illu- 
sions or  concepts  which  Truth  must  and  will  destroy. 
This  understanding  is  life.  It  is  the  oil  which  fills 
our  lamps,  and  lights  the  path  of  the  genuine  Christian 
Scientist. 

The  evident  determination  of  mortal  mind,  so-called, 
to  hold  our  spiritual  Leader  in  the  grave,  or  as  ever 


498  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

having  lived  and  died  in  matter,  has  been  met  by 
spiritual  thought-force;  and  the  retreating  "enemy  of 
good"  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910)  can 
hardly  be  seen  or  heard  to-day  by  those  who  are  ris- 
ing into  the  light  of  spiritual  illumination.  The  stone 
of  belief  has  been  rolled  away  by  many  a  soldier  of 
Christian  Science. 

This  glorious,  glad  resurrection  hour  finds  us  singing 
songs  of  praise  to  God  for  our  beloved  Leader,  who  has 
taught  us  how  to  love  divinely,  how  to  recognize  the 
claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  as  it  works 
through  its  various  channels  or  personalities,  and  how, 
finally  to  nullify  its  claim  to  power,  by  the  Christ  quali- 
ties of  spiritual  consciousness  which  we  possess.  You 
ask  me  if  I  am  in  favor  with  the  Board  of  Directors.  I 
remain  in  the  same  attitude  as  when  they  dropped  my 
name  from  membership  in  The  Mother  Church.  I 
cannot  change  my  method  of  teaching  and  practice. 
I  stand  for  absolute  Christian  Science,  and  present 
immortality.  I  teach  this,  always  have  taught  it,  and 
shall  continue  to  teach  as  I  was  taught  by  Mary  Baker 
Eddy.  I  demonstrate  it  as  fast  as  I  can,  and  teach 
all  to  do  the  same.  I  speak  to  impersonal  error  and 
its  mouthpieces  whenever  I  hear  it  voiced  by  persons. 
I  have,  from  the  beginning,  done  this.  I  meet  every 
argument  of  the  "enemy  of  good"  with  spiritual  love — 
the  only  power  which  dissolves  the  adamant  of  suppo- 
sitional hatred,  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  and  revenge — 
nothingness. 

Our  Leader  tells  us  that  "The  evil  in  human  nature 
foams  at  the  touch  of  good"  (Message  for  1901,  p.  45), 
and  the  struggler  for  the  goal  of  immortal  selfhood  must 
meet  the  opposition  of  "sin's  revenge  on  its  destroyer" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  48).     But  the  understanding  of 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  499 

the  impotence  of  the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism when  met  by  divine  love  gives  courage  and  might 
to  win  a  victory.  I  have  spoken  publicly  during  the 
past  two  years  only  when  I  have  been  accused  of  being 
disloyal  to  my  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  or  as  not  teaching 
Christian  Science  according  to  the  text-book. 

Twenty-five  years  of  close  association  with  her  in  the 
mental,  with  no  condemnation  from  her  in  regard  to 
my  interpretation  of  her  teaching,  and  my  application 
of  it,  and  with  letters  to  confirm  my  work,  which  are 
beyond  a  question,  together  with  my  demonstration  of 
Principle  both  before  and  after  the  public  crucifixion — 
all  this  has  proved  that  I  am  a  demonstrator  of  divine 
Science. 

I  was  exonerated  by  my  own  church,  but  later  I 
resigned,  lest  my  personal  presence  might  cause  the 
opposers  to  disturb  the  peace,  and  I  faintly  apprehended 
that  I  was  ready  to  leave  material  organization  and 
build  wholly  spiritually.  I  will  send  you  the  result  of 
the  investigation  made  by  eight  of  the  nine  Trustees 
who  served  on  the  Committee  of  Inquiry,1  some  of 
whom  had  been  Trustees  for  twenty-three  years,  others 
for  fifteen,  and  others  for  ten  years.  These  are  with 
me  now,  stronger  than  ever  in  their  spiritual  interpreta- 
tion of  Science  and  Health  and  our  Leader's  other  writ: 
ings,  and  scientific  mental  practice.  One  woman 
Trustee  felt  that  I  was  wrong  in  teaching  the  immortal- 
ity of  man  at  the  present  hour,  and  my  use  of  names. 
This  is  the  only  one  of  the  nine  Trustees  who  is  not 
with  me  to-day.  Eight  of  the  old  Board  of  Trustees 
are  rising  to  see  what  this  separation  means,  both  in 
individual  and  universal  thought.  I,  with  all  my 
students  who  have  risen  to  spiritual  apprehension  and 

»  This  report  immediately  follows  this  letter. 


500  Letters  on  Church  Problems 

are  following  our  Leader  in  her  demonstration  over  all 
mortal  mentality,  am  strong,  through  spiritual  reflec- 
tion, to  prove  the  impossibility  of  error  to  destroy  our 
work,  or  to  hush  the  voice  and  message  of  eternal  Mind. 

Hundreds  of  my  students  have  stood  with  me  during 
all  these  tests.  They  attend  church  services  every  Sun- 
day morning,  and  while  the  Trustees  resigned  from  office 
when  several  new  members  were  elected  (feeling  they 
preferred  not  to  work  with  those  who  entertained  such 
opposite  views),  yet  they  have  regularly  attended  the 
church  which  they  built,  and  there  is  no  evidence,  to 
an  outsider,  that  two  conditions  of  thought  are  there. 
Indeed  there  are  not;  there  is  but  one  Mind,  and  this 
understanding  enables  my  students  (sixteen  of  whom 
were  dropped  from  The  Mother  Church  and  from  this 
church  for  loyalty  to  their  conviction  of  Truth)  to 
attend  services  and  feel  the  power  and  presence  of  Love 
— the  only  consciousness.  These  demonstrators  of 
Truth  and  Love  are  building  on  "a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 
They  have  only  to  do  their  own  work. 

I  have  not  been  moved  by  influence  or  money  to 
take  my  large  body  of  students,  and  those  who  follow 
my  teaching  of  Spirit  as  all,  and  form  another  church, 
nor  have  I  permitted  a  schism  in  the  church,  but  I  have 
taught  the  Truth,  and  am  demonstrating  love,  which 
must  convince  all  that  I  am  a  Christian  Scientist.  I 
have  always  stood  against  false  statements  in  regard  to 
our  beloved  Leader,  no  matter  who  voiced  these 
charges.  Person  is  not  in  the  problem.  Principle 
must  be  demonstrated. 

I  must  "occupy"  till  she,  who  is  to  show  us  the  proof 
of  her  teachings  by  demonstration,  comes  to  her  own. 
Then  she,  as  idea — the  fulfilment  of  the  law  of  Love,  the 


Letters  on  Church  Problems  501 

representative  of  the  motherhood  of  God — will  take 
her  place  in  the  world  and  lead  on  the  armies  of  Israel. 
Christ  will  reign,  and  we  must  rise  to  reign  with  him. 
There  is  no  scriptural  record  of  the  third  appearing  of 
Christ.  This  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law.  The  sickle 
has  been  thrust  in.  We  are  working,  watching,  and 
praying  for  the  reappearing  of  the  ideal  man,  the  com- 
pound idea,  to  remain  forever  among  men. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


■ 


REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF 

FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,   SCIENTIST, 

OF  NEW  YORK  CITY. 

Containing  that  portion  of  said  Report  which  was  both  read  and  approved  at 
the  Special  Meeting,  of  Church  Members  and  Regular  Attendants,  held 
in  the  Church  Edifice,  I  West  g6th  Street,  New  York  City,  on  Thursday, 
November  4,  igog,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

INTRODUCTION. 


In  the  hope  of  removing  whatever  obstacles  may  lie 
in  the  way  of  the  return  of  this  church  to  the  enjoyment 
of  that  peace  and  growth  which  belong  to  the  children 
of  God,  the  Board  of  Trustees  beg  leave  to  submit  the 
results  of  their  inquiry  to  you,  after  more  than  a  mouth 
of  tireless  labor  in  arriving  at  the  facts  and  conclusions 
which  are  herewith  set  forth. 


During  the  last  week  of  September,  1909,  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  of  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City,  except  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson, 
were  requested  to  confer  with  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  The  Mother  Church,  on  September  24th,  at  Boston. 

Mr.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield  and  Mrs.  Isabelle  C.  Dam 
were  unavoidably  prevented  from  complying  with  the  re- 
quest.    All  the  other  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 

502 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  503 

of  this  branch  church,  who  had  been  invited,  appeared  at 
the  time  appointed,  and  were  received  informally  by  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church.  They  found 
three  other  persons  present,  besides  a  stenographer; 
namely,  Judge  Clifford  P.  Smith,  First  Reader  of  The 
Mother  Church;  Mr.  Virgil  0.  Strickler,  and  Miss  Ella 
G.  Young,  First  and  Second  Readers,  respectively,  of 
this  branch  church.  It  was  stated,  among  other  things, 
by  Mr.  Archibald  McLellan,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church : 

1.  That  the  Trustees  of  this  branch  church  then 
present  at  Boston  had  been  invited  to  the  conference  not 
in  an  official  capacity,  but  as  individuals; 

2.  That  an  investigation  was  in  progress  at  Boston, 
and  "was  instituted  because  of  the  widespread  impression 
obtained  by  all  Christian  Scientists  throughout  the  Field, 
that  there  is  something  wrong  with  the  teachings  and 
practices  in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  and  that  these  teachings  and  practices  differ  materi- 
ally from  those  which  obtain  in  other  places;" 

3.  That  no  charge  nor  complaint  was  then  pending 
against  any  particular  person. 

A  synopsis  of  the  testimony,  said  to  be  before  the 
Directors  at  that  time,  was  then  given  orally  to  the  Trustees 
of  this  branch  church  there  present,  by  Judge  Clifford  P. 
Smith,  First  Reader  of  The  Mother  Church,  on  behalf  and 
by  request  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church. 
The  synopsis  contained  allegations  of  a  very  grave  char- 
acter. A  copy  of  the  entire  evidence  was  therefore  requested 
by  the  Trustees  who  were  present,  for  the  use  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  this  branch  church.  This  request  was  not 
granted. 

Two  days  after  this  conference,  the  Acting  Clerk  of 
this  branch  church  received  the  following  letter  from 
Mrs.  Stetson: 


504  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

7  West  96th  St. 
New  York,  September  26,  1909. 
Dr.   John   Franklin   Crowell,   Acting   Clerk,   First 
Church   of  Christ,   Scientist,   New    York 
City. 
Dear  Dr.  Crowell: — To-day  I  received  a  letter 
signed   "J.    V.   Dittemore,   Secretary,"   containing 
enclosures  which  purport  to  be  copies  of  findings 
and  orders  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass. 

As  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  I 
request  that  you  call  a  meeting  of  that  Board  at 
the  earliest  possible  time,  in  order  that  the  documents 
referred  to  may  be  laid  before  the  Board  for  such 
action  as  may  be  proper. 

Faithfully  yours, 

{Signed)  Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

This  request  was  complied  with,  and  a  meeting  of  the 
Board  was  held  on  October  1st,  1909.  Mr.  Strickler  and 
Miss  Young  were  present,  in  addition  to  every  member  of 
the  Board  except  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson.  At  that  meet- 
ing the  following  documents  were  laid  before  the  Board  of 
Trustees : 

September  28,   1909. 

To  the  Board  of  Trustees,  First  Church  of  Christ, 

j  j  j 

Scientist,  New  York  City: 
I  hand  you  herewith  a  letter,  and  the  enclosures 
therein  referred  to,  dated  Boston,  Mass.,  Sept.  25, 
1909,  and  purporting  to  be  written  on  behalf  of 
the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors.  About 
six  weeks  ago  I  was  advised  by  those  Directors  that 
a  charge  then  pending  against  me  had  been  dismissed. 
Since  which  time  I  have  had  no  direct  communica- 
tion from  them,  until  the  documents  herewith  handed 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  505 

you  were  received  by  registered  mail  on  Sunday 
morning,  Sept.  26,  1909.  I  immediately  requested 
that  a  meeting  of  our  Board  be  called  to  hear  these 
documents  read,  and  to  take  such  action  as  may  be 
proper.  As  the  matter  affects  me  individually, 
in  a  way  that  may  make  my  presence  undesirable, 
if  not  improper,  I  am  absenting  myself  from  the 
meeting. 

I  rest  in  the  firm  conviction  that  our  Father- 
Mother  God  will  guide  your  every  action — even  that 
divine  Mind  which  is  now  manifested  in  glory  in 
our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  through 
whom  I  became  acquainted  with  her  God — Life, 
Truth,  and  Love.  This  God  I  have  endeavored  to 
present  and  to  represent  to  you,  even  as  I  have 
heard  and  seen  while  following  my  forever  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Let  nothing  separate  you  from  divine  Principle 
or  from  your  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  will 
bring  us  all  into  the  kingdom  of  our  God  and  His 
Christ;  "But  every  man  in  his  own  order:  Christ 
the  first  fruits;  afterward  they  that  are  Christ's 
at  his  coming"  (1  Cor.  15  : 23). 

{Signed)  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D. 


The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors 

THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST, 

Norway,  Falmouth  &  St.  Paul  Sts. 

Boston,  Mass. 

Office  of  the  Secretary 

September  2$,  1909. 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  7  West  96th  Street, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 
Dear  Mrs.  Stetson: — By  order  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  I  am  sending  you  herewith  a  copy  of  the 
findings  and  orders  concerning  yourself  this  day 
made  by  them. 


506  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

The  copy  of  their  action  is  sent  you  in  order 
to  inform  you  thereof  and  in  order  to  admonish 
you  concerning  the  errors  on  your  part  therein  pointed 
out. 

The  Board  directs  me  to  express  the  hope  that 
you  will  accept  this  admonition  and  desist  from 
a  repetition  of  the  errors  which  they  have  pointed 
out. 

Very  sincerely \ 

(Signed)  J.  V.  Dittemore, 
Secretary   for    the    Christian    Science    Board    of 
Directors. 

Saturday,  Sept.  25th,  1909 

"The  Board  of  Directors  of  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  met  pursuant  to  their 
adjournment  of  yesterday.     Present;  all  of  the  Directors. 

"The  Directors  took  up  and  considered  the  case  of 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  a  member  of  this  Church  and  an 
authorized  teacher  of  Christian  Science,  as  presented  by  her 
statements  recently  made  before  the  Directors  and  the  testi- 
mony of  twenty-five  witnesses  whose  examination  was 
concluded  yesterday;  namely, 

Richard  P.  Verrall  Mrs.  A.  Aikman 

Miss  Marion  Stephens  Hayne  Davis 

Arnold  Blome  Harry  Fink 

Miss  Sarah  Hathaway  Miss  Margaret  Duncan 

Miss  Jessie  Colton  Miss  A.  E.  Ensworth 

Mrs.  Kate  Remer  Miss  Ida  Pope 

Mrs.  Margaret  Beecher  White        Arthur  Overbury 

Mrs.  Mary  Freshman  Miss  Mary  E.  Pearson 

Mrs.  Amelia  Rowbotham  '  Mrs.  Anna  Holden 

Steuart  C.  Rowbotham  Mrs.  Letitia  Greene 

Miss  Ella  Young  Miss  Mary  Pinney 

Miss  Sibyl  Huse  Mrs.  Catherine  B.  Gillpatrick 

V.  O.  Strickler 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  507 

"After  having  carefully  considered  the  evidence,  the 
Directors  decided  and  unanimously  agreed  as  follows: 

1.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  teaches  her  students,  or  those 
with  whom  she  has  been  holding  daily  meetings,  that  the 
branch  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  which  she  is  a  member 
is  the  only  legitimate  Christian  Science  Church  in  New 
York  City;  and  she  teaches  her  students,  or  said  group 
of  students,  not  to  regard  the  other  branches  of  The 
Mother  Church  which  are  in  that  city  as  Christian  Science 
Churches. 


2.  That  a  considerable  number  of  the  witnesses 
whose  testimony  the  Directors  have  heard,  exhibit  as 
Mrs.  Stetson's  teaching  an  erroneous  sense  of  Christian 
Science,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  application  of  Chris- 
tian Science  to  human  needs  and  conditions;  the  witnesses 
whom  the  Directors  have  heard  being  with  one  excep- 
tion her  students  and  being  a  select  body  of  students  chosen 
by  her,  or  a  board  of  which  she  was  a  member,  to  be  repre- 
sentative practitioners  of  Christian  Science. 

3.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  endeavors  to  exercise  a  control 
over  her  students  which  tends  to  hinder  their  moral  and 
spiritual  growth. 

4.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  endeavors  to  obtrude  herself 
upon  the  attention  of  her  students  in  such  manner  as  to  turn 
their  attention  away  from  divine  Principle. 


5.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  practises  and  teaches  pretended 
Christian  Science  contrary  to  the  statement  thereof  in 
"Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  par- 
ticularly by  treating  persons  without  their  request  or 
consent,  and  by  teaching  a  select  body  of  her  students  to  do 
likewise. 

6.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  attempts  to  control  and  to  in- 


508  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

jure  persons  by  mental  means;  this  being  utterly  contrary 
to  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science. 

7.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  has  so  strayed  from  the  right 
way  as  not  to  be  fit  for  the  work  of  a  teacher  of  Christian 
Science. 

"After  having  considered  these  facts  in  view  of  the 
By-laws  of  this  Church  applicable  to  them,  the  Directors 
unanimously  determined  and  ordered  as  follows : 

1. — That  the  card  of  Mrs.  Stetson  be  removed  from 
the  Christian  Science  Journal,  and  that  the  trustees  of 
the  Publishing  Society  be  directed  not  to  advertise  her 
as  a  teacher  or  practitioner  of  Christian  Science  without 
first  obtaining  the  approval  of  the  Directors. 

2. — That  Mrs.  Stetson's  license  or  authority  to  teach 
Christian  Science  be  and  it  hereby  is  revoked,  and  that 
she  be  and  hereby  is  forbidden  to  undertake  the  work  of 
a  teacher  of  Christian  Science  until  her  fitness  for  such 
work  shall  have  been  proved  and  decided  according  to 
Article  xii,  section  1,  of  the  By-Laws  of  this  Church. 

3. — That  in  order  to  inform  Mrs.  Stetson  of  the 
action  now  taken  by  the  Directors  and  to  admonish  her 
concerning  the  things  now  pointed  out  by  them,  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Board  shall  send  to  her  by  registered  mail  a 
copy  of  these  findings  and  orders. " 


The  Board  of  Trustees  proceeded  at  once  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  communication  from  Mrs.  Stetson,  in 
the  light  of  what  had  occurred  at  the  Boston  conference, 
held  the  week  previous.  It  is  proper  to  state,  however, 
that  no  authenticated  copy  of  the  foregoing  "Findings 
and  Orders"  was  ever  filed  with  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
this  branch  church. 

Mrs.  Stetson's  communication  to  the  Board  contained 
the  statement  that  she  absented  herself  voluntarily  from  the 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  509 

meeting.  A  member  of  the  Board  suggested  the  propriety 
of  Mr.  Strickler  and  Miss  Young  absenting  themselves 
from  the  executive  sessions  of  this  Board,  while  the  ques- 
tions submitted  in  these  communications  were  under  con- 
sideration. Mr.  Strickler,  replying  thereto,  stated  that 
this  proposal  met  with  his  entire  approval  and  that  he 
would  stand  ready  to  give  any  information  at  his  command 
to  aid  the  Board  in  dealing  with  the  matters  before  them. 
Miss  Young  stated  that  she  was  willing  to  do  what  the  Board 
of  Trustees  desired  her  to  do  in  the  matter  of  withdrawing. 
Mr.  Strickler  and  Miss  Young  then  withdrew  from  the 
meeting. 

At  this  same  meeting  (October  1st)  a  resolution  was 
approved  by.  the  Board  that  the  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church  be  requested  to  supply  a  complete  copy  of  the 
evidence  taken  in  Boston,  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  this  branch  church  in  the  conduct  of  this 
inquiry.  This  resolution  was  communicated  to  the  Direc- 
tors of  The  Mother  Church  in  a  letter  dated  October  1, 
1909,  which  reads  as  follows: 

October  1,  igog. 
The  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  The  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  Mass. 
Gentlemen: — On  Friday  last,  when  six  of  this 
Board  of  Trustees  had  the  pleasure,  upon  your 
invitation,  of  meeting  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  informally  in  Boston,  it  transpired 
that  a  great  deal  of  testimony  had  been  taken  from 
some  twenty-five  of  the  practitioners  who  have  been 
associated  with  this  branch  church.  This  testimony, 
as  outlined  by  Judge  Smith,  appeared  to  be  of  a 
serious  nature;  but  as  a  bare  outline  of  only  some  of 
the  testimonies  was  given  by  him,  you  will  recall 
that  a  request  was  then  made  for  a  copy  of  ail  the  testi- 
monies.    Judge  Smith  said  he  would  rather  not  let 


510  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

it  be  given  out  until  further  action  was  determined 
upon.  Since  then,  action  has  been  taken  by  your 
Board,  involving  one  who  is  not  only  a  member 
of  this  branch  church,  but  a  member  of  this  Board 
of  Trustees.  Therefore,  having  in  view  our  duty 
in  the  premises  to  properly  consider  this  matter,  we 
now  make  request  that  this  Board  be  promptly 
furnished  with  copies  of  the  examination  of  and  testi- 
mony given  (in  any  manner)  by  each  and  every 
member  of  this  church  who  was  called  upon  to  appear 
before  the  Directors  in  the  investigation  relating  to 
"the  teachings  and  practices  in  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City/'  or  in  any  man- 
ner relating  to  the  teachings  and  practices  of  any  of 
its  members. 

In  view  of  your  recent  assurance  that  it  is  your 
desire,  as  it  is  surely  ours,  to  come  into  closer  under- 
standing with  each  other,  we  feel  no  doubt  but  that  you 
will  see  the  wisdom  and  justice  of  granting  this,  under 
the  circumstances,  most  reasonable  request. 

Judge  Smith  said  on  Friday  last,  "Let  the  pre- 
sent occasion  be  taken  as  an  overture  made  on  the 
part  of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  towards 
the  branch  church  in  New  York  City.  Let  nothing 
in  the  way  of  formality,  or  form,  or  anything  of 
that  sort,  interfere  with  the  endeavor  to  come  into 
closer  understanding/'  Anticipating,  therefore,  an 
early  and  favorable  response,  we  are, 

Sincerely  yours, 
The  Board  of  Trustees  of 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

New  York  City. 
By  (Signed)  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  Chairman. 
John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk. 

This  request  was  not  granted,  as  is  shown  by  their 
reply  of  October  4th,  which  reads  as  follows: 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  511 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors 
of 
THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST, 
Norway,  Falmouth  &  St.  Paul  Sts. 
Boston,  Mass. 
Office  of  the 
Secretary 

October  4,  igog. 
The  Board  of  Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  of  New  York  City,  No.  1  West 
g6th  Street,  New  York  City. 
Gentlemen: — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  1st  inst.  and  regret  the  attitude  which  it  reveals. 
Your  letter  seems  to  indicate  that  you  think  you 
have  no  duty  to  perform  unless  it  be  to  review  and 
Pass  upon  the  action  of  this  Board. 

You  have  been  informed  of  certain  irregular 
practices  of  members  in  your  church,  disclosed  by 
an  investigation  conducted  by  this  Board,  and  these 
same  facts  are  as  open  to  you  as  they  were  to  us; 
moreover,  the  lamentable  conditions  which  exist  and 
which  have  existed  for  a  long  time  are  within  the 
personal  knowledge  of  the  Chairman  of  your  Board, 
the  two  Readers,  who  are  ex-officio  members  thereof, 
and  many  other  persons  whom  we  did  not  summon. 
What  you  should  do  is  to  obtain  the  testimony  of  these 
people  and  do  your  duty.  Under  the  circumstances 
this  Board  calls  upon  you  to  wake  up  to  the  serious- 
ness of  the  situation,  make  your  own  investigation 
and  act  without  fear  or  favor. 

Very  respectfully, 
Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors. 
By  (Signed)  J.  V.  Dittemore,  Secretary. 

On  the  same  day  that  this  letter  was  received,  October 
5th,  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  plan  of  pro- 
cedure for  the  inquiry,  made  its  report,  based  on  the  assump- 
tion  that   Mrs.    Stetson,    Mr.  Strickler  and  Miss  Young 


512  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

would  absent  themselves  from  the  meetings  of  the  Board, 
in  accordance  with  the  action  taken  on  the  day  the  Com- 
mittee on  Procedure  was  appointed. 

The  Inquiry  was  accordingly  commenced  on  this  basis, 
and  all  the  former  Reading  Room  practitioners  were 
requested  to  appear  before  the  Board  of  Trustees,  at  the 
Board  Room  at  4  o'clock  P.M.  on  October  12th.  They 
all  responded  at  the  time  and  place  appointed  and  were 
informed  of  the  inquiry  and  of  the  wishes  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  in  regard  thereto,  by  the  reading  of  the  fol- 
lowing document: 

ANNOUNCEMENT. 

"Recent  events  have  imposed  upon  this  Board  the 
duty  of  inquiring  into  the  conditions  and  practices  that  have 
obtained  in  this  branch  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  Boston,  Mass. 

"It  is  requested  that  during  this  inquiry  you  will  not 
discuss  with  each  other,  or  with  any  other  persons,  either 
the  fact  of  the  inquiry  being  in  progress,  the  facts  out  of 
which  it  arises,  or  what  would  be  proper  evidence  in  such 
an  inquiry.  You  are  requested  also  not  to  discuss  the 
proper  action  of  the  Board,  but  to  keep  constantly  in  mind 
the  fact  that  there  is  only  one  Mind,  manifested  always  in 
each  and  every  idea  of  God,  and  that  no  other  mind  exists 
or  can  appear  or  express  itself  through  any  one  connected 
with  this  inquiry.  Also  that  each  person  concerned  in 
this  inquiry  is  a  manifestation  of  that  Mind  and  is  governed 
by  divine  Principle. 

"Without  prejudicing  his  testimony,  any  witness  may 
declare  the  spiritual  facts,  even  when  recounting  the  occur- 
rences under  investigation,  thus  aiding  the  Board  to  ascer- 
tain the  occurrences  and  to  administer  any  discipline  found 
just  and  proper,  without  unduly  fixing  in  consciousness 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  513 

any  falsities  that  may  have  been  believed  and  declared 
by  anyone  heretofore. 

"You  will  be  questioned,  not  only  as  to  occurrences, 
but  regarding  the  teachings  of  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson 
and  Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

"You  will  all  await  the  further  call  of  the  Board,  each 
in  the  room  formerly  occupied  as  a  practitioner's  office  in 
the  church,  Miss  Colton  and  Mr.  Verrall  using  the  rooms 
on  the  mezzanine  floor  which  they  formerly  occupied. 
You  will  each  be  called  to  appear  individually  before  the 
Board.  While  you  await  this  call,  the  following  books 
are  commended  to  your  careful  consideration:  The  Bible, 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science  and  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church." 

Thereupon,  Mr.  Strickler  protested  in  writing  against 
the  Board's  proceeding  with  the  inquiry  in  the  absence  from 
the  meetings  of  both  Readers.  In  order  to  get  the  benefit, 
at  the  outset,  of  all  that  Mr.  Strickler  might  have  to  say,  he 
was  called  as  the  first  witness,  on  Tuesday,  October  12th. 
Notwithstanding  the  protest  previously  made,  Mr.  Strickler 
appeared  before  the  Board  and  began  to  give  his  testimony. 
Before  the  meeting  of  the  following  day,  and  before  the 
conclusion  of  Mr.  Strickler's  testimony,  a  second  written 
protest  was  made  by  Mr.  Strickler  against  the  further  pro- 
gress of  this  inquiry,  during  the  absence  of  both  Readers 
from  the  meetings  of  the  Board.  In  order  that  there  might 
be  no  doubt  whatever  as  to  the  regularity  of  the  proceedings, 
it  was  deemed  best  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees to  consider  this  matter.  Such  a  meeting  was  held  on 
October  14th,  all  the  members  of  the  Board  being  present, 
including  Mr.  Strickler  and  Miss  Young,  the  ex-officio 
members.  Thereupon  the  Board  of  Trustees  appointed  a 
Committee  of  Inquiry  composed  of  all  the  members  of  the 
Board  except  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  and  the  two  Read- 


514  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

ers  of  this  branch  church  who  have  no  right  to  vote  at 
Board  meetings,  even  though  present.  The  Committee 
thus  appointed  was  composed  of  the  following  persons: 

Edwin  F.  Hatfield,    Chairman 
John  Franklin  Crowell,     Secretary 
Mrs.  Suzanne  S.  Thomas 
Mrs.  Isabelle  C.  Dam 
Joseph  B.  Whitney 
Adolph  Rusch 
Wm.  H.  Taylor 
John  D.  Higgins 

Something  should  here  be  said  regarding  the  legality, 
as  well  as  the  propriety  of  this  course.  As  to  the  propriety, 
the  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  were  unanimous  in 
desiring  to  conduct  the  inquiry,  without  either  Mrs.  Stetson, 
Mr.  Strickler,  or  Miss  Young  being  present  during  the  ex- 
amination of  the  other  witnesses,  and  yet  so  as  to  procure 
all  testimony  that  would  lead  to  a  just  and  righteous  judg- 
ment. The  course  pursued  accomplished  both  these  pur- 
poses. Mrs.  Stetson  and  Mr.  Strickler  were  both  fully 
heard  at  the  beginning  of  the  inquiry.  The  Committee 
then  had  the  benefit  of  all  Mr.  Strickler  wished  to  say  before 
proceeding  with  examination  of  the  other  witnesses. 

As  to  the  legality;  the  By-laws  of  this  branch  church 
vest  in  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  in  the  First  Reader, 
co-ordinate  rights  (Article  xi,  Section  i),  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  church  discipline.  Either  the  First  Reader 
or  the  Board  of  Trustees  may  initiate  the  action  with  a 
view  to  discipline.  Mr.  Strickler  had  been  in  possession 
for  many  months  of  the  chief  alleged  facts  upon  which 
this  inquiry  was  initiated  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  on 
October  ist,  only  a  few  days  after  the  Board  was  officially 
informed  of  the  things  complained  of.  Having  initiated 
the  inquiry,  the  Board  of  Trustees  had  the  right  to  prose- 
cute it  according  to  its  judgment.     Mr.  Strickler  mentioned 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  515 

some  of  the  alleged  facts  to  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  August.  That  member  thereupon  informed 
Mr.  Strickler  that  the  matter  was  a  proper  one  for  him 
(Mr.  Strickler)  to  bring  officially  to  the  attention  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees.  Mr.  Strickler  did  not  then  bring  the 
matter  to  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  this 
branch  church,  though  he  attended  two  meetings  of  the 
Board  after  that  conversation,  prior  to  the  time  when  the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  moved  in  the  matter. 
Indeed  Mr.  Strickler  has  never  brought  the  matter  to  the 
attention  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  officially.  It  came 
before  the  Board  by  Mrs.  Stetson's  initiative,  taken  Sep- 
tember 26th,  the  day  she  received  the  letter  above  referred 
to  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Christian  Science  Board  of 
Directors. 

Before  the  appointment  of  the  Committee  of  Inquiry, 
the  Board  of  Trustees  considered  carefully  a  phase  of  the 
pending  question  which  was  of  prime  importance,  though 
of  a  preliminary  character,  namely,  the  question  of  the  re- 
spective jurisdictions  of  The  Mother  Church  and  of  this 
branch  church  in  respect  to  the  matters  under  consideration. 
While  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  duly  considering  this 
grave  question,  not  previously  raised  in  the  history  of  this 
branch  church,  accusations  that  the  Board  was  derelict 
in  or  oblivious  to  its  duty,  were  heard  on  various  sides,  and 
from  sources  which  might  have  been  expected  to  manifest 
a  more  scientific  attitude.  These  accusations  were  voiced 
even  from  the  witness  chair  by  persons  who  are  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  this  branch  church,  and  who  were  at  that 
time  before  the  constituted  authorities,  sitting  in  their 
official  character,  and  therefore  representing  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  responsible  to  her  and  to  God 
for  the  righteousness  of  their  conduct  and  judgment.  The 
giving  of  due  consideration  to  this  question  of  jurisdiction, 
and  to  certain  constitutional  questions  connected  therewith 
has  enabled  the  Board  and  the  Committee  of  Inquiry  to 


516         Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

see  more  clearly  the  way  of  duty  and  to  walk  therein,  and 
thus  to  avoid  trespassing  upon  the  rights  of  the  constituted 
authorities  of  The  Mother  Church,  and  of  individual  mem- 
bers of  this  branch  church.  This  consideration  was  so 
helpful  to  the  Board  and  to  the  Committee  in  prosecuting 
this  inquiry,  that  a  concise  statement  of  this  phase  of  the 
matter  seems  to  be  proper  at  this  point. 

In  her  unfailing  and  ever  watchful  wisdom,  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  has  organized  her  Church  so 
that  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  has  complete  and  perfect  authority  in 
the  jurisdiction  defined  for  it  in  the  Christian  Science 
Manual.  Branch  churches  are  also  perfectly  self-govern- 
ing within  the  jurisdiction  granted  to  them  by  the  same 
Church  Manual  and  by  the  same  authority;  namely, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

It  is  as  imperative  that  the  branch  churches  protect 
their  rights  and  perform  their  duties  within  the  realm 
marked  out  in  the  Manual  for  them,  as  it  is  that  The 
Mother  Church  officers  protect  the  rights  and  perform  the 
duties  imposed  upon  them.  In  this  way  only  can  the 
kingdom  of  God  and  of  His  Christ  be  effectually  established 
among  men.  For  either  of  these  authorities  to  neglect 
the  proper  performance  of  their  respective  duties,  or  to 
trespass  upon  the  province  of  the  other,  would  be  diso- 
bedience to  our  beloved  Leader  on  the  part  of  Officers, 
Directors,  Trustees,  or  Readers,  whether  of  The  Mother 
Church  or  of  a  branch  church. 

The  duty  and  the  spiritual  benefit  of  obedience  are  the 
same  in  both  cases,  and  the  consequences  of  disobeying  are 
inevitable;  whatever  may  seem  to  be  the  relative  impor- 
tance of  the  duties  imposed  upon  one  or  the  other  authority. 
As  this  is  a  branch  church,  the  supreme  question  confronting 
its  constituted  authorities  and  also  its  members  is,  first,  to 
gain  a  perfect  understanding  of,  and  then  faithfully  to  per- 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  517 

form  its  own  duties  irrespective  of  what  other  authorities 
or  persons  may  or  may  not  do. 

Branch  churches  in  their  corporate  capacity  must  pre- 
suppose the  faithful  performance  of  duty  by  The  Mother 
Church  officials  in  matters  concerning  only  individual  mem- 
bers of  The  Mother  Church.  Each  church  must  do  its 
own  duty  in  the  light  of  the  facts  laid  before  it,  and  of  its 
own  understanding  of  our  beloved  Leader's  teaching  and 
practice  of  Christian  Science. 

The  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  have  no  author- 
ity to  review  the  action  of  a  branch  church  in  a  matter 
falling  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  branch  church.  The 
constituted  authorities  of  the  branch  church  have  no  right 
to  review  the  action  of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church, 
in  a  matter  falling  within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  church. 

Branch  churches  have  no  jurisdiction  over  teaching. 
Therefore,  the  question  whether  any  person  shall  or  shall 
not  teach  Christian  Science  cannot  properly  come  before  a 
branch  church. 

The  authorities  of  this  branch  church  are  bound  to 
judge  according  to  the  evidence  before  them,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  law  as  laid  down  in  the  Bible,  the  Manual, 
"  Science  and  Health,"  and  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  other  writings. 
In  the  formation  of  this  judgment,  the  findings  and  orders 
of  the  authorities  of  The  Mother  Church  cannot  properly 
be  taken  into  account,  for  judging  either  in  accordance 
therewith  or  contrary  thereto.  The  authorities  of  The 
Mother  Church  have  no  right  or  power  to  interfere  with 
the  affairs  falling  within  the  jurisdiction  of  a  branch  church. 
Neither  have  the  individuals  who  happen  at  the  moment 
to  be  the  authorities  of  The  Mother  Church  any  such 
right,  either  as  individuals  or  as  officials.  This  is  clear 
from  Article  xxiii,  Sections  I,  3  and  10  of  The  Mother 
Church  Manual. 


5i8  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

Article  XXIII,  Section  i,  on  "  Local  Self-government, " 
reads  in  part  as  follows:  "The  Mother  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  shall  assume  no  general  official  control  of  other 
churches,  and  it  shall  be  controlled  by  none  other.  Each 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  shall  have  its  own  form  of 
government." 

Article  XXIII,  Section  3,  forbids  a  branch  church  to 
adopt  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  thus  compelling 
them  to  adopt  such  By-Laws  for  their  own  self-government 
as  may  be  necessary  or  desirable  to  supplement  the  pro- 
visions of  The  Mother  Church  Manual,  applicable  to 
branch  churches. 

Article  XXIII,  Section  10,  on  "No  Interference," 
says  in  part  as  follows :  "In  Christian  Science  each  branch 
church  shall  be  distinctly  democratic  in  its  government, 
and  no  individual,  and  no  other  church  shall  interfere  with 
its  affairs." 

Having  in  view  these  general  principles  regarding  the 
respective  jurisdictions  of  The  Mother  Church  and  of  branch 
churches  and  the  rules  of  the  Manual  applicable  to  the 
matters  under  consideration,  the  members  of  this  branch 
church  can  more  easily  comprehend  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Inquiry,  now  to  be  submitted  as  the  Report  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 


REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF 
INQUIRY. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

New  York  City. 

This  Committee  was  appointed  by  virtue  of  the  reso- 
lutions approved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  a  meeting 
held  October  14,  1909,  all  the  members  of  the  Board  being 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  519 

present;  also  Mr.  Virgil  0.  Strickler  and  Miss  Ella  G. 
Young,  First  and  Second  Readers,  respectively,  of  this 
branch  church.  The  Committee  organized  on  the  day  of 
its  appointment,  by  electing  Mr.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield  as 
Chairman,  and  Dr.  John  Franklin  Crowell  as  Secretary. 
The  Committee  has  not  ceased  since  that  day  to  devote  itself 
to  the  duties  that  devolved  upon  it;  though  the  members 
of  the  Committee  were  all  preoccupied  with  their  personal 
and  business  problems,  it  was  found  possible  to  hold  two 
sessions  daily  except  Sunday.  Some  sessions  were  held  on 
Sunday,  there  being  in  all  thirty-five  sessions,  during  which 
over  1,000  pages  of  typewritten  testimony  were  taken. 
Every  member  of  the  Committee  was  present  at  practically 
all  the  sessions,  except  Mrs.  Suzanne  S.  Thomas,  whose 
residence  is  not  in  New  York  City,  and  whose  family  ties 
imposed  upon  her  certain  duties  of  an  imperative  character 
during  the  progress  of  the  inquiry,  which  made  it  impossible 
for  Mrs.  Thomas  to  attend  the  sessions  regularly. 

The  Committee  is  unanimous  in  the  following  state- 
ment of  facts,  deduced  from  the  evidence  before  it : 

I.  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
is  a  loyal  branch  of  The  Mother  Church,  and  is  an  organic 
part  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  founded  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  of  which  she  is  the  perpetual  head. 

II.  Error  cannot  work  through  any  person  to  sep- 
arate this  branch  church  from  The  Mother  Church,  or  to 
separate  loyal  members  of  this  branch  church  from  our 
beloved  Leader  or  from  any  one  who  is  conquering  error 
and  manifesting  the  Christ-mind  more  and  more. 

III.  This  branch  church  derives  its  existence  and 
also  its  rights  from  the  action  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and 
recognizes  her  as  supreme  in  spiritual  leadership. 

IV.  This  branch  church  has  grown,  in  a  little  more 


520  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

than  two  decades,  from  a  small  beginning  to  its  present 
proportions,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a  number  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  students,  who  were  members  at  its  organiza- 
tion or  in  the  early  days  of  its  existence,  withdrew  from 
its  membership,  and  formed  other  branch  churches  in  this 
city,  while  this  branch  church  was  still  young  in  years, 
few  in  numbers,  and  apparently  feeble  in  power. 

V.  The  same  character  of  opposition  which  manifested 
itself  toward  this  church  through  those  who  withdrew  from 
its  membership  and  formed  other  branch  churches  in  this 
city,  subsequently  manifested  itself  in  other  parts  of  the 
country  and  has  widened  and  intensified  itself  up  to  this 
present  time.  Proof  of  this  fact  is  in  the  possession  of  this 
branch  church. 

VI.  This  opposition  persistently  formulated  and 
assiduously  circulated  false  reports  regarding  this  branch 
church,  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  and  other  of  its  mem- 
bers.    This  circulation  of  falsehoods  still  continues. 

VII.  These  reports  were  given  currency,  even  in 
Christian  Science  circles.  When  directed  against  Mrs. 
Stetson  they  included  charges  of  personal  ambition,  per- 
sonal control,  malpractice,  hypnotism,  mesmerism,  etc., 
even  to  the  extent  of  disloyalty  to  the  Cause  and  to  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science,  by  entertaining  the  expectation  of  robbing  Mrs. 
Eddy  of  her  position  as  the  Leader  of  Christian  Science. 
When  directed  against  this  church,  these  reports  were 
more  vague,  but  were  of  a  corresponding  character,  such 
as  love  of  material  wealth  and  power,  ambition  to  over- 
shadow The  Mother  Church,  subjection  to  personal  control, 
mesmerism,  hypnotism,  etc.  These  reports  periodically 
re-embodied  themselves  during  the  past  two  decades, 
varying  from  time  to  time,  but  never  losing  their  false 
character  of  holding  Mrs.  Stetson,  this  branch  church, 
or  some  of  its  members  in  error,  more  or  less  grave. 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  521 

VIII.  These  false  reports  were  engendered  and 
developed  by  malicious  animal  magnetism,  which  is  the 
opposite  and  the  opponent  of  Christian  Science,  and  they 
were  circulated  by  persons  who  did  not  properly  protect 
themselves  against  aggressive  mental  suggestion,  as  en- 
joined by  our  beloved  Leader  in  The  Mother  Church 
Manual,  Article  viii,  Section  6. 

IX.  The  widespread  circulation  of  these  unwar- 
ranted reports  throughout  the  Christian  Science  Field,  has 
kept  many  persons  away  from  this  branch  church  who 
would  otherwise  have  come  to  its  services  and  extended 
the  right  hand  of  Christian  Science  fellowship .  to  its 
members. 

X.  Loyal  to  our  beloved  Leader  and  to  the  Truth 
of  Being,  this  branch  church  and  its  loyal  members  have 
fought  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  have  not  despaired  of 
the  day  when  the  members  of  this  branch  church  will  all 
be  recognized  by  their  brothers  of  other  Christian  Science 
churches,  as  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  and 
as  manifesting  the  Christ-mind,  instead  of  in  subjection 
to  error  in  its  aggressive  and  hideous  forms. 

XI.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  branch  church  to  obey 
the  By-Laws  that  have  recently  been  promulgated,  also  all 
By-Laws  that  may  hereafter  be  lawfully  promulgated,  even 
as  it  has  heretofore  obeyed  the  existing  By-Laws,  as  under- 
stood by  the  constituted  authorities  of  this  branch  church. 

XII.  Although  this  inquiry  included  general  con- 
ditions prevailing  in  this  branch  church,  it  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  conditions  alleged  in  evidence  taken 
were  almost  entirely  confined  to  what  had  been  done  and 
said  in  practitioners'  meetings,  and  to  their  effect  upon 
the  general  body  of  the  church.  For  this  reason  the  hear- 
ings were  preeminently  occupied  with  the  part  played  by 
the  persons  directly  participating  in  these  meetings. 


522  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

XIII.  This  assemblage  of  practitioners  appears  never 
to  have  had  any  formal  authorization.  It  simply  grew 
up  out  of  the  common  desire  of  persons  similarly  occupied 
to  benefit  by  regular  association  for  mutual  improvement, 
and  we  find  that  there  is  quite  general  agreement  among 
witnesses  as  to  what  took  place  in  these  meetings,  but  that 
there  is  a  fundamental  difference  in  the  attitude  of  witnesses 
toward  statements  made  and  occurrences  that  took  place 
at  said  meetings.  During  the  past  year  Mrs.  Stetson  made 
numerous  mental  defences  against  hostile  manifestations 
toward  this  branch  church,  as  well  as  toward  herself. 
With  regard  to  these  defences,  practitioners  appear  to  have 
grouped  themselves  into  two  classes.  Nineteen  practi- 
tioners consider  them  as  justifiable,  defensive  declarations 
in  handling  error.  Four  or  five  now  appear  to  have  re- 
garded this  kind  of  defence  as  amounting  to  malpractice 
upon  persons  whose  names  were  mentioned.  To  the  smaller 
group  of  witnesses  the  use  of  persons'  names  without  knowl- 
edge or  consent  is  the  distinguishing  mark  of  malpractice; 
the  larger  group  insists  that  self-defence  against  mental 
aggression  of  known  personal  agency  is  a  legitimate  and 
indispensable  method  of  maintaining  their  position  against 
mental  assassination  and  as  efficient  practitioners  in  Chris- 
tian Science.  The  evidence  plainly  discloses  that  Mrs.  Stet- 
son's teaching  and  practice  were  clear  on  the  fundamental 
differences  between  treatment  and  self-defence  against 
aggressive  mental  malpractice. 

XIV.  All  practitioners  agree  that  the  treatment 
of  a  person  in  whose  relations  to  them  the  aggressive  men- 
tal attitude  is  wanting  is  always  conditioned  upon  the 
person's  knowledge  or  consent,  and  that  unless  this  con- 
senting condition  is  present,  the  attempt  is  malpractice. 
This  has  been  their  uniform  teaching. 

XV.  This  Committee  finds,  therefore,  that  there 
are  these  two  conceptions  extant  in  this  church  of  what 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  523 

constitutes  proper  self-defence  in  the  handling  of  error. 
A  large  majority  of  the  witnesses  called  are  positive  in 
their  statements : — 

(1)  That  the  use  of  names  of  absentees  was  con- 
fined to  the  handling  of  aggressive  mental  suggestion  in 
the  effort  to  defend  this  branch  church  organization  and 
its  members  against  malpractice  from  without  its  fold. 

(2)  That  in  no  case  where  mental  aggression  was 
wanting,  were  the  names  of  persons  ever  used  by  Mrs.  Stet- 
son in  handling  error  in  these  meetings.  Nor  did  she 
teach  such  uses.  On  the  contrary,  she  taught  that  such 
use  of  names  would  be  unwarranted  invasions  of  the 
mentalities  of  innocent  persons,  and  hence  malpractice.  Al- 
though one  or  two  of  the  witnesses  testified  that  the  aggres- 
sive mental  relation  was  wrongly  assumed  by  Mrs.  Stetson 
to  exist,  a  majority  of  witnesses  agreed  that  Mrs.  Stetson 
had  ample  knowledge  of  aggressive  mental  suggestions, 
attacks  or  hostile  acts  on  the  part  of  persons  where  names 
were  taken  up  by  her  in  defence  of  this  branch  church 
and  of  herself.  In  view  of  the  widespread  hostility  gen- 
erally pervading  the  Field,  resulting  from  misrepresenta- 
tions regarding  this  branch  church,  and  the  activity  of 
disaffected  ex-members  of  the  church,  the  fact  of  aggressive 
mental  attitude  was  placed  beyond  dispute. 

XVI.  We  find  that  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson  has 
not  manifested  resentment  nor  malice  toward  any  of  the 
Directors  or  Officers  of  The  Mother  Church  or  the  Publishing 
Society,  or  toward  any  other  person. 

XVII.  We  find  that  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson  has 
manifested  in  a  marked  degree  the  divine  love  enjoined 
by  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  our  beloved  Leader,  which  loves 
enemies,  prays  for  those  that  despitefully  use  and  persecute 
you  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for 
Christ's  sake. 


524  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

XVIII.  Personal  control,  as  alleged  in  our  hearings, 
appears  in  most  complaints  to  amount  to  nothing  more 
than  advice  given  against  or  in  favor  of  courses  of  conduct, 
acts  or  relations  that  were  deemed  prejudicial  or  otherwise 
to  the  individual's  welfare.  The  habit  had  grown,  upon 
the  other  hand,  among  some,  of  bringing  to  Mrs.  Stetson 
such  personal  matters  as  had  no  reasonable  ground  for 
any  proper  claim  to  her  attention.  Practitioners  are  re- 
peatedly appealed  to  for  advice  in  domestic  and  business 
affairs,  and  acting  on  such  advice  is  sometimes  characterized 
as  "personal  control."  In  the  treatment  of  patients,  such 
cases  have  been  reported  as  advising  persons  to  leave  their 
employers,  on  the  ground  that  the  relation  stood  in  the  way 
of  the  person's  spiritual  safety  or  of  the  patient's  recovery. 
In  other  cases,  it  was  alleged  of  some  that  they  were  not 
entirely  free  in  selecting  their  places  of  abode,  because  of 
being  warned  against  associating  with  others  who  were 
opposed  to  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science,  or  were 
known  to  be  disloyal  to  this  church.  Several  objected 
to  the  rule  which  discouraged  absences  or  lateness  at 
practitioners'  meetings  as  being  personal  control.  There 
were  a  few  complaints  at  not  feeling  free  to  visit  other 
churches  in  this  city  during  times  of  service  in  our  own 
church.  Finally,  there  was  the  allegation  that  undue  influ- 
ence was  attempted,  although  the  allegations  are  not  wholly 
in  accord  with  statements  in  other  parts  of  testimony  given. 

XIX.  Practically  all  of  the  cases  of  alleged  control 
were  not  regarded  as  objectionable  at  the  time,  but  appear 
to  have  been  so  viewed  later.  The  attitude  of  the  corn- 
plainer,  in  probably  no  individual  case,  amounted  to  an 
abdication  of  personal  responsibility  by  reason  of  any 
attempt  at  control,  of  which  the  facts  are  known.  On 
the  contrary,  the  net  weight  of  evidence  is  preeminently 
to  the  effect  that  so-called  control  by  practitioners  and  by 
Mrs.  Stetson  was  welcomed  rather  than  resisted.  To  per- 
sons of  spiritual  discernment,  the  intuitive  foresight  of  the 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  525 

competent  practitioner,  balanced  by  common  sense  in  re- 
gard to  human  matters,  has  undoubtedly  had  the  effect 
in  this  church  of  developing  the  moral  fibre  and  strength- 
ening the  moral  force  of  individual  character.  Instances 
of  actual  personal  control  are  comparatively  insignificant 
in  proportion  to  the  advantages  derived  from  the  mental 
and  moral  cooperation  of  practitioner  and  patient,  or  of 
teacher  and  student  in  this  church. 

XX.  This  church  has  always  borne  its  share  of  the 
burden  of  establishing  and  extending  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  in  this  City  and  State. 

Whatever  its  shortcomings  may  have  been  or  are  now, 
it  has  not  sulked  in  its  tents  when  the  enemies  of  the  Truth 
made  attack.  It  has  neither  been  niggard  with  its  energies 
nor  its  resources  in  defending  its  fellow  workers  under 
prosecution  for  exercising  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
Sons  of  God  in  the  healing  ministry.  Notably,  as  its 
official  records  show,  it  has  contributed  liberally  to  such 
expensive  prosecutions  as  the  White  Plains  case,  in  which 
Mr.  John  C.  Lathrop,  of  Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  was  the  defendant  in  one  case,  and  John 
M.  Goodwin  in  the  other;  also  more  recently  to  expensive 
litigation  in  a  neighboring  portion  of  New  Jersey,  where 
the  local  membership  was  ill  prepared  to  bear  the  burden 
alone. 

XXI.  This  defensive  service  extended  to  the  halls 
of  the  State  Legislature,  to  which,  whenever  occasion  re- 
quired, men  and  women  from  among  our  membership  were 
ready  to  give  unsparing  efforts  to  guarantee  to  Christian 
Scientists  their  Constitutional  rights  as  God-fearing  citizens 
of  this  State  and  nation.  The  battles  fought  in  legislative 
committees  by  representatives  of  this  branch  church  were 
fought  in  behalf  of  the  entire  Field,  because  of  the  lead 
which  this  State  has  long  taken  in  legislative  progress 
on  new  issues  such  as  are  raised  by  the  advent  of  a  new-old 


526  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

religious  power  in  the  life  of  the  people.  Not  boastingly, 
therefore,  but  rejoicing  in  the  privilege  of  service,  has  this 
branch  church  caused  public  opinion  to  respect  its  voice 
in  demanding  the  recognition  of  the  rights  of  religious 
worship  and  spiritual  workers  in  Christian  Science. 

XXII.  In  the  relations  of  the  membership  of  this 
church  with  nearby  churches  in  Christian  Science,  the 
measure  of  fellowship,  according  to  evidence  presented, 
has  been  somewhat  limited  by  the  fact  that,  to  no  incon- 
siderable extent  has  the  membership  of  other  local  branch 
churches  been  made  up  of  persons  who,  for  reasons  deemed 
sufficient  to  themselves,  have  withdrawn  from  this  church. 
Where  those  reasons  were  of  a  protesting  character,  the 
conditions  of  further  fellowship  were  not  entirely  favorable 
on  account  of  the  attitude  of  outgoing  members.  Finally, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  estrangements  of  membership  from 
this  church  have  contributed  a  considerable  contingent  of 
disaffected  brethen  to  the  other  branch  churches  of  greater 
New  York  and  vicinity.  Under  the  circumstances,  what- 
ever the  causes  may  have  been,  it  is  in  evidence  that  the 
progress  of  Christian  fellowship  was  from  this  particular 
source  not  generally  strengthened. 

XXIII.  Among  the  complaints  alleged  for  with- 
drawals of  disaffected  persons,  were  criticisms  of  teaching, 
undue  personal  control,  favoritism,  and  similar  representa- 
tions of  an  unofficial  character,  which  were  never  brought 
to  the  attention  of  the  authorities  by  any  one  willing  to 
vouch  for  them  as  charges.  There  is  probably  no  large 
religious  congregation  where  similar  conditions  are  not 
constantly  present.  It  must  needs  be  that  offences  come, 
and  where  the  standard  of  spiritual  growth  and  the  require- 
ments of  individual  effort  are  such  as  to  demand  little 
for  self  but  much  for  the  Cause,  there  is  apt  to  be  a  fall- 
ing away  where  faith  and  strength  are  not  vital  enough  to 
hold  the  members  in  unity  of  purpose  and  spiritual  power. 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  527 

XXIV.  We  find,  therefore,  that  it  has  been  always 
assumed  that  every  member  of  this  branch  church  has  had 
ample  work  within  the  fold  of  its  own  body  to  occupy  the 
attention  of  any  one  desiring  to  grow.  For  that  reason, 
occasional  visits  to  other  church  services  were  discouraged. 
Instead  of  being  a  fault  to  discourage  fellowship  of  this 
particular  character,  general  religious  judgment  would  no 
doubt  regard  it  as  a  proof  of  fidelity  to  the  vows  of 
membership. 

XXV.  In  more  particular  respects,  one  of  the  chief 
complaints  is  that  the  members  of  this  church  have  been 
taught  that  this  is  the  only  legitimate  Christian  Science 
church  in  New  York  City.  The  denials  of  this  allegation 
compare  with  the  affirmations  of  it  as  about  four  to  one. 
The  actual  relations  likewise  disprove  the  truth  of  the 
claim  that  such  is  the  view  accepted  in  general  among  our 
members.  On  the  contrary,  there  could  be  no  such  measure 
of  good  will  as  actually  exists,  if  such  a  view  as  that  were 
current  in  the  members'  conception  of  relations  with  other 
churches.  The  Committee  therefore  finds  that  any  such 
allegations  affecting  church  relations  have  not  been  sus- 
tained. 

XXVI.  In  the  testimony  taken  by  this  Committee 
a  class  of  allegations  occurs  of  a  rather  different  character 
from  those  involving  malpractice,  personal  control  and 
relations  to  other  churches.  These  allege  the  existence  of 
wrongful  attitudes  towards  human  relations,  particularly 
the  marriage  relation,  the  parental  relation  and  the  relations 
of  the  sexes  generally.  In  teaching  the  spiritual  precepts 
of  the  Christian  Scriptures,  emphasis  has  been  laid  upon 
certain  aspects  of  the  human  relations  with  a  disquieting 
effect  upon  some  hearers.  But  it  is  impossible  to  teach 
Christian  Science  without  some  such  attendant  effects. 
Indeed,  the  rule  in  Christian  Science  which  must  govern  the 
efforts  of  individuals  to  spiritualize  their  characters  and 
purify  their  relations,  requires  that  they  emerge  out  of  the 


528  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

consciousness  occupied  with  the  minding  of  the  flesh  which 
leads  to  death,  and  into  that  minding  of  the  spirit  which 
demonstrates  life  eternal. 

XXVII.  We  find  that  the  teachings  relating  to  the 
human  relations,  as  such  teaching  has  been  given  in  practi- 
tioners' meetings,  have  not  been  in  any  essential  respect 
different  from  those  presented  in  the  Chapter  on  Marriage 
in  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures"  by 
our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  in  other 
writings  of  hers,  in  her  books  and  periodical  articles.  There 
is  no  evidence  presented  that  Mrs.  Stetson's  teaching  to  her 
classes,  in  her  public  addresses  in  the  church,  or  in  her 
associations  with  the  congregation,  has  departed  from 
Christian  Science  teachings,  nor  has  her  influence  been 
anything  other  than  an  encouragement  to  the  moral  and 
spiritual  improvement  of  men  and  women  as  individuals 
in  their  dutiful  relations  one  with  another  under  rightful 
human  arrangement.     And  the  Committee  does  so  find. 

XXVIII.  The  effect  of  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson's 
teaching  and  example  upon  persons  who  are  now  members  of 
this  branch  church  is  proven  to  be  as  follows:  (a)  To 
promote  in  a  marked  degree  the  moral  and  spiritual  progress 
of  the  members  of  this  branch  church,  (b)  To  free  great 
numbers  of  them  from  sickness  and  sin  to  which  they  were 
in  bondage  previous  to  their  coming  in  touch  with  her. 
(c)  To  enable  many  of  them  to  acquire  such  an  understand- 
ing of  Christian  Science,  such  a  love  and  loyalty  to 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  such  consecration  and  obedience  to 
God,  divine  Principle,  that  they  too  have  been  enabled  to 
free  many  of  their  fellow  men  from  sin  and  sickness  in  their 
various  phases,  (d)  To  secure  for  those  who  heeded  her 
teaching  and  example,  present  liberation  from  previous 
personal  contagion  or  control,  and  an  ever  increasing  exer- 
cise of  the  freedom  of  the  Sons  of  God — those  who  realize 
that  they  are  really  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of 


Report  of  Board  of  Trustees  529 

Spirit;  and  are  therefore  not  material,  but  spiritual;  not 
mortal,  but  immortal. 

XXIX.  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York, 
is  the  outgrowth  in  the  main  of  Mrs.  Stetson's  efforts 
toward  the  establishment  of  the  Cause  in  this  City,  in 
cooperation  with  persons  who  have  been  turned  by  her 
influence  and  that  of  her  students  into  the  path  of  Christian 
Science. 

No  words  seem  more  appropriate  than  those  in  the  two 
following  letters,  one  addressed  to  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson 
personally,  for  placing  in  the  corner-stone  of  this  building; 
the  other  addressed  to  Mrs.  Stetson,  Mr.  Hatfield,  and 
others,  when  the  labors  of  building  this  church  edifice 
were  successfully  ended,  and  the  necessity  for  its  proper 
protection  had  come: 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
To  Mrs.  A.  E.  Stetson: 

Beneath  this  corner-stone,  in  this  silent,  sacred 
sanctuary  of  earth's  sweet  songs,  pceans  of  praise  and 
records  of  omnipotence,  I  leave  my  name  with  thine 
in  unity  and  love. 

{Signed)  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 
November  30th,  1899. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
December  3d,  1903. 
Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  First  Reader;  Gentlemen, 
Edwin    F.    Hatfield,    Adolph    Rusch, 
William   H.   Taylor,   Steuart   C.  Row- 
botham,  John  D.  Higgins. 
Beloved  Students: —  Your  telegram  in  which  you 
present  to  me  the  princely  gift  of  your  magnificent 
church  edifice  in  New  York  City  is  an  unexpected 
token  of  your  gratitude  and  love.     I  deeply  appre- 


530  Report  of  Board  of  Trustees 

date  it,  profoundly  thank  you  for  it,  and  gratefully 
accept  the  spirit  of  it;  but  I  must  decline  to  receive 
that  for  which  you  have  sacrificed  so  much,  and 
labored  so  long.  May  divine  Love  abundantly  bless 
you,  reward  you  according  to  your  works,  guide  and 
guard  you  and  your  church  through  the  depths;  and 

may  you 

"  Who  stood  the  storm  when  seas  were  rough, 
Ne'er  in  a  sunny  hour  fall  off. " 

Lovingly  yours  in  Christ, 
{Signed)  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 

In  conclusion,  your  Board  of  Trustees  desires  to 
assure  the  Congregation  that  at  all  times  the  interest  of  this 
branch  church  will  be  fully  protected,  and  that  all  questions 
which  have  arisen  in  regard  to  the  proper  practice  of  Chris- 
tian Science  in  this  branch  church,  will  be  finally  and 
properly  settled,  in  accordance  with  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy's,  teaching  and  practice  of  Christian 
Science,  before  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  this  branch  church 
ceases  to  take  every  possible  step  for  the  accomplishment 
of  this  end. 

(Signed)     Edwin  F.  Hatfield, 

Chairman. 
(Signed)     John  Franklin  Crowell, 

Secretary. 
For  Committee  of  Inquiry. 


The  foregoing  report  was  submitted  by  said  Com- 
mittee to  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  the  4th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1909,  and  duly  approved  by  said  Board,  and  ordered 
presented  to  the  meeting  of  the  church  held  on  said  Novem- 
ber 4th,  1909. 

(Signed)     Edwin  F.  Hatfield, 

Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
(Signed)     John  D.  Higgins, 

Clerk. 


CHAPTER    XII 

THE   FINDINGS  AND    ORDERS  OF  THE  BOARD 

OF  DIRECTORS  OF  THE  MOTHER 

CHURCH  EXPLAINED. 

There  should  be  no  schism  in  the  body. — I  Corinthians  xii.,  25. 

Adversary.  An  adversary  is  one  who  opposes,  denies,  disputes, 
not  one  who  constructs  and  sustains  reality  and  Truth. — Science  and 
Health,  p.  580. 

THE  controversy  between  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  and  myself  and  some  of  my  stu- 
dents, resulted  in  the  following  "Findings  and  Orders" 
which  the  Directors  made  against  me  on  September 
25,  1909, '  in  an  attempt  to  deprive  me  of  my  right  to 
teach  and  practise  Christian  Science. 

1 .  That  Mrs.  Stetson  teaches  her  students,  or  those  with 
whom  she  has  been  holding  daily  meetings,  that  the  branch 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  which  she  is  a  member,  is 
the  only  legitimate  Christian  Science  church  in  New  York 
City ;  and  she  teaches  her  students,  or  said  group  of  students, 
not  to  regard  the  other  branches  of  The  Mother  Church 
which  are  in  that  city  as  Christian  Science  churches. 

This  is  not  a  true  statement  of  the  facts.  In  reply 
to  it  I  will  explain:  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

1  A  peculiar  phenomenon  occurred  on  this  day,  September  25,  1909. 
The  newspapers  reported  that  telegraphic  and  cable  communications 
were  cut  off.  For  the  space  of  half  an  hour  a  great  silence  reigned 
in  all  telegraph  offices. 

53* 


532  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

New  York  City,  over  which  I  was  placed  by  Mrs.  Eddy 
in  1887,  and  was  later  ordained  as  pastor,  is  the  original 
Christian  Science  church  in  New  York  City.  I  remain 
as  spiritual  head  of  this  church  in  all  its  history.  Certain 
members  went  out  from  First  Church  and  organized 
Second  Church,  when  the  membership  of  First  Church 
was  only  about  sixty,  and  we  worshiped  in  a  small  hall. 

A  short  time  afterward  other  members  separated 
from  First  Church,  while  First  Church  was  still  few  in 
numbers  and  holding  services  in  a  small  hall.  They 
organized  Third  Church.  Members  of  Second  Church 
separated  very  soon  (less  than  a  year)  after  Second 
Church  was  organized,  and  taking  a  part  of  the 
members  of  Second  Church,  organized  Fourth  Church. 
Those  who  started  Fifth  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
also  separated  themselves  from  Second  Church  during 
the  building  of  Second  Church  edifice,  and  took  with 
them  a  part  of  Second  Church  membership.  Sixth 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  was  formed  from  members 
of  Fourth  Church,  who  separated  while  Fourth  Church 
was  worshiping  in  a  hall.  With  the  exception  of 
First  Church,  only  one  of  these  Churches  has  built  an 
edifice. 

I  have  always  deplored  schisms.  The  members  of  a 
church  should  unite  in  building  up  a  church-body  until 
they  provide  their  own  church  edifice,  and  should 
worship  together  in  unity  and  love  until,  through 
growth  in  numbers  and  from  lack  of  seating  accommo- 
dation, they  are  compelled  to  form  another  branch  of 
The  Mother  Church.  This  outgrowing  branch  should 
continue  to  increase  in  numbers  until  it  in  turn  builds 
an  edifice  for  its  members.  This  is  divine  law  and 
order.  Multiplication  of  branches  of  The  Mother 
Church  is  legitimate  Christian  Science  demonstration. 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church   533 

Division  of  branch  churches  is  not  Christian  Science 
demonstration. 

In  explaining  this  to  my  students,  I  had  remarked 
that  the  churches  in  New  York  City  should  have  fol- 
lowed this  divine  order.  The  several  churches  when 
chartered  by  the  State  were  legal,  from  a  material 
standpoint,  but  they  were  not  legitimate  from  a  spiritual 
standard,  because  they  were  schismatic.  This  I 
explained  to  the  Directors  during  my  trial  in  Boston,  but 
they  seemed  incapable  of  understanding  the  difference 
between  a  legitimate  Christian  Science  Church,  and  a 
church  founded  by  seceders,  which  St.  Paul  warned 
against  when  he  said:  "There  should  be  no  schism  in 
the  body"  (1  Cor.  xii.,  25).     Again  he  says: 

Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the  name  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  all  speak  the  same  thing,  and  that 
there  be  no  divisions  among  you;  but  that  ye  be  perfectly 
joined  together  in  the  same  mind  and  in  the  same  judgment. 

For  it  hath  been  declared  unto  me  of  you,  my  brethren, 
.  .  .  that  there  are  contentions  among  you  (i  Cor.  i., 
10,11). 

The  definition  of  "Schism"  given  by  the  Standard 
Dictionary  is: 

A  division  or  splitting  up  of  a  church  into  factions  or 
opposing  bodies  because  of  difference  on  questions  of  belief 
or  administration. 

It  was  my  duty  to  teach  my  students  divine  law  and 
order,  to  live  in  unity  and  love  with  the  brethren,  and 
to  discourage  all  schismatic  tendencies  in  themselves 
and  in  others.  I  still  adhere  to  my  teaching  on  the 
subject  of  schisms,  and  condemn  contention  and 
lawlessness.     I  also  contend  that  each  branch  church 


534   Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

should  make  its  own  individual  demonstration  of  a 
church  edifice.  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  remained  together  in  unity  and  love, 
and  made  a  true  demonstration  in  building  its  edifice; 
its  own  members  alone  supplying  the  love,  the  labor, 
and  the  money. 

2.  That  a  considerable  number  of  the  witnesses  whose 
testimony  the  Directors  have  heard,  exhibit  as  Mrs.  Stetson's 
teaching  an  erroneous  sense  of  Christian  Science,  particu- 
larly in  regard  to  the  application  of  Christian  Science  to 
human  needs  and  conditions;  the  witnesses  whom  the 
Directors  have  heard  being  with  one  exception  her  students, 
and  being  a  select  body  of  students  chosen  by  her,  or  a  board 
of  which  she  was  a  member,  to  be  representative  practition- 
ers of  Christian  Science. 

This  "Finding,"  that  my  teaching  of  Christian 
Science  was  erroneous,  was  the  opinion  of  the  Directors 
of  The  Mother  Church,  by  whose  standard  alone  I  was 
judged.  Science  and  Health,  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  other 
writings  corroborate  my  teaching.  Her  own  words 
regarding  my  interpretation  of  Christian  Science  are 
to  be  found  in  her  letters  to  me  which  I  am  prepared 
to  produce.  Students  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  books  will  event- 
ually decide  as  to  the  correctness  of  my  teaching. 

The  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  frequently 
charged  that  I  regarded  myself  as  God's  idea  and  that 
I  taught  my  students  so  to  regard  themselves.  The 
Directors  considered  my  affirmation  that  I  was  im- 
mortal as  unscientific,  and  that  it  was  not  in  accord  with 
Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings.  My  students  and  I  contended 
for  immortality  here  and  now.  The  Directors'  con- 
tention was  for  mortality  now,  and  the  demonstration 
of  immortality  as  a  future  possibility.     They  decided 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church    535 

that  because  of  our  declaration  of  God's  allness,  and 
of  our  spiritual  birthright,  and  immortal  conscious- 
ness here,  now,  and  forever,  that  we  were  not  Christian 
Scientists. 

Our  explanation  that  we  had  chosen  to  work  out  our 
problem  of  divine  metaphysics  according  to  the  scien- 
tific facts  of  being — as  found  in  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  and  our  beloved  Leader's 
other  writings — that  divine  Mind  created  all;  that 
there  is  but  one  Mind,  God,  and  that  we  are  mental 
oeings,  spiritual  ideas  of  God,  had  no  effect  upon  the 
Directors,  who  persistently  declared  that  we  were 
mortal,  and  that  they  were  mortal,  that  it  was  absurd 
for  us  to  claim  immortality  now.  We  argued  that  we 
could  not  make  a  demonstration  of  Christian  Science 
by  admitting  both  mortality  and  immortality  as  real. 

They  did  not  seem  to  understand  that  there  is  but 
one  Mind — eternal  Life — and  that  man  is  a  spiritual, 
mental  being  proceeding  from,  and  reflecting  this  one 
Mind  or  God;  but  to  them  there  seemed  to  be  two 
minds — evil  and  good.  They  contended  for  the  reality 
of  evil,  and  looked  in  the  centuries  to  come  for  good, 
God,  to  be  demonstrated  through  man.  They  could 
not  understand  that  a  Christian  Scientist  should  use 
the  Word  of  God  now,  as  Jesus  did,  to  destroy  evil 
thought ;  but  considered  that  if  one  addressed  a  human 
mentality  who  was  voicing  impersonal  evil  it  must  be 
to  injure.  There  appeared  to  be  no  understanding  of 
metaphysics  or  the  power  of  the  God-thought,  which 
destroys  evil  thoughts.  They  would  not  admit  the 
Christian  Scientists'  privilege  to  speak  the  word  of 
Truth  to  error  which  was  working  through  an  individual 
to  injure  another.  It  was  useless  to  reason  with  them 
on  the  point  of  self-defence  against  malpractice. 


536   Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

The  Directors  have  never  been  able  to  explain,  nor 
have  I  ever  understood  their  "Finding"  regarding  my 
"application  of  Christian  Science  to  human  needs  and 
conditions, "  and  I  do  not  now  know  what  this  means. 
My  application  of  Christian  Science  "to  human  needs 
and  conditions"  has  been  proved  in  thousands  of  cases 
of  physical  healing  of  disease;  in  thousands  of  cases 
of  moral  healing,  through  the  reformation  of  the  sinner, 
and  in  the  building  up  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, New  York  City,  through  twenty-five  years  of 
preaching,  teaching,  and  the  practice  of  Christian 
Science;  and,  finally,  by  safely  sheltering  my  flock  in 
a  church  edifice,  which  stands  as  a  tribute  of  love  and 
gratitude  to  our  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
This  church  edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  one  million, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  it  was 
dedicated  free  of  debt  as  soon  as  completed. 

3.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  endeavors  to  exercise  a  control 
over  her  students  which  tends  to  hinder  their  moral  and 
spiritual  growth. 

I  have  never  taken  personal  control  of  my  students. 
As  their  teacher,  I  realized  my  responsibility  when  they 
seemed  to  need  special  help ;  but  I  always  directed  them 
to  Principle,  and  away  from  my  physical  personality. 
I  have  always  faithfully  carried  out  Mrs.  Eddy's  instruc- 
tions to  her  student-teachers,  which  may  be  found  in 
the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  Article  xxvi,  Section 
2,  which  reads  as  follows: 

A  teacher  shall  not  assume  personal  control  of,  or  attempt 
to  dominate  his  pupils,  but  he  shall  hold  himself  morally 
obligated  to  promote  their  progress  in  the  understanding  of 
divine  Principle,  not  only  during  the  class  term  but  after 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church   537 

it,  and  to  watch  well  that  they  prove  sound  in  sentiment  and 
practical  in  Christian  Science.  He  shall  persistently  and 
patiently  counsel  his  pupils  in  conformity  with'the  unerring 
laws  of  God,  and  shall  enjoin  them  habitually  to  study  the 
Scriptures  and  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures  as  a  help  thereto. 

Similar  instructions  are  found  in  her  other  writings. 

The  influence  of  my  thought,  spiritualized  by  con- 
stant communion  with  God  in  my  healing  work,  in 
service  to  my  church  for  many  years,  and  in  the  over- 
coming of  error  in  myself  through  the  operation  of 
Truth  and  Love  in  my  consciousness,  could  not  hinder 
the  spiritual  progress  of  my  students.  Again  let  me 
quote  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy,  as  authority 
for  the  care  of  my  students. 

.  .  .  we  see  Jesus  ministering  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  all 
who  placed  themselves  under  his  care,  always  leading  them 
into  the  divine  order,  under  the  sway  of  his  own  perfect 
understanding.  His  power  over  others  was  spiritual,  not 
corporeal.  To  the  students  whom  he  had  chosen,  his  im- 
mortal teaching  was  the  bread  of  Life  (Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  91). 

Upon  using  this  quotation  as  authority  for  the  care 
of  my  students,  one  of  the  Directors  asked  me:  "What 
has  Jesus'  work  to  do  with  you?  Do  you  put  yourself 
on  the  plane  with  Jesus?"  I  answered:  "No;  but 
he  is  the  Way-shower,  and  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  urges 
us  to  follow  him.  I  must  emulate  his  example.  If  we 
are  his  disciples  we  must  obey  his  words  'Follow  me.'" 

So  far  as  I  have  demonstrated  wisdom,  truth,  and  love, 
I  have  guided  my  students  according  to  the  teachings 
of  the  Master  and  my  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Did 
Jesus  take  personal  control  of  his  students?     Does  a 


538    Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

teacher  of  a  college  or  institute  take  personal  control 
of  those  who  are  under  his  personal  instruction  when 
he  requires  a  demonstration  of  a  problem  which  they 
are  investigating?  I  have  been  the  principal  of  the 
New  York  City  Christian  Science  Institute  for  many 
years,  and  have  conscientiously  taught  and  spiritually 
guided  those  who  placed  themselves  under  my  care. 
I  obeyed,  and  continue  to  obey  the  teaching  and 
example  of  my  Teacher  and  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
who  has  faithfully  watched  my  development  in  Chris- 
tian Science,  and  by  personal  counsel  and  frequent 
letters  to  me,  during  twenty-five  years,  has  been  a  faith- 
ful way-shower  to  immortality — eternal  Life.  Like 
the  great  Exemplar,  Jesus  the  Christ,  she  has  proved 
herself  a  watchful  shepherd  to  her  flock — a  spiritual 
guide  to  health,  happiness,  and  an  endless  life. 

4.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  endeavors  to  obtrude  herself 
upon  the  attention  of  her  students  in  such  manner  as  to 
turn  their  attention  away  from  divine  Principle. 

This  "Finding"  seems  to  be  a  repetition  of  the  third, 
which  I  have  already  answered.  Let  the  unprejudiced 
and  the  just  who  know  of  my  life  and  my  work  during 
twenty-five  years  of  preaching  and  teaching  truth  in 
New  York  City,  decide  whether  my  teaching,  preaching, 
healing,  and  writings  could  turn  the  attention  of  any 
away  from  Principle — God.  "Finding  4"  was  again 
only  the  opinion  of  the  Directors.  We  differed  in  our 
interpretation  of  Christian  Science. 

5.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  practises  and  teaches  pretended 
Christian  Science  contrary  to  the  statement  thereof  in 
"  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  par- 
ticularly   by   treating    persons  without    their  request    or 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church    539 

consent,  and  by  teaching  a  select  body  of  her  students  to 
do  likewise. 

The  Standard  Dictionary  defines  "Pretend"  as 
follows: 

To  put  forth  as  an  excuse  or  pretext,  or  put  on  as  a  dis- 
guise; assume  a  false  appearance  of,  as  with  intent  to 
deceive ;  appear  to  do  without  actually  doing ;  make  insin- 
cere display  of ;  simulate. 

I  have  not  practised  nor  taught  "pretended  Christian 
Science."  I  have  not  put  on  Christian  Science  "as  a 
disguise."  On  the  contrary,  I  have  put  on  the  armor 
of  Truth  and  Love.  I  have  stormed  sin  in  its  bulwarks 
by  voicing  the  Word  of  God  to  error,  and  have  aroused 
slumbering  evil  in  personalities,  in  my  efforts  to  cast 
out  evil  thoughts — the  cause  of  all  disease  and  discord. 
Thus  have  I  healed  the  sick  and  the  sinning.  I  have 
so  far  fearlessly  and  successfully  met  "sin's  revenge 
on  its  destroyer"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  48). 

Every  Christian  Scientist  should  realize  his  mission, 
that  he  has  enlisted  in  a  mental  warfare  against  sin, 
sickness  and  death.     Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says : 

I  thunder  His  law  to  the  sinner,  and  sharply  lighten  on 
the  cloud  of  the  intoxicated  senses.  I  cannot  help  loathing 
the  phenomena  of  drunkenness  produced  by  animality. 
I  rebuke  it  wherever  I  see  it.  The  vision  of  the  Revelator 
is  before  me.  The  wines  of  fornication,  envy,  and  hatred 
are  the  distilled  spirits  of  evil,  and  are  the  signs  of  these 
times;  .    .    . 

Error  will  hate  more  as  it  realizes  more  the  presence  of  its 
tormentor.  I  shall  fulfil  my  mission,  fight  the  good  fight, 
and  keep  the  faith  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  pp.  277,  278). 

I  have  not  appeared  to  do  the  works  of  healing  and  of 


540   Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

building  up  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  in  New  York 
City,  in  erecting  and  dedicating  a  church  edifice  as  a 
tribute  of  love  and  gratitude  to  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  in  the  healing  of  sin  and  its  manifestation,  disease. 
I  have  actually  done  these  works  through  the  application 
of  spiritual  thought-force.  Hundreds  of  my  loyal 
students  (among  them  many  representative  people  of 
New  York  City)  testify  of  this  to-day.  As  I  have 
before  stated,  my  teaching  of  Christian  Science  is  in 
consonance  with  Mrs.  Eddy's  instruction  in  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  her  approval 
of  my  understanding  of  divine  metaphysics  is  set  forth 
in  her  personal  autograph  letters  to  me,  covering  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years. 

The  "Finding"  that  I  teach  Christian  Science  by 
"treating  persons  without  their  request  or  consent" 
is  not  true,  but  that  I  address  persons  in  self-defense 
"without  their  request  or  consent,"  and  that  I  teach 
"a  select  body  of  her  [my]  students  to  do  likewise,"  is 
true.  This  is  every  one's  inalienable  right  of  men- 
tal spiritual  defense  against  the  mental  robber  and 
assassin.  I  have  the  documentary  proof  in  Mrs. 
Eddy's  own  handwriting  that  this  is  what  she  has 
taught. 

I  speak  the  Word  of  God  to  impersonal  error  whenever 
I  see  it  personified,  and  through  whomsoever  it  is 
voiced.  I  hesitate  not  to  use  the  argument  that  God 
is  All,  and  evil  is  powerless,  whenever  I  see  so-called 
malicious  animal  magnetism  operating  through  persons. 
I  quickly  detect  the  touch  of  the  mental  malpractitioner, 
who  ignorantly,  innocently  or  maliciously  becomes  a 
mouthpiece  for  error,  and  sometimes  I  see  the  person. 
Mrs.  Eddy  tells  us  in  the  third  edition  of  Science  and 
Health,  volume  ii.,  page  43:    "We  can  even  now  plainly 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church   541 

see  the  individual  with  the  thought  or  evil  intent  that 
he  sends  forth. " 

To  this  class  of  mental  assassins  Mrs.  Eddy  must  have 
referred  when  she  said,  "I  thunder  His  law  to  the  sinner. 
...  I  rebuke  it  wherever  I  see  it."  She  does  not 
ask  the  human  personality  who  is  representing  evil, 
error,  if  she  shall  rebuke  it,  error,  whether  present  or 
absent ;  but  like  her  Master  she  storms  sin  in  its  citadel 
— personal  embodiments — for  the  incorporeal  evil 
embodies  itself  in  the  corporeal — and  she  keeps  peace 
with  God. 

One  of  the  complaints  was,  that  I  used  the  names  of 
persons  in  my  treatment  of  patients.  I  have  always 
done  this.  I  was  taught  to  use,  in  my  treatments,  the 
names  of  my  patients.  I  have  never  hesitated  to  speak 
the  Word  of  God — the  Truth — to  any  mental  argument 
of  sin,  disease,  and  death  operating  through  any  person- 
ality, especially  when  I  knew  that  my  own  mental  pre- 
cincts were  being  invaded  by  the  mental  trespasser  who 
argued  to  me  for  the  reality  of  evil.  Truth  and  Love 
have  always  been  my  mental  defense.  During  my  trial 
by  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  I  found  my 
accustomed  refuge  in  "the  secret  place  of  the  most 
High" — my  spiritual  consciousness — my  only  shelter 
from  the  false  mental  arguments  which  were  sent  out 
against  me,  at  times  threatening  to  overwhelm  and 
destroy  me.  The  mental,  audible  and  published  argu- 
ments were  the  reverse  of  my  words  and  works. 

I  was  informed  by  one  who  knew  the  conditions  in 
Boston,  and  have  his  letters  to  this  effect,  that  there 
was  a  determination  to  take  my  church,  appropriate 
my  work,  prejudice  my  students,  destroy  my  influence, 
and  expel  me  from  The  Mother  Church.  This  con- 
firmed the  necessity  of  spiritual  mental  defense  against 


542    Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

impersonal  evil  working  through  individuals.  I  was 
God-impelled  to  speak  to  my  students  at  the  noon-day 
meetings  for  the  Bible  Lesson,  and  tell  them  of  the 
gravity  of  the  situation.  The  mental  arguments  which 
came  to  me  continually  from  the  efforts  which  were 
being  carried  on,  to  find  complaints  against  me  from 
disloyal  students,  aroused  me  to  the  necessity  of 
using  the  "sword  of  the  Spirit" — the  Word  of  God — 
in  defense  of  my  spiritual  understanding,  my  health 
and  my  life. 

In  regard  to  my  right  to  hold  the  noon-day  meetings, 
which  was  questioned,  I  will  quote  Mrs.  Eddy's  own 
words  as  authority: 

Teachers  of  Christian  Science  will  find  it  advisable  to 
band  together  their  students  into  associations,  to  continue 
the  organization  of  churches,  and  at  present  they  can 
employ  any  other  organic  operative  method  that  may  com- 
mend itself  as  useful  to  the  Cause  and  beneficial  to  mankind 
(Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  85). 

After  imparting  to  the  practitioners  at  the  noon-day 
meetings  the  effect  which  these  mental  arguments  of 
the  reality  of  evil  would  produce  on  us,  if  they  were  not 
met  by  Truth  and  Love  and  made  unreal  to  us,  I  told 
them  how  I  should  defend  myself,  my  students,  our 
church  and  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and  advised 
them  to  argue  for  the  reality  of  God — good — and  for 
the  powerlessness  of  aggressive  mental  suggestion. 
That  they  might  not  make  any  mistake  in  regard  to 
their  method  of  defense  (for  this  is  the  first  time  in  my 
experience  in  Christian  Science  that  I  have  ever  felt 
the  necessity  of  addressing,  by  name,  the  Directors  of 
The  Mother  Church  to  protect  them  and  our  Cause 
from  impersonal  evil,  which  was  operating  through  them 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church    543 

to  overthrow  me),  I  then  gave  what  I  should  use  as  the 
counter-argument  of  Truth  to  annul  the  arguments  of 
error.     I  spoke  to  the  practitioners  as  follows: 

"  Before  I  allow  myself  to  address  the  Directors  and 
others  by  name,  that  they  may  hear  the  truth  that  I 
shall  speak  to  them,  I  shall  commune  with  God,  and 
rise  into  my  spiritual  consciousness  where  God  will 
utter  His  words  of  Truth  through  me.  I  shall  remain 
in  this  silent  sanctuary  of  prayer  until  I  realize  the 
allness  of  Truth  and  Love,  before  I  declare  to  them  the 
truth  of  being,  the  allness  of  good,  and  the  nothingness 
of  evil.  Jesus  said,  '  When  ye  come  into  an  house 
[mental  precinct],  salute  it.'  "  The  only  salutation  that 
a  true  Christian  Scientist  can  use  when  entering  the 
consciousness  of  a  patient  to  heal  him,  or  to  address 
a  person  in  self-defense,  is  divine,  efficacious  Love  and 
Truth. 

I  spoke  the  names  of  the  persons,  and  addressed  each 
of  them  in  substance  as  follows:  "I  come  to  you  in 
love.  There  is  no  power  nor  presence  but  Truth  and 
Love.  God  is  omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omnipresent. 
Eternal  Life,  Truth  and  Love  fill  all  space,  and  there  is 
no  other  power  nor  presence.  God  made  you  in  His 
own  image  and  likeness.  You  are  spiritual,  and  reflect 
only  good  to  me,  for  God  is  All-presence.  You  are 
God's  child — perfect,  immortal  consciousness.  I  am 
God's  child.  I  reflect  Life,  Truth,  and  Love  to  you. 
As  God's  children  we  cannot  be  separated.  The  false 
claim  called  malicious  animal  magnetism,  mesmerism, 
hypnotism,  envy,  jealousy,  hatred,  evil,  revenge,  etc., 
has  no  power  to  influence  you  to  think  or  act  for  error. 
Evil  cannot  use  you,  nor  convince  you  that  there  is  a 
power  opposed  to  God. 

"  You  reflect  Life,  Truth,  and  Love  to  me  and  to  all. 


544    Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

Nothing  can  come  to  me  from  your  consciousness  but 
what  God  sends  me,  for  God — Spirit — governs  and  con- 
trols you  and  me,  and  mine  and  all.  Malicious  animal 
magnetism  is  a  false  claim ;  it  has  no  power  and  cannot 
personify  itself  through  any  one ;  it  cannot  argue  to  me 
through  you  to  discourage  me,  nor  make  me  believe 
in  its  reality.  It  cannot  cause  me  to  resent  nor  grieve 
because  of  its.  mental  suggestions.  Evil  is  neither  per- 
son, place,  nor  thing,  and  God  never  made  it.  There- 
fore it  does  not  exist.  Life,  Love,  and  Truth  govern  you 
and  me  and  all  mankind.  You  cannot  wrong  me  nor 
wrong  yourself  by  thinking  or  voicing  error.  Sin  has 
no  power  over  you,  it  only  annihilates  itself,  for  the 
wages  of  sin  is  death.  Error  has  no  power  to  deceive 
you.  The  law  of  Truth  to  error  is,  j  Thou  shalt  surely 
die'  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  208).  Error  must  be 
destroyed  by  Truth  and  Love. " 

My  students  offered,  in  substance,  the  same  prayer 
and  arguments  of  Truth  daily,  met  the  aggressive  mental 
suggestions  with  Truth  and  Love,  asking  God  to  mani- 
fest His  power  to  those  whom  we  believed  were  being 
influenced  to  use  every  effort  to  discredit  and  destroy 
our  spiritual  influence  for  the  emancipation  of  humanity 
from  the  evil  thoughts  which  result  in  sin,  disease,  and 
death. 

6.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  attempts  to  control  and  to  injure 
persons  by  mental  means;  this  being  utterly  contrary  to 
the  teachings  of  Christian  Science. 

This  is  a  false  statement  and  the  reverse  of  my  teach- 
ing and  practice  which  is  founded  on  the  premise  that 
God — good — is  All,  and  that  there  is  no  other  power  or 
presence.  No  genuine  Christian  Scientist  'sends  out 
evil  thoughts  to  injure  any  one.     He  would  not  be  a 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church   545 

Christian  Scientist  if  he  did.     A  Christian  Scientist 
makes  evil  unreal.     I  have  always  been  radical  in  my 
statement  of  divine  metaphysics,  that  evil  has  only  the 
power  which  one  gives  its  false  claims. 
Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says  of  mortals: 

Again:  mortals  are  the  embodiments  (or  bodies,  if  you 
please)  of  error,  not  of  Truth;  of  sickness,  sin,  and  death. 
Naming  these  His  embodiment,  can  neither  make  them 
so  nor  overthrow  the  logic  that  man  is  God's  likeness. 
.  .  .  Holding  the  right  idea  of  man  in  my  mind,  I  can  im- 
prove my  own,  and  other  people's  individuality,  health, 
and  morals  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  pp.  61,  62). 

I  hold  the  right  idea  of  man,  the  spiritual  thought,  in 
mind,  and  send  out  the  truth  of  being  to  all;  namely, 
that  man  is  spiritual,  perfect,  an  idea  of  God.  These 
thoughts  which  reflect  Principle,  Life,  Truth,  Love,  are 
a  law  of  annihilation  to  evil,  and  can  never  injure  any- 
one upon  whom  they  rest. 

Therefore  the  rule  is,  to  "take  up  arms  against  error 
at  home  and  abroad  "  (Science  and  Health,  p.  29), 
wherever  it  is  manifested,  deny  it  as  having  power  to 
injure,  and  save  yourself  and  the  victims  of  the  mental 
assassin. 

Evil  thoughts  are  mental  assassins,  and  they  must  be 
met  by  spiritual  thought  which  destroys  their  influence 
to  injure. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says  on  this  subject: 

The  teacher  in  Christian  Science  who  does  not  specially 
instruct  his  pupils  how  to  guard  against  evil  and  its  silent 
modes,  and  to  be  able,  through  Christ,  the  living  Truth, 
to  protect  themselves  therefrom,  is  committing  an  offense 
against  God  and  humanity.  With  Science  and  Health 
for  their  textbook,  I  am  astounded  at  the  apathy  of  some 


546  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

students  on  the  subject  of  sin  and  mental  malpractice,  and 
their  culpable  ignorance  of  the  workings  of  these — and  even 
the  teacher's  own  deficiency  in  this  department.  I  can 
account  for  this  state  of  mind  in  the  teacher  only  as  the 
result  of  sin ;  otherwise,  his  own  guilt  as  a  mental  malprac- 
tioner, and  fear  of  being  found  out  (Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, pp.  114,  115). 

I  have  endeavored  to  be  faithful  as  a  teacher  in 
observing  this  instruction,  and  have  taught  my  students 
to  detect,  uncover,  and  rebuke  sin  in  themselves,  and  in 
others,  in  whatever  form  it  presents  itself.  I  have 
striven  to  attain  the  Mind  of  Christ  and  the  spiritual 
power  of  the  Word  which  destroys  the  foundation  of 
sin,  belief  of  life  in  matter,  hypnotism,  mesmerism, 
malicious  animal  magnetism. 

Again  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Whoever  reaches  this  point  of  moral  culture  and  goodness 
cannot  injure  others,  and  must  do  them  good.  The  greater 
or  lesser  ability  of  a  Christian  Scientist  to  discern  thought 
scientifically,  depends  upon  his  genuine  spirituality.  This 
kind  of  mind-reading  is  not  clairvoyance,  but  it  is  important 
to  success  in  healing,  and  is  one  of  the  special  characteristics 
thereof  (Science  and  Health,  p.  95). 

Obeying  spiritual  intuitions,  a  Christian  Scientist 
is  morally  obligated  to  use  "the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
which  is  the  word  of  God, "  whenever  error  mentally 
or  audibly  is  externalized  or  embodies  itself  in  physical 
personality.     Mrs.  Eddy  further  says: 

The  superiority  of  spiritual  power  over  sensuous  is  the 
central  point  of  Christian  Science. 

No  person  can  misuse  this  mental  power,  if  he  is  taught  of 
God  to  discern  it. 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church    547 

This  strong  point  in  Christian  Science  is  not  to  be  over- 
looked,— that  the  same  fountain  cannot  send  forth  both 
sweet  waters  and  bitter.  The  higher  your  attainment  in 
the  Science  of  mental  healing  and  teaching,  the  more  impos- 
sible it  will  become  for  you  intentionally  to  influence  man- 
kind adverse  to  its  highest  hope  and  achievement  (Science 
and  Health,  pp.  454,  455). 

One  of  the  accusations  against  me  was,  that  I  made  the 
statement:  "Evil,  error,  go  to  your  place  and  take  your 
embodiment  with  you."  Adam,  mortal  man,  the  false 
mortal  thought  which  Jesus  called  the  "lie"  came  from 
dust,  nothingness,  and  returns  to  dust,  nothingness. 
Error,  mortal  thought,  is  no  part  of  man.  God, 
Truth,  never  made  so-called  mortal  man.  This  false 
Adam  was  conceived  in  lust  and  brought  forth  in 
iniquity.  When  a  Christian  Scientist  detects  the  argu- 
ments of  error,  it  is  his  duty  to  rebuke  it,  error,  under 
every  mask,  and  thus  free  the  mortal  from  impersonal 
evil,  if  possible,  by  driving  error  to  its  place,  nothingness. 
If  error  resists  Truth  it  always  takes  its  embodiment 
with  it.  Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "Error  tills  its  own  barren 
soil  and  buries  itself  in  the  ground,  since  ground  and 
dust  stand  for  nothingness  "  (Science  and  Health,  p.  537). 

For  centuries  Truth  has  remanded  mortal  man — the 
illusion — and  his  embodiment — or  the  body  of  sin — 
to  dust,  nothingness.  This  reveals  the  real  man,  Truth's 
representative,  the  ideal  child  of  God. 

Mrs.  Eddy  affirms: 

This  is  the  law  of  Truth  to  error,  "  Thou  shalt  surely  die. " 
This  law  is  a  divine  energy.  Mortals  cannot  prevent  the 
fulfilment  of  this  law;  it  covers  all  sin  and  its  effects 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  208). 

The   law   of   God,   eternal    Life,   Truth,  and    Love, 


548    Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

destroys  all  evil  thoughts,  and  their  embodiments 
must  finally  go  to  their  place,  and  reveal  the  real  man 
in  God's  image  and  likeness.  As  a  shadow  disappears 
before  the  light,  so  error  and  its  fleshly  embodiments 
must  finally  go  to  their  place,  nothingness. 

All  [mortals]  go  unto  one  place;  all  are  of  the  dust,  and 
all  turn  to  dust  again  (Eccles.  iii.,  20). 

Also  we  read : 

That  he  may  take  part  of  this  ministry  and  apostleship, 
from  which  Judas  by  transgression  fell,  that  he  might  go 
to  his  own  place  (Acts  i.,  25). 

In  using  the  argument  of  Truth  to  destroy  evil  in 
others,  the  Christian  Scientist  benefits  himself  most, 
for  Truth  is  thereby  operating  in  his  own  consciousness 
and  thus  eliminating  error  in  himself. 

I  have  always  understood  that  each  individual  makes 
his  own  place  from  his  reflection  of  good  or  evil.  Our 
environments  as  well  as  our  personalities  express  our 
thought.  As  we  defend  our  Christ-consciousness,  so 
must  we  defend  our  mental  environment,  the  place  that 
we  have  made  for  ourselves.  Another  cannot  take  our 
place  and  retain  it,  and  he  can  only  temporarily  hold 
our  possessions.  The  spiritual  power  which  enables  the 
Christian  Scientist  to  demonstrate  his  place,  increases 
as  he  builds  wholly  spiritually  on  the  rock,  Christ,  and 
he  cannot  lose  his  place  in  divine  Mind  nor  can  he  lose 
the  objects  of  his  spiritual  thought. 

Let  us  hear  what  Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  regard  to  place: 

No  person  can  take  the  individual  place  of  the  Virgin 
Mary.  No  person  can  compass  or  fulfil  the  individual 
mission  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.     No  person  can  take  the 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church    549 

place  of  the  author  of  Science  and  Health,  the  Discoverer 
and  Founder  of  Christian  Science.  Each  individual  must 
fill  his  own  niche  in  time  and  eternity  {Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  70). 

There  is  no  robbery  in  divine  Mind.  Mrs.  Eddy 
emphatically  teaches  as  follows: 

The  right  teacher  of  Christian  Science  lives  the  truth  he 
teaches.  Preeminent  among  men,  he  virtually  stands  at 
the  head  of  all  sanitary,  civil,  moral,  and  religious  reform. 
Such  a  post  of  duty,  unpierced  by  vanity,  exalts  a  mortal 
beyond  human  praise,  or  monuments  which  weigh  dust,  and 
humbles  him  with  the  tax  it  raises  on  calamity  to  open  the 
gates  of  heaven.  It  is  not  the  forager  on  others'  wisdom 
that  God  thus  crowns,  but  he  who  is  obedient  to  the  divine 
command,  Render  to  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's, 
and  to  God  the  things  that  are  God's "  {Retrospection 
and  Introspection,  pp.  70,  71). 

We  therefore  render  to  Caesar  (mortal  mind  and  its 
embodiment),  the  flesh,  sin,  sickness,  and  death;  and 
we  render  to  God  and  His  spiritual  man  the  fruits  of 
the  Spirit — love,  peace  and  joy,  health,  holiness  and 
immortality. 

Another  charge  was  brought  against  me — that  I 
used  the  expression  "six  feet  under  ground. "  One  day 
after  we  had  finished  reading  the  Bible  Lesson,  a  student 
asked  about  the  earthquake  which  had  just  occurred 
in  Messina,  Italy,  where  so  many  innocent  people  were 
buried  in  the  debris.  I  answered,  "God's  people  were 
never  buried  in  debris. "  I  explained  that  these  people 
belonged  to  the  race  of  Adam,  and  came  from  the 
ground.  That  Adam  was  the  false  man,  not  the  man  of 
God's  creating.  I  repeated  the  history  of  the  false 
creation  as  found  in  the  second  chapter  of  Genesis, 


550  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

which  is  the  opposite  of  the  record  of  the  spiritual 
creation  found  in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis — when 
God  made  man  in  His  own  image  and  likeness,  blessed 
him,  and  gave  him  dominion  over  all  things.  Adam 
came  from  the  ground — nothingness.  He  earns  his 
bread  "  In  the  sweat  of  thy  [his]  face. "  He  has  a  short 
span  of  existence  as  a  mortal,  labors  throughout  this 
existence  to  provide  for  his  temporal  necessities,  brings 
out  thorns  and  thistles,  maturity  and  decay,  and  finally 
returns  to  dust  and  buries  himself,  according  to  mortal 
mind  measurements, — six  feet  under  ground. 

I  explained  to  my  students  that  the  forces  and  gases 
of  so-called  mortal  mind,  its  pent  up  malice,  envy, 
hatred,  revenge,  greed,  lust,  hypocrisy,  avarice,  etc., 
found  those  qualities  of  mortal  thought  in  that  location 
the  point  of  least  resistance.  The  people  were  under 
the  belief  of  life  in  matter — were  governed  more  or 
less  by  evil  propensities,  and  were  unprotected  by 
spiritual  thought-force.  They  would  doubtless  have 
eventually  gone  the  way  of  Adam,  and  would  have  been 
buried  under  debris  or  ground — illusion,  belief,  nothing- 
ness.    Let  me  quote  Mrs.  Eddy  on  this  subject: 

Incorporeal  evil  embodies  itself  in  the  so-called  corporeal, 
and  thus  is  manifest  in  the  flesh.  Evil  is  neither  quality 
nor  quantity :  it  is  not  intelligence,  a  person  or  a  principle,  a 
man  or  a  woman,  a  place  or  a  thing,  and  God  never  made  it. 
The  outcome  of  evil,  called  sin,  is  another  nonentity  that 
belittles  itself  until  it  annihilates  its  own  embodiment: 
this  is  the  only  annihilation  (Message for  1901,  pp.  48,  49). 

Mrs.  Eddy  further  says  on  this  subject: 

Matter  and  mortal  mind  are  but  different  strata  of  human 
belief.     The  grosser  substratum  is  named  matter  or  body; 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church   551 

the  more  ethereal  is  called  mind.  This  so-called  mind  and 
body  is  the  illusion  called  a  mortal,  a  mind  in  matter.  In 
reality  and  in  Science,  both  strata,  mortal  mind  and  mortal 
body,  are  false  representatives  of  man. 

The  material  so-called  gases  and  forces  are  counterfeits 
of  the  spiritual  forces  of  divine  Mind,  whose  potency  is 
Truth,  whose  attraction  is  Love,  whose  adhesion  and  cohe- 
sion are  Life,  perpetuating  the  eternal  facts  of  being 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  293). 

Continuing  Mrs.  Eddy's  instruction  in  regard  to  the 
application  of  Truth  or  the  Word  of  God  to  error,  I 
quote  her  words  as  follows: 

We  attack  the  sinner's  belief  in  the  pleasure  of  sin,  alias 
the  reality  of  sin,  which  makes  him  a  sinner,  in  order  to 
destroy  this  belief  and  save  him  from  sin ;  and  we  attack  the 
belief  of  the  sick  in  the  reality  of  sickness,  in  order  to 
heal  them.  When  we  deny  the  authority  of  sin,  we  be- 
gin to  sap  it;  for  this  denunciation  must  precede  its 
destruction. 

Sin  ultimates  in  sinner,  and  in  this  sense  they  are  one. 
You  cannot  separate  sin  from  the  sinner,  nor  the  sinner  from 
his  sin.  The  sin  is  the  sinner,  and  vice  versa,  for  such  is 
the  unity  of  evil ;  and  together  both  sinner  and  sin  will  be 
destroyed  by  the  supremacy  of  good.  This,  however,  does 
not  annihilate  man,  for  to  efface  sin,  alias  the  sinner,  brings 
to  light,  makes  apparent,  the  real  man,  even  God's  "image 
and  likeness"    (Retrospection and  Introspection,  pp.  63,  64). 

Referring  again  to  the  earthquake  and  its  claim  to 
destructive  forces,  Mrs.  Eddy  contradicts  the  power 
inherent  in  mortal  mind.  She  scientifically  opposes  and 
destroys  (with  Truth)  this  false  claim  in  the  following 
words : 


552    Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

There  is  no  vapid  fury  of  mortal  mind — expressed  in 
earthquake,  wind,  wave,  lightning,  fire,  bestial  ferocity — 
and  this  so-called  mind  is  self-destroyed.  The  manifesta- 
tions of  evil,  which  counterfeit  divine  justice,  are  called  in 
the  Scriptures,  "The  anger  of  the  Lord."  In  reality,  they 
show  the  self-destruction  of  error  or  matter  and  point  to 
matter's  opposite,  the  strength  and  permanency  of  Spirit. 
Christian  Science  brings  to  light  Truth  and  its  supremacy, 
universal  harmony,  the  entireness  of  God,  good,  and  the 
nothingness  of  evil     (Science  and  Health,  p.  293). 

Jesus  cast  out  devils,  healed  the  sick,  and  raised  the 
so-called  dead,  through  the  power  of  the  Word,  his 
Christ-mind.  Jesus,  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  "cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  Lazarus,  come  forth.  And  he  that 
was  dead  [in  belief]  came  forth,  bound  hand  and 
foot  with  graveclothes ....  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
Loose  him,  and  let  him  go"  (John  xi.,  43,  44).  And  he 
that  was  apparently  dead  came  forth.  To  whom  did 
Jesus  speak  the  word,  "Loose  him,  and  let  him  go"? 
To  the  evil  thought  which  held  the  human  Lazarus  to 
the  belief  that  he  lived  in  matter.  When  the  devils — 
evil  thoughts — had  left  him,  Lazarus  was  in  his  right 
mind  and  knew  that  he  had  not  died.  Let  us  hear  what 
Mrs.  Eddy  says  on  this  subject: 

Jesus  said  of  Lazarus:  "Our  friend  Lazarus  sleepeth; 
but  I  go,  that  I  may  awake  him  out  of  sleep."  Jesus  re- 
stored Lazarus  by  the  understanding  that  Lazarus  had 
never  died,  not  by  an  admission  that  his  body  had  died  and 
then  lived  again.  Had  Jesus  believed  that  Lazarus  had 
lived  or  died  in  his  body,  the  Master  would  have  stood  on 
the  same  plane  of  belief  as  those  who  buried  the  body,  and 
he  could  not  have  resuscitated  it  (Science  and  Health, 
P-  75). 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  553 

The  potency  of  the  Word — the  spiritual  thought — the 
Christ-mind — was  thus  demonstrated,  proving  that 
man,  when  governed  by  God,  has  dominion  over  all 
things.  "Jesus  .  .  .  stilled  the  tempest,  healed  the 
sick,  walked  on  the  water.  There  is  divine  authority 
for  believing  in  the  superiority  of  spiritual  power 
over  material  resistance"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  134). 

Jesus  spoke  the  Word  to  evil  (so-called  mortal 
thought),  which  was  expressed  in  personalities.  Jesus 
met  two  men  coming  out  of  the  tombs,  possessed  with 
devils — evil  thoughts.  These  men  felt  the  force  of 
Jesus'  spiritual  thought.  It  rebuked  them  (the  devils) 
and  they  asked  why  he  came  hither  to  destroy  them. 
They  instinctively  recognized  the  Christ  ideal-man, 
and  knew  that  he  would  cast  them  out.  The  devils 
said  to  Jesus,  "  If  thou  cast  us  out,  suffer  us  to  go  away 
into  the  herd  of  swine.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Go, " 
and  they  departed  from  the  men,  and  "ran  violently 
down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea,  and  perished  in  the 
waters. "  The  power  of  Truth  and  Love  destroyed  the 
evil  thoughts  and  saved  the  men.  Christian  Scientists 
follow  Christ;  they  cast  out  devils,  evil  thoughts,  with 
the  Word,  and  deliver  men  from  their  tormentors — 
carnal  thoughts.  The  account  of  this  healing  is  found 
in  the  8th  chapter  of  Matthew,  28th  to  32nd  verses. 

Let  me  recall  another  instance  of  the  superiority  of 
spiritual  thought  over  material  resistance.  The  po- 
tency of  the  Word,  as  used  by  Jesus,  is  shown  in  the 
healing  of  the  epileptic  boy,  whose  father  brought  him 
to  the  Master.  The  boy,  when  he  saw  the  Master, 
even  before  Jesus  spoke  to  him,  resisted  the  spiritual 
power  which  radiated  from  Jesus:  "  When  he  saw  him, 
straightway  the  spirit  tare  him  ;  and  he  fell  on  the 
ground,  and  wallowed  foaming."     A    chemicalization 


554  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

was  produced  before  Jesus  spoke  the  Word.  Then  Jesus 
spoke  the  Word  and  rebuked  the  foul  spirit  which 
possessed  the  child,  with  these  words : 

Thou  dumb  and  deaf  spirit,  I  charge  thee,  come  out  of 
him,  and  enter  no  more  into  him. 

And  the  spirit  cried,  and  rent  him  sore,  and  came  out  of 
him;  and  he  was  as  one  dead;  insomuch  that  many  said, 
He  is  dead. 

Jesus  was  not  intimidated  by  the  appearance  of 
death  in  his  patient,  as  many  disciples  of  the  present 
day  might  be  at  this  severe  chemicalization,  but  "  took 
him  by  the  hand,  and  lifted  him  up;  and  he  arose." 
Had  not  Jesus  possessed  sufficient  spiritual  power  the 
epileptic  boy  would  not  have  been  raised,  but  he  would 
have  yielded  to  the  claim  of  death,  and  the  father  would 
have  obeyed  the  laws  of  Adam,  and  would  have  buried 
the  embodiment  of  error.  Lazarus,  the  two  men  from 
the  tombs,  and  the  epileptic  boy  responded  to  the 
mighty  power  of  the  Christ-mind,  and  were  restored  to 
their  normal  condition.  The  story  of  the  epileptic 
boy  is  taken  from  Mark  ix.,  14-29. 

Jesus  said  to  the  disciples  of  that  day,  "  The  works  that 
I  do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these 
shall  he  do"  (John  xiv.,  12).  His  disciples  of  that  age 
were  not  able  to  effect  greater  works.  His  disciples  of 
this  age  must  rise  to  possess  the  Christ-mind,  if  they 
would  obey  his  commands  and  do  the  work  of  casting 
out  evils  and  restoring  humanity  to  a  normal  condition 
of  health  and  harmony. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Jesus  taught  us  to  walk  over,  not  into  or  with,  the  currents 
of  matter,  or  mortal  mind ....  He  annulled  the  laws  of 
matter,  showing  them  to  be  laws  of  mortal  mind,  not  of 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  555 

God.  He  showed  the  need  of  changing  this  mind  and  its 
abortive  laws.  He  demanded  a  change  of  consciousness 
and  evidence,  and  effected  this  change  through  the  higher 
laws  of  God.  The  palsied  hand  moved,  despite  the  boast- 
ful sense  of  physical  law  and  order.  Jesus  stooped  not  to 
human  consciousness,  nor  to  the  evidence  of  the  senses.  He 
heeded  not  the  taunt,  "That  withered  hand  looks  very  real 
and  feels  very  real;"  but  he  cut  off  this  vain  boasting  and 
destroyed  human  pride  by  taking  away  the  material  evi- 
dence. .  .  .  Jesus  required  neither  cycles  of  time  nor 
thought  in  order  to  mature  fitness  for  perfection  and  its 
possibilities.  He  said  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  here, 
and  is  included  in  Mind ;  that  while  ye  say,  There  are  yet 
four  months,  and  then  cometh  the  harvest,  I  say,  Look  up, 
not  down,  for  your  fields  are  already  white  for  the  harvest; 
and  gather  the  harvest  by  mental,  not  material  processes 
{Unity  of  Good,  pp.  n,  12). 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1908,  Mr.  Archibald 
McLellan,  editor  of  the  Christian  Science  periodicals, 
had  published  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  an 
editorial  based  on  a  news  item  in  a  New  York  City 
newspaper.  The  newspaper  gave  a  distorted  and  erron- 
eous account  of  the  purchased  property  for  a  new 
church.  The  editorial  was  misleading,  and  would  have 
prejudiced  all,  who  were  not  conversant  with  the  facts, 
against  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City.  I  was  "aware"  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol. 
xi.,  p.  910)  of  the  insidious  attempt  of  the  "enemy  of 
good,"  through  human  personalities,  mentally  to 
manipulate  me  and  my  students,  and  to  misrepresent 
my  work,  and  I  used  the  counter-argument  of  Truth  to 
protect  myself  and  my  students,  and  in  defense  of 
my  church  and  of  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science. 

Mrs.  Eddy  advises  us  in   these  words:  "strengthen 


556  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

your  citadel  by  every  means  in  your  power,  and  remain 
within  the  walls  for  its  defense"  {Pulpit  and  Press, 
p.  2).  The  "secret  place  of  the  most  High" — my 
spiritual  consciousness — is  the  temple  of  the  living  God. 
In  this  temple  I  found  refuge  from  the  storm  and 
tempest  of  mortal  mind.  Behind  this  omnipotent 
bulwark  of  Truth  and  Love  I  was  safe,  and  spoke  the 
Word  of  God  to  the  claim  of  evil.     Mrs.  Eddy  says :. 

Likewise  should  we  do  as  metaphysicians  and  Christian 
Scientists.  The  real  house  in  which  "we  live,  and  move,  and 
have  our  being"  is  Spirit,  God,  eternal  harmony  of  infinite 
Soul.  The  enemy  we  confront  would  overthrow  this  sub- 
lime fortress,  and  it  behooves  us  to  defend  our  heritage 
{Pulpit  and  Press,  p.  2). 

7.  That  Mrs.  Stetson  has  so  strayed  from  the  right 
way  as  not  to  be  fit  for  the  work  of  a  teacher  of  Christian 
Science. 

Again,  this  was  only  the  opinion  of  the  Directors.  I 
was  not  judged  by  divine  metaphysicians.  The  right- 
eous Judge — my  Father-Mother  God — will  judge  me, 
my  motives,  words,  and  works,  in  His  own  time.  Eight 
of  the  Board  of  nine  Trustees  of  my  church,  some  of 
whom  have  been  with  me  for  over  twenty -four  years, 
agreed  with  me  from  the  beginning  of  this  controversy, 
and  continue  to  express  their  convictions  of  the  truth 
of  Christian  Science  as  taught  me  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  by  the  demonstrations  which  we  have  made  of  the 
power  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  which  have  sustained  us 
and  have  delivered  us  from  the  power  of  the  adversary. 
They  agree  with  me  in  my  interpretation  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
instructions,  as  contained  in  the  text-book,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  in  her  other  writ- 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  557 

ings,  and  they  have  continued  with  me  up  to  the 
present  time. 

Nineteen  of  the  twenty-five  practitioners  also  sus- 
tained my  teachings  and  a  majority  of  the  students  and 
church  members  who  for  many  years  had  aided  me  in 
building  up  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and  the 
church  edifice. 

I  would  state  here,  that  a  few  years  ago  there  was 
circulated  throughout  the  Field  of  Christian  Science  the 
report  that  the  mention  of  names,  or  even  holding  the 
name  in  thought  in  Christian  Science  was  to  be  dropped. 
The  question  arose,  How  is  it  possible  to  avoid  thinking 
the  name  of  the  patient,  and  what  is  the  objection  to 
thinking  or  speaking  the  person's  name  when  you 
address  his  thought  to  reflect  Truth  to  sin  or  disease? 
Who  has  instituted  this  change  in  treatment? 

Nowhere  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  letters  to  me,  nor  in  her 
written  works,  nor  in  her  personal  advice,  do  I  find  her 
authority  for  the  avoidance  of  names.  On  the  contrary, 
I  have  in  my  possession  her  specific  written  instruc- 
tions to  use  names.  After  thorough  investigation  of 
the  subject,  I  scientifically  detected  the  subtle  ef- 
fort of  malicious  animal  magnetism — impersonal  evil 
through  its  actors  and  mouthpieces — physical  person- 
alities— to  escape  detection  by  disarming  the  Christian 
Scientist  with  the  suggestion,  "not  to  use  names." 
Throughout  the  Scriptures  we  find  that  names  occupy 
a  most  important  part  in  the  history  of  man  and  the 
universe,  in  which  the  fact  that  no  person  or  object  is 
without  a  name  is  described  in  the  following  words  of 
our  Leader: 

Spirit  names  and  blesses  all.  Without  natures  particu- 
larly defined,  objects  and  subjects  would  be  obscure,  and 


558  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

creation  would  be  full  of  nameless  offspring, — wanderers 
from  the  parent  Mind,  strangers  in  a  tangled  wilderness 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  507). 

- 

Each  man  is  identified  by  his  name ;  each  town,  city, 
state  and  country  is  distinguished  by  a  name.  Each 
object,  from  the  infinitesimal  to  the  infinite,  is  individ- 
ualized and  has  a  name.  I  detected  this  last  subtle 
attempt  of  the  evil  one — the  so-called  dragon — to 
deprive  man  of  his  identification,  by  effacing  his  name 
from  consciousness.  Those  who  fell  under  this  sug- 
gestion had  never  been  personally  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy; 
or  if,  having  had  the  privilege  of  class  instruction,  they 
had  not  grasped  her  teaching — that  evil  thoughts  must 
be  overcome  by  good  thoughts;  that  whatever  you 
would  say  to  a  person  audibly  to  benefit  him,  and  would 
have  him  say  to  you,  you  have  a  perfect  right  to  say 
mentally.  "Therefore  all  things  whatsoever  ye  would 
that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them" 
(Matthew  vii.,  12).  This  is  not  mental  malpractice, 
but  is  true  Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  or  divine 
metaphysics. 

Christian  Scientists  have  a  mission,  which  is  to 
reflect  the  Mind  of  Christ, — as  did  the  Master — men- 
tally and  audibly,  and  to  demonstrate  the  power  of  good 
thoughts  over  evil  thoughts  and  evil  thinkers. 

All  should  be  glad  to  have  any  one  send  them  thoughts 
of  Truth  and  Love.  Spiritual  understanding  or  the 
mental  Messiah,  has  revealed  the  insidious  attempt  of 
malicious  animal  magnetism  to  deprive  man  of  his 
divine  birthright — his  individuality — which  would  leave 
him  nameless — nothing. 

As  Truth  is  understood  and  demonstrated,  and  as  the 
Christian    Scientist    assimilates    himself    to    God,    he 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  559 

reflects  Truth  and  Love.  As  of  old,  the  evil  thinker 
and  doer  feels  the  mental  influence  of  "troublesome 
Truth"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  542),  and  inquires, 
"Art  thou  come  to  destroy  us?"  Error  does  not  wish 
to  be  known  or  identified,  nor  to  have  its  deadly  work 
uncovered,  therefore  the  suggestion  that  the  names  of 
persons  be  dropped. 

This  was  quickly  detected  by  the  spiritually  minded 
— the  Christian  Scientist — who  was  wielding  his  sword  in 
the  defense  of  Truth  and  Her  ideas.  As  the  soldier  of 
Christ  is  attacked  by  the  false  claims — envy,  jealousy, 
hatred,  impersonal  evil,  through  a  human  personality, 
he  must  address  the  person.  With  divine  Love  he  must 
forbid  error  to  voice  itself  through  a  physical  personal- 
ity. In  this  way,  Jesus  used  his  mental  sword  to  defend 
himself  as  well  as  the  sick  and  the  sinner  from  impersonal 
evil.  He  cast  out  devils,  evil  thoughts,  and  this,  healed 
the  patient. 

Let  me  quote  Scriptural  authority  for  the  use  of 
names.  Throughout  the  Bible,  names  are  significant 
and  of  great  import.  Jesus  called  Lazarus  by 
name  when  he  bade  him  come  forth.  He  also  used 
Peter's  name  when  he  said,  "Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon 
this  rock  I  will  build  my  church"  (Matthew  xvi.,  18). 
He  also  said  to  Peter,  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan." 

Mrs.  Eddy  evidently  saw  in  the  latter  days, — which 
are  upon  us — that  attempts  of  impersonal  evil,  through 
its  avenues  and  agents — physical,  finite  personalities 
— would  be  to  deprive  man  of  his  name.  Wisdom  bade 
her  protect  her  name  by  demanding  that  it  be  an- 
nounced as  author  of  her  book,  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,  at  every  church  service.  She 
always  requires  that  her  name  be  given  as  the  author 
of  her  poems  when  sung  as  hymns  or  solos  in  the  church 


560  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

services.  Thus  she  keeps  her  name  before  the  public, 
"lest  we  forget,"  that  in  this  age  she  is  the  messenger 
of  God  to  mankind  to  awaken  humanity  from  sin, 
sickness,  and  death,  to  the  spiritual  fact  of  being,  health, 
holiness,  and  immortality.  In  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy, 
addressed  to  me  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  my 
church,  are  the  following  words : 

Beneath  this  corner-stone,  in  this  silent,  sacred  sanctuary 
of  earth's  sweet  songs,  paeans  of  praise  and  records  of 
omnipotence,  I  leave  my  name  with  thine  in  unity  and  love. 

Yet  this  word  went  forth  throughout  the  Christian 
Science  Field,  by  those  in  authority,  to  discontinue  the 
use  of  names  of  patients.  One  of  the  Boston  Church 
officials  went  so  far  as  to  declare:  "One  should  not  even 
think  the  patient's  name."  In  the  light  of  divine 
Science,  and  with  a  knowledge  of  Holy  Writ^  this  would 
mean  total  annihilation,  and  condemnation  of  all  man- 
kind as  having  incurred  the  penalty  of  sin,  as  indicated 
in  these  words:  "  Thou  has  rebuked  the  heathen,  Thou 
hast  destroyed  the  wicked,  Thou  has  put  out  their 
name  forever  and  ever"  (Psalm  ix.,  5). 

We  have  Scriptural  authority  for  defending  our  names, 
and  the  promise  that  if  we  love,  serve,  and  obey  the  law 
of  God,  our  names  shall  be  written  in  the  Lamb's  book 
of  life,  "He  that  overcometh,  the  same  shall  be 
clothed  in  white  raiment;  and  I  will  not  blot  out  his 
name  out  of  the  book  of  life,  but  I  will  confess  his  name 
before  my  Father,  and  before  His  angels"  (Revela- 
tion iii.,  5). 

The  Christian  Scientist  should  make  a  study  of 
the  use  of  names  found  in  the  Holy  Bible  from  Gen- 
esis to   Revelation,   and  decide   for   himself   whether 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  561 

Mrs.  Eddy  understood  and  taught  the  value  and  use 
of  names. 

When  the  angel  Gabriel  announced  to  Zacharias  that 
a  child  should  be  born  to  Elizabeth,  he  said:  "Thou 
shalt  call  his  name  John."  Elizabeth  also  accepted 
the  name  John.  At  the  time  of  the  child's  circumcision 
others  thought  that  he  should  be  named  for  his  father, 
as  there  was  no  one  by  the  name  of  John  in  the  family. 
His  mother  insisted  that  his  name  should  be  John,  and 
when  they  appealed  to  his  father,  who  had  been  speech- 
less many  months  because  he  doubted  God's  promise, 
Zacharias  "asked  for  a  writing  table  and  wrote,  say- 
ing, His  name  is  John. "  Immediately  his  speech  was 
restored  and  he  praised  God.  The  account  of  this 
story  is  found  in  the  First  Chapter  of  Luke. 

The  law  of  God  is  imperative, — it  must  be  obeyed. 
The  angel,  who  gave  the  name  to  the  child,  reflected 
or  manifested  the  word  of  God,  divine  authority,  over 
Zacharias,  who  could  not  speak  until  he  had  yielded 
to  divine  Principle — Mind,  Spirit — and  named  the 
child,  John. 

Again  a  message  came  from  God  to  Mary  through 
the  angel  Gabriel.  Mrs.  Eddy  says  of  this  angel 
Gabriel,  that  he  imparts  "a  sense  of  the  ever-presence 
of  ministering  Love"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  567).  His 
message  to  Mary  was,  "Behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  .  .  . 
and  bring  forth  a  son,  and  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus" 
(Luke  i.,  31).  Thus,  throughout  the  ages,  unto  those 
who  have  been  divinely  anointed  and  appointed,  as  was 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  God  has  voiced  Himself  to  the 
world. 

Jacob's  name  was  changed  to  Israel,  after  he  had 
fought  a  good  fight.  Saul  received  the  name  of  Paul 
after  he  had  struggled  out  of  the  material  darkness  of 
36 


562  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

belief  into  the  light  of  understanding,  and  unto  all 
those  who  strive  for  immortality  will  be  given  a  new 
name — "the  seal  of  God  in  their  foreheads" — spiritual 
understanding. 

Another  Mary's  recognition  of  Jesus  at  the  tomb 
confirms  the  significance  of  names,  and  the  importance 
of  the  use  and  defense  of  names.  Mary  knew  not  her 
Master,  but  thought  him  the  gardener,  although  she 
saw  him  and  heard  his  voice  as  he  talked  with  her;  but 
she  did  not  know  him  until  he  spoke  her  name,  "Mary. " 
Quickly  she  then  responded,  and  gave  him  his  name; 
"Rabboni  .    .    .   Master"  (Teacher). 

It  is  apparent  to  the  spiritually  illumined  that  the 
insidious  attempt  of  impersonal  evil,  which  found 
expression  through  finite  personalities  who  were  not 
awake  to  the  suggestions  of  malicious  animal  magnetism, 
were  thwarted  by  the  divine  metaphysicians  or  Chris- 
tian Scientists  who  reflected  and  still  continue  to  reflect 
Truth,  thus  fulfilling  the  law  of  Love  which  is  the  law 
of  annihilation  to  sin,  sickness,  and  death,  and  not  the 
law  of  annihilation  to  man. 

Let  me  refer  to  the  language  of  St.  Paul  in  his  defense 
before  Agrippa: 

I  stand  and  am  judged  for  the  hope  of  the  promise  made 
of  God  unto  our  fathers: 

Unto  which  promise  our  twelve  tribes,  instantly  serving 
God  day  and  night,  hope  to  come.    .    .    . 

Having  therefore  obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue  unto 
this  day,  witnessing  both  to  small  and  great,  saying  none 
other  things  than  those  which  the  prophets  and  Moses  did 
say  should  come: 

That  Christ  .  .  .  should  rise  from  the  dead,  and  should 
shew  light  unto  the  people,  and  to  the  Gentiles  (Acts 
xxvi.,  6,  7,  22,  23). 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  563 
Also  in  his  defense  before  Felix: 

Neither  can  they  prove  the  things  whereof  they  now 
accuse  me. 

But  this  I  confess  unto  thee,  that  after  the  way  which  they 
call  heresy,  so  worship  I  the  God  of  my  fathers,  believing  all 
things  which  are  written  in  the  law  and  in  the  prophets  : 

And  have  hope  toward  God  .  .  .  that  there  shall  be  a 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust  .    .    . 

Touching  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  I  am  called  in 
question  (Acts  xxiv.,  13-15,  21). 

I  will  conclude,  with  the  words  of  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  in  Retrospection  and  Introspection,  in  the 
Chapter  entitled  "Waymarks": 

St.  Paul  said  to  the  Athenians,  "  For  in  Him  we  live, 
and  move,  and  have  our  being."  This  statement  is  in 
substance  identical  with  my  own:  "There  is  no  life, 
truth,  substance,  nor  intelligence  in  matter. "  It  is  quite 
clear  that  as  yet  this  grandest  verity  has  not  been  fully 
demonstrated,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true.  .  .  .  Having 
perceived,  in  advance  of  others,  this  scientific  fact,  we 
owe  to  ourselves  and  to  the  world  a  struggle  for  its 
demonstration. 

....... 

Ask  God  to  give  thee  skill 

In  comfort's  art: 
That  thou  may'st  consecrated  be 

And  set  apart 
Unto  a  life  of  sympathy. 
For  heavy  is  the  weight  of  ill 

In  every  heart; 
And  comforters  are  needed  much 

Of  Christlike  touch. 

— A.  E.  Hamilton. 


564  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

The  following  is  my  authority  for  standing  for  absolute 
Christian  Science. 

'. 
THE   WAY   OF  WISDOM 

E 
MARY  BAKER  EDDY 

No  man  can  serve  two  masters:  for  either  he  will  hate  the  one  and 
love  the  other;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the  other. 
Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon. — Matthew  6:  24. 

The  infinite  is  One,  and  this  One  is  Spirit;  Spirit  is  God, 
and  this  God  is  infinite  good. 

This  simple  statement  of  oneness  is  the  only  possible 
correct  version  of  Christian  Science.  God  being  infinite, 
He  is  the  only  basis  of  Science ;  hence  materiality  is  wholly 
apart  from  Christian  Science,  and  is  only  a  "suffer  it  to  be 
so  now"  until  we  arrive  at  the  spiritual  fulness  of  God, 
Spirit,  even  the  divine  idea  of  Christian  Science, — Christ, — 
born  of  God, — the  offspring  of  Spirit, — wherein  matter  has 
neither  part  nor  portion,  because  matter  is  the  absolute 
opposite  of  spiritual  means,  manifestation,  and  demonstra- 
tion. The  only  incentive  of  a  mistaken  sense  is  malicious 
animal  magnetism, — the  name  of  all  evil, — and  this  must 
be  understood. 

I  have  crowned  The  Mother  Church  building  with  the 
spiritual  modesty  of  Christian  Science,  which  is  its  jewel. 
When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher, — to  enlarge  their  phylacteries  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent, — they  must  begin  on  a 
wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other, 
and  proportionably  estimate  their  success  and  glory  of 
achievement  only  as  they  build  upon  the  rock  of  Christ, 
the  spiritual  foundation.  This  will  open  the  way,  widely 
and  impartially,  to  their  never-ending  success, — to  salvation 
and  eternal  Christian  Science. 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science, 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  565 

but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated. 

Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  696. 

"where  shall  wisdom  be  found?" 

New  York,  N.  Y., 
January  17,  1909. 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Chestnut  Hill, 

Brookline,  Mass. 
Revered  Leader: — 

When  searching  for  the  answer  to  Job's  question,  "Where 
shall  wisdom  be  found?  and  where  is  the  place  of  under- 
standing?" we  found  it  in  you,  our  beloved  Leader,  who 
are  wisdom's  mouthpiece  to  this  age. 

The  demonstration  of  our  church  is  the  direct  result  of 
your  instructions  obeyed,  and  we  shall  continue  to  follow 
as  you  forever  lead  on  in  "The  Way  of  Wisdom."  You 
are  continually  pouring  into  our  lamps  the  oil  of  consecra- 
tion, and  we  are  drinking  of  the  wine  of  inspiration  which 
you  provide.  The  word  has  gone  forth,  "Hurt  not  the 
oil  and  the  wine." 

In  grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  redemption  of  the 
first-born,  mindful  of  the  ever-present  protection  of  divine 
Love,  we  will  enlarge  our  spiritual  phylacteries,  binding 
them  as  frontlets  between  our  eyes,  that  we  may  "demon- 
strate Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent. "  Having  com- 
pleted our  demonstration  of  the  church  militant,  we  will 
strive  more  earnestly  to  attain  the  higher  understanding 
which  will  reveal  the  Church  Triumphant,  where  "Spirit  is 
infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all. "  No  mistaken  sense  whose 
incentive  is  in  malicious  animal  magnetism  can  prevent 
this  unfolding. 

The  "spiritual  modesty"  with  which  you  have  "crowned 
The  Mother  Church  building"  has  been  and  ever  will  be 
our  abiding  inspiration  in  building  upon  "a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation."     Glorious,  indeed,  is  it  to  have  the  horizon 


566  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

of  our  spiritual  vision  thus  widened  by  virtue  of  your  vigils 
on  the  watch-tower  of  Zion. 

Loyally  yours, 
The  Board  of  Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City. 

E.  F.  Hatfield,  Chairman. 
John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk. 
Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  697. 


In  this  reply  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  "The  Way  of  Wisdom" 
some  of  the  members  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  pledged  themselves  to  the  upbuilding 
of  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  on  "a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation. " 

As  teacher  and  practitioners  we  were  obliged  to 
declare  for  our  "wholly  spiritual"  arguments.  We 
knew  that  spiritualized  thought  would  heal  much  more 
effectively  and  instantaneously  than  the  former  state 
of  consciousness,  which  admitted  more  or  less  of  the 
human.  In  Rudimental  Divine  Science,  page  9,  Mrs. 
Eddy  says: 

The  teacher  of  Mind-healing  who  is  not  a  Christian,  in 
the  highest  sense,  is  constantly  sowing  the  seeds  of  discord 
and  disease.  Even  the  truth  he  speaks  is  more  or  less 
blended  with  error;  and  this  error  will  spring  up  in  the 
mind  of  his  pupil.  The  pupil's  imperfect  knowledge  will 
lead  to  weakness  in  practice,  and  he  will  be  a  poor  prac- 
titioner, if  not  a  malpractitioner. 

1 

The  thoughts  of  the  practitioner  should  be  imbued  with 
a  clear  conviction  of  the  omnipotence  and  omnipresence  of 
God;  that  He  is  All,  and  that  there  can  be  none  beside 
Him. 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  567 

As  teacher  and  Christian  Science  practitioners  we 
had  come  to  the  point  in  our  spiritual  growth  when 
Mrs.  Eddy  saw  that  we  must  accept,  and  rise  to  the 
absolute.  I  observed  that  disease  and  sin  offered 
greater  resistance  to  the  imperative  demands  of  Truth 
and  Love  as  we  rose  higher  in  the  apprehension  of  the 
allness  of  Spirit,  and  that  error  would  not  yield  to  both 
the  human  and  the  divine  state  of  thought.  Therefore 
we  were  ready  to  follow  our  Leader's  advice  and  work 
from  a  "wholly  spiritual"  vantage  ground. 

Christian  Science  must  be  spiritually  discerned. 
"Its  Science  must  be  apprehended  by  as  many  as 
believe  on  Christ  and  spiritually  understand  Truth" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  no).  Thus  we  see  that  the 
failure  of  so  many  is  due  to  their  lack  of  spiritual  appre- 
hension of  Truth,  and  their  almost  wholly  material 
conception  of  divine  metaphysics  or  Christian  Science. 

Of  the  twenty-five  practitioners,  six  seemed  incapable 
of  comprehending  "wholly  spiritual"  teaching,  and 
resisted  the  statement  of  positive  Truth.  The  carnal 
mind  always  resists  the  imperative  demands  of  divine 
Science.  Jesus  met  this  resistance — Mrs.  Eddy  met 
it.     I  encountered  it. 

The  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  called  me  to 
account  for  teaching  absolute  Truth,  namely,  that  man 
is  "wholly  spiritual"  here,  now,  and  forever.  They 
contended  for  the  material  belief  of  life  and  intelligence 
in  matter,  and  argued  from  a  material  basis,  mingling 
good  and  evil,  mind  and  matter,  flesh  and  Spirit,  and 
to  me  their  arguments  weighed  heavily  on  the  side  of 
materiality. 

During  the  trial  in  Boston,  before  the  Directors, 
every  argument  was  used  by  them  to  prevent  us  from 
following  our  Leader's  instruction  to  build  "on  a  wholly 


568  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

spiritual  foundation"  (consciousness).  They  repudi- 
ated our  claims  that  we  are  immortal  now,  and  de- 
nounced our  efforts  to  demonstrate  the  ever-presence 
of  Truth  and  Love.  They  declared  that  they  were 
mortals  and  they  used  every  argument  to  convince  us 
that  our  teaching  was  not  in  accordance  with  Science 
and  Health.  They  insisted  that  we  had  no  right  to 
regard  ourselves  as  ideas  of  God  now,  nor  to  speak  the 
Word  of  God,  absolute  Truth,  as  God's  mouthpiece  to 
mankind.  They  denied  our  prerogative  to  use  a  per- 
son's name  without  his  knowledge  and  consent,  either 
to  protect  the  person  from  impersonal  evil  which  he 
was  personifying,  or  to  defend  ourselves  from  the 
arguments  of  the  mental  assassin. 

They  would  have  prevented  us  (had  we  not  stood 
firmly  for  the  scientific  statements  of  our  Leader's 
teachings)  from  rising  higher  in  our  demonstration  of 
absolute  Christian  Science,  and  from  obeying  our 
Leader's  injunction:  "Christian  Scientists,  be  a  law  to 
yourselves  that  mental  malpractice  cannot  harm  you 
either  when  asleep  or  when  awake"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  442). 

The  following  question  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  reply  to 
it  may  be  found  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  of 
September  3,  1910,  which  confirms  our  scientific 
interpretation  and  teaching  of  Science  and  Health. 

"  Last  evening  I  was  catechized  by  a  Christian  Science 
practitioner  because  I  referred  to  myself  as  an  immortal 
idea  of  the  one  divine  Mind.  The  practitioner  said  that 
my  statement  was  wrong,  because  I  still  lived  in  my  flesh. 
I  replied  that  I  did  not  live  in  my  flesh,  that  my  flesh  lived 
or  died  according  to  the  beliefs  I  entertained  about  it; 
but  that,  after  coming  to  the  light  of  Truth,  I  had  found 
that  I  lived  and  moved  and  had  my  being  in  God,  and  to 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  569 

obey  Christ  was  not  to  know  as  real  the  beliefs  of  an  earthly- 
mortal.  Please  give  the  truth  in  the  Sentinel,  so  that  all 
may  know  it." 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

You  are  scientifically  correct  in  your  statement  about 
yourself.  You  can  never  demonstrate  spirituality  until  you 
declare  yourself  to  be  immortal  and  understand  that  you 
are  so.  Christian  Science  is  absolute;  it  is  neither  behind 
the  point  of  perfection  nor  advancing  toward  it;  it  is  at 
this  point  and  must  be  practised  therefrom.  Unless  you 
fully  perceive  that  you  are  the  child  of  God,  hence  perfect, 
you  have  no  Principle  to  demonstrate  and  no  rule  for  its 
demonstration.  By  this  I  do  not  mean  that  mortals  are 
the  children  of  God, — far  from  it.  In  practising  Christian 
Science  you  must  state  its  Principle  correctly,  or  you  forfeit 
your  ability  to  demonstrate  it. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Nothing  that  was  said  or  done  during  the  terrible 
test  of  our  faith  could  swerve  us  from  our  conviction 
that  obedience  to  our  Leader's  call  to  build  on  a  "wholly 
spiritual  foundation"  would  insure  spiritual  power  over 
the  material  world,  the  flesh  and  all  the  suppositional 
claims  of  evil, — the  illusions,  dreams,  hallucinations 
of  so-called  material  sense.  We  know  that  this  spiritual 
power  alone  will  meet  the  human  needs  of  all  mankind. 

I  give  excerpts  from  two  letters  between  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  the  Trustees  of  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City.  These 
letters  were  published  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xii.,  pp.  190,  iqi. 

(Letter  from  New  York  Trustees,  dated,  New  York, 
October  29,  1909.) 

Furthermore,  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  Science 


57°  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  imposes 
permanently  upon  all  persons  concerned  the  duty  of  realiz- 
ing and  declaring  that  every  one  charged  with  a  duty  in  the 
conduct  of  the  church's  business,  and  in  the  administration 
of  its  By-Laws,  is  an  individual  manifestation  or  reflection 
of  the  divine  Mind,  and  is  governed  by  that  Mind. 

(Letter  in  reply  from  the  Directors,  of  the  Mother 
Church,  dated  Boston,  Mass.,  November  3,  1909). 

We  must,  in  Christian  fellowship,  call  your  attention  to 
the  fact  that  your  concept  of  Christian  Science  as  expressed 
in  your  letter  is  erroneous,  and  of  itself  shows  the  difficulty 
under  which  you  are  laboring.  Your  statement  that  you 
call  upon  the  members  of  this  Board  "to  know  that  every 
one  connected  with  this  inquiry,  or  with  the  constituted 
authority  of  this  branch  church,  is  a  reflection  of  and  is 
subject  only  to  the  one  infinite  Mind,  and  is  faithfully  ful- 
filling the  action  which  this  fact  makes  possible,"  etc.,  etc., 
is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  claim  on  your  part  that 
mortals  are  the  reflection  of  infinite  Mind.  Of  such  a 
claim  Mrs.  Eddy  writes,  on  page  572  of  Science  and  Health, 
"In  Science  we  are  children  of  God;  but  whatever  is  of 
material  sense,  or  mortal,  belongs  not  to  His  children,  for 
materiality  is  the  inverted  image  of  spirituality ; "  and  again, 
on  page  27  of  "No  and  Yes,"  "Mortal  man  is  the  antipode 
of  immortal  man,  and  the  two  should  not  be  confounded. " 
The  logical  effect  of  your  demand  is  to  require  us  to  attribute 
to  you,  as  mortals,  the  infallibility  of  divine  Mind. 

I  quote  Mrs.  Eddy's  reference  to  mortals:  "There 
is  no  such  thing  as  mortality,  nor  are  there  properly 
any  mortal  beings,  because  being  is  immortal,  like 
Deity, — or,  rather,  being  and  Deity  are  inseparable" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  554). 

The  Directors  seemed  unable  to  grasp  Mrs.  Eddy's 
higher  metaphysical  instruction.     There  was  nothing 


Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church  571 

left  for  us  to  do  but  to  stand  for  her  teachings  against 
their  declaration  that  they  were  mortal  and  that  we 
were  mortal,  and  wait  on  God  to  prove,  in  His  own 
way  and  in  His  own  time,  that  "Spirit  is  infinite;  there- 
fore Spirit  is  all" — that  there  is  but  one  God,  one  Mind, 
one  Christ,  one  Man, — the  manifestation  or  Body  of 
infinite  Life,  Truth,  and  Love;  and  that  individual  man 
— spiritual  man — not  the  false  mortal  so-called  man — 
is  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ.  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 
"God  forms  and  peoples  the  universe"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  509).  As  God  is  All,  there  is,  in  reality,  no 
material  man,  no  material  universe.  "...  infinite 
space  is  peopled  with  God's  ideas,  reflecting  Him  in 
countless  spiritual  forms"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  503). 
On  this  spiritual  fact  of  being  I  stand,  declaring  for 
and  demonstrating  absolute  Christian  Science.  Neither 
persecution  nor  ostracism  can  move  me  from  my  spirit- 
ual understanding  of  God's  allness  and  man's  oneness 
with  his  creator,  infinite  Mind,  Spirit,  God.  Absolute 
Christian  Science  is  comprehended  to-day  by  the  spirit- 
ually developed,  and  all  the  suppositional  claims  of 
suppositional  evil  are  powerless  to  sink  the  world  again 
into  the  darkness  of  belief  of  life  in  matter.  Christian 
Science  cannot  be  overthrown.  Mary  Baker  Eddy's 
labor  of  love  for  God  and  man  has  not  been  in  vain. 
It  has  stood  the  test  of  the  "enemy  of  good,"  evil  and 
its  agents,  and  has  won  a  signal  victory  by  defending 
Truth,  Principle.  Henceforth  the  gates  of  hell  cannot 
prevail  against  absolute  Christian  Science  as  taught  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  accepted  and  demonstrated 
by  her  loyal  students,  who  are  willing  and  ready  to  build 
on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation,"  namely,  that 
"Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  'There  is  no 
matter.'" 


572  Findings  and  Orders  of  Mother  Church 

Let  me  conclude  with  the  words  of  our  revered  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy : 

The  last  appearing  of  Truth  will  be  a  wholly  spiritual 
idea  of  God  and  of  man,  without  the  fetters  of  the  flesh,  or 
corporeality.  This  infinite  idea  of  infinity  will  be,  is,  as 
eternal  as  its  divine  Principle.  The  daystar  of  this  appear- 
ing is  the  light  of  Christian  Science — the  Science  which 
rends  the  veil  of  the  flesh  from  top  to  bottom.  The  light 
of  this  revelation  leaves  nothing  that  is  material;  neither 
darkness,  doubt,  disease,  nor  death.  The  material  cor- 
poreality disappears ;  and  individual  spirituality ,  perfect 
and  eternal,  appears — never  to  disappear  (Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  165). 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  will  demonstrate  her  teachings  and 
will  reappear  as  individual,  spiritual  idea  never  to  dis- 
appear, to  those  who  have  spiritual  sight. 

&<&&•  test: 


a. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
LETTERS   TO   CHURCH    OFFICIALS 

He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
churches. — Revelation  iii.,  22. 

Drifting  into  intellectual  wrestlings,  we  should  agree  to  disagree;  and 
this  harmony  would  anchor  the  Church  in  more  spiritual  latitudes, 
and  so  fulfil  her  destiny. — No  and  Yes,  p.  45. 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  12,  1899. 
My  dear  Brother: — 

Your  letter  has  been  read  and  contents  considered. 
I  agree  with  you  that  there  should  be  scientific  unity 
between  the  churches  in  this  city.  I  have  always 
regretted  the  divisions  which  have  resulted  from  diso- 
bedience to  the  divine  law  and  order,  as  laid  down  in  the 
writings  of  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  It  is  a  late 
hour,  and  all  who  have  swerved  from  the  direct  line 
should  quickly  retrace  and  traverse  "anew  the  path 
from  sin  to  holiness "  {Science  and  Health,  p.  20).  "The 
divine  method  of  paying  sin's  wages  involves  unwinding 
one's  snarls"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  240). 

In  regard  to  the  proposed  Conference  Committee, 
I  can  see  no  necessity  for  any  such  organization.  If 
there  were  such  a  need  it  would  be  indicated  by  our 
Leader.  Committees,  like  By-Laws,  are  the  outgrowth 
of  necessity  in  each  church  (read  first  page  of  Manual). 

Our  Leader  can  call  an  individual  branch  church  to 
account,  but  where  would  be  her  authority  if  all  the 

573 


574  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

churches  formed  themselves  into  committees  to  dis- 
cuss and  decide  upon  what  they  may  consider  vital 
questions  of  the  hour?  As  it  appears  to  me,  each  must 
do  his  and  her  individual  work  alone  with  God,  and 
when  the  necessity  of  subjugating  self  is/e//  and  realized, 
and  the  des!re  for  place  and  power  has  been  seen  and 
overcome ;  when  all  are  willing  to  occupy  only  the  niches 
which  they  have  demonstrated,  and  cease  trying  to  dis- 
place and  destroy  others;  when,  through  spiritual 
understanding,  all  are  able  to  discern  the  false  from  the 
true  brethren,  then  unity  will  have  been  attained  on 
the  true  basis,  and  nothing  can  prevent  the  loving 
intercourse  and  happy  social  relations  of  true  Christian 
Scientists. 

In  your  suggestion  that  the  Conference  shall  not 
interfere  with  our  or  any  other  of  the  churches,  but 
shall  "date  only  from  the  time  of  its  formation,  and 
shall  know  nothing  of  the  past  history  of  any  of  the 
churches,"  you  surely  do  not  mean  to  propose  that  we 
throw  over  or  erase  from  memory  the  history  or  founda- 
tion stones  of  our  church,  the  first-born  branch  in  this 
city? 

Our  church  history  is  the  record  of  victories  won  at 
the  point  of  the  sword  of  Truth — of  experiences,  defeats, 
and  trials,  which  lifted  us  to  see  the  substance  of  Spirit, 
and  the  allness  of  Love.  This  history  is  the  church, 
and  the  members  are  rocks  in  its  foundation  and  super- 
structure. It  is  a  spiritual  manifestation,  composed  of 
those  who  have  carried  the  cross,  endured  persecution, 
and  have  come  up  thus  far  "out  of  great  tribulation. " 

When  you  propose  to  blot  out  this  history,  you  have 
nothing  left  upon  which  to  build — not  even  a  "Confer- 
ence." "Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that 
is  laid"  (i   Cor.  iii.,  n).     This  we  hold  sacred,   and 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  575 

we  have  no  desire  to  forget,  and  build  anew.  "Thou 
shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
led  thee  ...  in  the  wilderness,  to  humble  thee, 
and  to  prove  thee,  to  know  what  was  in  thine  heart, 
whether  thou  wouldest  keep  his  commandments,  or 
no"     (Deut.  viii.,  2). 

The  history  of  each  church  is  already  written,  and 
each  must  be  weighed  by  its  past,  for  the  past  is  its 
history,  and  the  "now"  will  to-morrow  be  the  past. 
We  must  build  character  which  will  be  tested  by  the 
rod  of  Love. 

Again  I  repeat,  I  desire  above  all  things  unity  between 
the  churches,  and  I  am  patiently  waiting  upon  Love  to 
perfect  Her  work  with  each  and  all.  I  have  only  love 
for  all,  for  Love  is  all — nothing  else  is,  and  in  God's 
own  time  each  will  love  the  other.  In  the  meantime  I 
must  take  heed  unto  myself,  and  "to  all  the  flock,  over 
the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  [me]  over- 
seers" (Acts  xx.,  28).  I  pray  for  the  unity  of  the 
brethren  in  the  bonds  of  Spirit. 

Your  sister  in  Truth  and  Love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  6,  1900. 

My  beloved  Sister  L.    .    .    : — 

This  is  my  first  opportunity  to  reply  to  your  letter. 
Error  cannot  move  me,  and  cause  a  separation.  You 
ought  to  remember  the  long  years  of  steadfast,  unflinch- 
ing fidelity  to  the  trust  reposed  in  me  by  our  Leader, 
when  she  sent  me  into  this  city,  with  only  a  little  under- 
standing of  Christian  Science,  and  with  the  Field  already 
occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  and  yourself. 
How,  when  the  cross  of  pioneer  preacher  in  this  First 


576  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

Church  was  given  to  me,  I  carried  it  patiently,  and  since 
then  have  stood  like  Casabianca,  when  every  student 
of  our  Leader's  left  me,  and  condemned  and  denounced 
me  and  this  church. 

If  I  have  not  been  removed  from  my  appointed  post 
by  the  desertion  of  all  save  my  loyal  students,  and  if 
error  has  not  disheartened  and  discouraged  me,  by 
seeing  old  staunch  friends  prejudiced  by  those  who,  from 
time  to  time  have  left  this  church,  you  may  be  sure, 
dear  sister,  that  I  have  clung  to,  and  have  been  guided 
by  Principle,  and  that  you  can  always  find  me  demon- 
strating Love  and  Truth — the  only  power  which  unites 
Christian  Scientists  in  the  bonds  of  Spirit.  I  have 
prayed  for  years  for  unity,  but  Mrs.  Eddy's  students 
here  held  me  in  error,  so  I  have  stood  alone,  waiting 
for  a  higher  realization  of  Love  among  the  brethren. 

I  feel  a  greater  responsibility  than  ever  before  to 
defend  this  first-born  branch  in  New  York  City  against 
schisms,  and  against  those  who  do  not  recognize  divine 
law  and  order,  but  see  only  personal  control  and 
physical  personality;  who  mistake  spiritual  energy  for 
personal  ambition.  They  consider  that  anybody  offer- 
ing resistance  to  malpractitioners  who  are  seeking  to 
displace  the  true  Christian  Scientists,  and  to  replace  them 
with  those  whom  they  can  manipulate,  are  governed  by 
self-love,  self-will,  and  self-justification. 

In  regard  to  the  Committee  which  was  proposed, 
I  feel  the  time  has  not  yet  come  for  this  step.  I  am 
ready,  as  I  have  ever  been,  to  meet  all  those  who  will 
fellowship  with  me  and  my  people,  but  how  can  we  meet 
when  I  have  no  evidence  that  they  have  changed  their 
opinion  of  me  and  of  my  spiritual  interpretation  of 
Christian  Science.  You  and  your  son  expressed  your 
desire  to  meet  us  on  the  basis  of  the  unity  of  good.     We 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  577 

have  made  our  demonstration,  and  can  work  together 
for  the  good  of  the  Cause,  and  of  our  dear  churches, 
until  through  individual  growth,  the  others  express  a 
desire  to  unite  with  us.  If  we  meet  as  a  body  in  com- 
mittee, while  some  still  are  struggling  with  a  personal 
sense  of  me  and  my  methods,  we  should  have  only  a 
repetition  of  past  experiences,  for  I  cannot  yield  my 
individual  concept  of  church  government,  which  has 
resulted  in  an  ideal  church  that  is  phenomenal  in  pros- 
perity in  truth  and  love,  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit. 

The  Chicago  church  was  referred  to  as  a  reason  for 
this  Committee,  but  the  cases  are  not  parallel.  Our 
Leader's  students  united  and  built  the  First  Church 
there,  then  they  together  built  the  Second,  Third,  etc., 
so  their  committee  is  really  one  body,  and,  as  Mr.  Kim- 
ball says,  is  the  result  of  multiplication,  not  division. 

I  would  not  influence  any  one  to  unite  with  us  without 
his  having  expressed  the  desire  so  to  do,  but  would 
leave  him  free  to  grow  to  the  demands  of  Truth  and 
Love.  Let  us  work  together,  guided  by  Principle, 
and  our  beloved  Leader,  Teacher,  and  Mother,  till 
our  radiation  of  Love  is  sufficient  to  convince  all  that 
there  is  but  one  body,  and  that  all  are  members  one 
of  another.  Love  will  do  Her  perfect  work,  and  human 
desire  for  seeming  unity  must  not  hinder  the  manifesta- 
tion of  the  real  and  spiritual  oneness  in  Christ.  When 
we  come  more  together  in  our  work  in  this  great  city, 
you  will  learn  the  breadth  and  depth  of  my  love.  I 
have  only  love  to  give  to  all,  and  have  already,  in  a 
letter  to  you,  before  all  those  congregated,  asked  for- 
giveness for  any  unchristian  thought  or  word  which 
I  may  have  uttered  during  the  past. 

Your  sister  in  Truth  and  Love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


578  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City. 

To  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Jersey  City, 

New  Jersey. 
My  beloved  Students, 

And  the  brethren  who  constitute  this  branch  of  our 
Mother  Vine,  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Boston,  Massachusetts: — 

A  little  over  a  year  ago  I  heard  a  voice  calling  fre- 
quently, "Come  over  into  Macedonia,  and  help  us." 
I  asked,  "Where,  Lord,  shall  I  go?"  Soon  I  felt  the 
divine  leading  and  knew  the  cry  came  from  your  city, 
and  from  the  earnest  prayers  of  those  who  had 
personally  and  persistently  appealed  to  me  and  had 
long  and  patiently  waited  for  some  one  to  help  them 
establish  their  church,  and  verify  the  promise,  "Lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway. " 

I  waited  until  I  felt  confident  that  Principle  was 
directing  me,  and  was  then  moved  to  select  two  from 
the  many  loyal,  earnest  students  of  the  New  York  City 
Christian  Science  Institute  who  were  practicing  in  your 
city,  to  act  as  Readers,  and  with  others,  who  comprise 
the  Charter  Members,  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Jersey  City,  was  established — founded  upon  the  rock, 
Christ,  and  designed  to  heal  the  sick  and  reform  the 
sinner. 

For  one  year,  this  little  band  of  workers  has  stood 
firm  at  its  post  of  duty,  and  with  the  invincible  armor 
of  divine  Love  has  withstood  all  the  fiery  darts  of  evil. 
The  attack  has  been  made  by  impersonal  error,  through 
personal  avenues,  to  hush  the  voice  of  Truth  and  Love, 
as  the  brave  standard-bearers  declare  the  omnipotence 
of  Truth,  and  the  nothingness  of  fear,  the  allness  of 
God  and  the  nothingness  of  evil.  The  watchful  eye 
of   our  Father-Mother  Love,  keeps   silent   vigil,  and 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  579 

the  ear  of  the  infinite  hears  always  the  piteous  cry  of 
the  sick  or  straying  mountain  lambs,  and  at  the  slightest 
call  gathers  them  in  Her  arms  and  tenderly  soothes 
every  fear. 

The  impersonal  Pastor — the  Bible,  and  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
— has  been  voiced  by  these  Readers,  whose  prayers, 
devotion,  and  fidelity  to  Truth  have  given  a  spiritual 
animus  to  the  "Word"  which  is  sweeping  the  harp  of 
human  consciousness,  attuning  it  to  Love's  sweet  har- 
monies. Thus  the  church  has  constantly  increased  in 
numbers  and  realization,  and  will  continue  to  win  the 
weary  and  heavenly  homesick  to  the  understanding  of 
the  Science  of  being,  if  it  rises  to  the  spiritual  interpre- 
tation of  the  Holy  Bible  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings. 

Our  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
is  our  Mother  in  Israel,  the  anointed  of  God,  who  is 
drawing  us  all  into  the  one  fold  and  to  the  one  Shepherd. 
She  has  lovingly  led  us  through  the  wilderness  to  the 
present  hour,  and  her  dear  voice  is  ever  calling  to  her 
children  and  to  the  world  to  come  up  higher.  From  her 
mount  of  spiritual  vision,  she  espies  the  Land  of  Promise 
"flowing  with  milk  and  honey"  (health,  holiness  and 
immortality),  and  she  urges  us  to  fear  not  the  foe  in 
the  valley,  nor  tremble  at  the  mental  serpents  upon 
which  we  must  tread  in  our  ascent  up  the  Mount  of 
Holiness,  but  to  press  forward,  conquer  sin  and  self, 
and  fulfil  Christ's  commission  to  "preach  .  .  .the 
kingdom  of  heaven  ....  Heal  the  sick,  cleanse 
the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  devils. " 

At  last,  if  we  endure  unto  the  end,  we  shall  hear  the 
"Well  done,"  and  receive  our  reward.  Strive  for  self- 
lessness each  day — grow  into  the  impersonal  good,  and 
rise  to  resist  and  destroy  the  claim  of  impersonal  evil. 


580  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

You  declare  that  God,  good,  is  omnipotent,  and  that  evil 
is  impotent.  Then,  as  you  meet  the  foe,  as  a  church  or 
as  individuals,  know  that  you  are  to  wrestle  with  "the 
prince  of  this  world"  in  its  subtle  suggestions,  and 
defend  this  branch  of  The  Mother  Church  and  your- 
selves, your  homes,  and  your  people,  from  the  merciless 
invader,  who  would  tear  up  your  landmarks,  enter  your 
consciousness  with  physical  and  mental  discord,  and 
scatter  you. 

Error  tries  to  cut  off  the  remnant  of  our  Leader's 
seed,  her  apostles,  disciples,  and  followers.  I  pray 
for  this  dear  church,  that  her  watchmen  may  be  vigilant 
and  demand  of  all,  "Who  comes  there?"  Let  all  be 
quick  to  discern  between  good  and  evil — between  the 
sheep  and  the  wolves.  Rise  into  divine  Love  so  far 
that  Love  will  separate  you  from  error,  and  will  give 
you  divine  power  to  bring  all  who  are  ready  into  the 
fold.  But  "neither  cast  ye  your  pearls"  before  the 
unprepared  thought,  nor  before  those  who  have  not 
the  true  spirit. 

The  Holy  Bible  and  our  Leader's  works  will  teach 
you  all  Truth.  Go  to  Principle  always,  and  if,  young 
in  faith  and  understanding,  you  need  any  help,  God 
will  give  it  to  you  through  His  reflectors.  I,  as  your 
teacher,  am  ready  to  aid  you,  when  there  is  need,  but 
I  must  not  take  too  much  personal  care  for  students 
or  they  will  not  turn  to  Principle  and  make  their  own 
demonstrations.     This  is  the  strength  of  my  work. 

God  bless  you  each  and  all,  and  keep  you  from  evil, 
as  you  toil  on  in  this  glorious  warfare.  Look  daily 
for  the  joy  of  the  Spirit.  Love,  peace,  health,  and  an 
immortal  consciousness  are  your  sure  reward. 

Ever  your  faithful  sister,  teacher,  and  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  581 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
Salutes  First  Church  of  Christ,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  and  sends— "All  hail!"  to  Mrs.  L  ...  and 
the  brethren.  October  9, 1897. 

With  what  unspeakable  gratitude  to  our  Father- 
Mother  God  do  we  behold  another  branch  of  the  "  Vine  " 
which  our  heavenly  Father  hath  planted,  revealing  its 
protecting  shelter  to  the  wanderers  in  the  desert  of 
human  sorrows,  and  verifying  the  promises  of  the 
Father,  "My  people  shall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habita- 
tion, and  in  sure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet  resting  places" 
(Isaiah  xxxii.,  18). 

Truly  God  is  good  to  Israel.  Indeed  "The  night  is 
far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand. "  Christian  Scientists  in 
this  vineyard  of  our  Lord,  you  who  have  been  watching, 
praying,  and  demonstrating  the  healing  power  of  Truth 
and  Love  in  the  destruction  of  sickness  and  sin  in  your- 
selves, and  for  others;  who  have  held  the  banner  of 
Christian  Science  above  the  shot  and  shell  of  error, 
ever  gazing  on  the  white  Christ  through  tears,  trials, 
toils,  tribulations,  and  persecutions,  for  "without  were 
fightings,  within  were  fears, "  you  are  now  waking  to 
sing  the  song  of  "Home,  Sweet  Home"  and  are  rejoicing 
in  the  harvest  hour. 

To-night  our  hearts'  deep  gratitude  ascends  to  our 
God,  who  is  manifesting  Himself  to  the  children  of 
men  through  the  teachings  of  our  beloved  Leader, 
Teacher,  and  Mother,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Through  her  illumined  spiritual  vision,  in  the  dis- 
covery of  Christian  Science,  the  precious  Word  of  God 
has  been  revealed  to  us,  and  the  Key  which  unlocks 
its  heretofore  hidden  treasures  has  been  given  to  us 
in  her  book  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
the  "little  book"  spoken  of  in  the  Apocalypse. 


582  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

Through  her  works  and  words,  we  have  been  led  to 
understand  the  works  and  words  of  the  Master  and  his 
disciples ;  and  to  demonstrate  in  some  degree  the  power 
of  the  Christ-mind.  As  we  follow  our  Way-shower 
up  the  mount  of  Christian  Science,  divine  Love  reveals 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  on  earth,  as  a  state  of  sinless 
consciousness,  and  discloses  the  many  mansions  of  our 
Father's  house. 

Our  beloved  Leader  and  Mother  has  taught  us  to 
worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  She  has  brought 
to  remembrance  Jesus'  commission  to  his  disciples, 
"  preach  .  .  .  the  kingdom  of  heaven  .  .  .  Heal  the 
sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead. "  She  has 
opened  the  door  to  health,  holiness,  and  immortality; 
and,  as  she  stands  on  the  Horeb  height  of  spiritual 
vision,  she  calls  earth's  weary  mortals  to  rise  from  the 
dream  of  Adam,  in  which  all  die,  to  behold  the  Christ- 
man  who  is  the  image  of  eternal  Life,  and  in  whom  all 
are  made  alive. 

To-night  they  who  have  apprehended  the  risen  Christ, 
cry  out  to  the  dreamers  in  matter,  "Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world" 
(John  i.,  29).  "Wisdom  hath  builded  her  house,  she 
hath  hewn  out  her  seven  pillars."  She  bids  us  "Come, 
eat  of  my  bread,  and  drink  of  the  wine  which  I  have 
mingled.  Forsake  the  foolish,  and  live ;  and  go  in  the 
way  of  understanding"  (Prov.  ix.,  1,  5,  6). 

Dear  Brethren,  we  are  one  in  Christ,  one  in  faith  and 
hope,  and  one  in  love.  We  are  rising  with  Christ  to 
see  the  reai  man,  and  the  real  universe,  governed  by  the 
one  Mind.  Our  Leader  has  commissioned  us  to  go  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  glad  tidings  of  the  omni- 
potence of  good.  We  are  to  call  the  sinner  and  the 
sufferer  to  awake  from  the  illusion  of  matter  as  sentient 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  583 

substance,  and  to  claim  his  dominion,  his  God-given 
heritage,  health,  holiness,  and  immortality.  We  are 
to  follow  our  Way-shower  in  the  demonstration  of  divine 
Love — which  heals  all  our  sorrow,  sickness,  and  sin. 

All  honor,  praise,  and  gratitude,  and  a  deeper  love 
than  words  can  express  to  her  whose  faithful  watch- 
care,  loving  admonitions,  and  patient  forbearance,  have 
brought  us  to  our  present  realization  of  the  affluence  of 
Love,  which  has  revealed  this  sure,  "dwelling  place," 
this  branch  Church  of  Christ,  the  type  of  the  Church 
Triumphant. 

Love  is  leading  us  all  to  the  one  fold  and  the  one 
Shepherd.     Hear  ye  her  voice! 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  28,  1902. 

To  Mr.  Archibald  McLellan, 

Editor  Christian  Science  Periodicals. 

Dear  Brother: — 

In  compliance  with  the  By-Laws  relating  to  a  term  of 
three  years'  Readership  in  The  Mother  Church,  and 
including  the  branch  churches  who  desire  to  adopt  the 
same,  I  beg  to  inform  you  that  I  at  once  cheerfully 
responded  to  the  call  of  wisdom  and  Love  through 
our  wise  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and 
resigned  my  office  as  First  Reader  of  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  at  a  meeting  of 
Trustees  held  on  Sunday,  July  20th. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  at  a  meeting  of  the  members 
of  the  church,  which  was  called  to  ratify  the  action  of 
the  Trustees,  my  formal  resignation  was  tendered  and 
unanimously  accepted  by  the  church.  As  always,  from 
the  beginning  of  its  history,  First  Church  of  Christ, 


584  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

Scientist,  New  York  City,  has  welcomed  every  oppor- 
tunity to  aid  in  advancing  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science,  even  to  leaving  all  for  Christ,  that  we  may  be 
finally  endued  with  power  over  all  evil,  sin  and  sickness. 
Faithfully,  in  Truth  and  Love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  January  27,  1909. 

Dear  Mr.  F.    .    .   : — 

Your  letter,  requesting  me  to  assist  in  raising  money 
to  pay  a  debt  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
at  C.  .  .  ,  was  received  this  morning.  It  appears  that 
this  fact  is  of  such  a  character  that  it  would  have  pre- 
vented the  dedication  of  that  church  until  the  matter 
was  properly  met. 

Neither  the  original,  nor  the  continued  concealment 
of  this  condition,  from  those  entitled  to  know  it,  could 
have  come  from  aught  but  error.  Participation  in  the 
concealment  of  this  fact  is  unwarranted  in  Christian  Sci- 
ence, which  is  a  law  reading,  "There  is  nothing  covered, 
that  shall  not  be  revealed"  (Luke  xii.,  2).  This  law 
reveals  things  that  are  false  and  evil,  and  things  that 
are  true  and  good. 

It  is  impossible,  therefore,  for  me  to  contribute 
sub  rosa  to  the  cancellation  of  a  debt  upon  the  church, 
which  existed  when  the  edifice  was  dedicated.  Taking 
any  other  course  than  this,  regarding  an  error,  whether 
manifested  through  an  individual  or  through  a  church- 
body,  is  contrary  to  the  principles  of  Christian  Science, 
and  constitutes  disobedience  to  our  Leader,  and  to  the 
Cause  which  she  is  commissioned  by  God  to  carry  to  a 
complete,  scientific,  and  universal  triumph. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  585 

It  was,  and  ever  will  be  a  joy  to  contribute  of  our 
love  expressed  in  money  to  any  Christian  Science  church, 
in  the  hour,  and  "The  Way  of  Wisdom, "  but  for  me  to 
ask  my  students  or  church-members  to  aid  in  the  way 
you  suggest,  would  violate  my  teachings  and  practice 
among  them.  I  have  never  asked  nor  received  a  dollar 
outside  of  my  students  and  church-members,  and  regu- 
lar attendants,  in  the  building  of  our  church  edifice,  nor 
would  I  have  accepted  a  dollar  had  it  been  offered.  I 
felt  that  I  was  standing  before  the  world  at  the  black- 
board of  Christian  Science  and  must  make  my  individual 
demonstration  with  those  whom  God  had  given  me, 
by  following  the  instructions  and  written  advice  sent  to 
me  by  my  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  This  has  been  my 
understanding  of  Christian  Science,  and  on  this  con- 
viction I  had  to  stand.  Few  realized  this  as  I  did,  except 
those  who  are  now  with  me  in  this  church,  as  students 
and  church-members. 

Upon  careful  reading  of  your  letter,  there  seems  to 
be  another  point.  This  call  for  aid  is  not  for  support 
from  divine  Love,  in  demonstration  of  Christian  Science 
and  its  truth.  The  request  is  based  upon  alleged  inabil- 
ity of  the  church  to  demonstrate  Christian  Science. 
Fidelity  to  the  teachings  of  our  dear  Leader  will  enable 
any  one,  individual  or  church,  to  make  a  complete  de- 
monstration regarding  supply,  as  well  as  that  of  over- 
coming sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

The  omnipotent  power  of  Principle,  the  inexhaustible 
resources  of  Mind,  are  at  hand  for  the  faithful  every- 
where. Individual  Christian  Scientists,  as  well  as 
Christian  Science  churches  must  socner  or  later  pro- 
vide oil  for  their  own  lamps.  They  cannot  always 
travel  by  another's  light,  nor  maintain  themselves  by 
the  fruit  of  another's  demonstration.     Again  I  must 


586  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

repeat,  that  it  would  be  pleasant,  and  an  easy  thing  to 
do,  to  send  the  money  to  the  church;  but  in  this  case 
"  I  must  be  cruel  only  to  be  kind. " 

You  mistake,  dear  Mr.  F .  .  .  ,  when  you  call  our 
church  a  wealthy  body.  We  are  rich  in  love  for  God, 
for  our  beloved  Leader  and  for  all  who  do  the  will  of 
our  Father,  but  we  are  not  rich  in  material  possessions. 
I  believe  that  each  church,  rich  in  love  and  in  the  under- 
standing of  Truth,  can  prove  the  promises,  and  find 
God  able  to  supply  all  human  needs.  If  a  church- 
body  has  not  vitality  enough  to  furnish  this  small 
amount  of  money  to  which  you  refer,  to  care  for  its  own 
needs,  the  testing  time  has  come.  In  this  generation 
not  only  churches  but  individuals  are  being  weighed. 
The  hour  has  struck  when  those  who  have  built  on  the 
rock — Christ — must  rise  still  higher.  Leaving  our ' '  low- 
vaulted  roof, "  our  present  attainment,  we  must  unfold 
our  diviner  possibilities,  merge  finally  into  heaven's 
vast  dome  of  Spirit,  and  ultimately  rejoice  in  a  perfect 
demonstration  over  the  material  world  and  the  belief 
of  a  limited  mind  and  a  false,  finite  universe. 

I  trust  that  all  will  end  in  strict  accordance  with 
Principle. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  1,  1909. 

My  dear  Mr.  W.   .    .   : — 

I  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  my  deep  appreciation 
of  your  Editorial  in  our  Christian  Science  Journal  for 
October.  It  is  manifest,  in  that  article,  that  the 
omnipotent  power  of  Truth  and  Love  is  cleaving 
asunder  the  false  from  the  true  teaching  of  Christian 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  587 

Science,  and  is  separating  the  claim  of  a  material  man 
and  a  material  universe,  the  phenomena  of  the  claim 
of  evil,  from  the  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  uni- 
verse, the  phenomena  of  Spirit,  the  real  and  eternal. 

The  teachings  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in 
our  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  in  her  other  writings,  when  understood,  will 
feed  the  hungry  multitude  with  the  bread  of  Life,  and 
will  reveal  here  and  now  man's  oneness  with  Spirit, 
his  creator.  Thus  will  Truth  and  Love  destroy  the 
illusions  of  corporeal  sense,  and  forever  establish  man 
in  the  image  and  likeness  of  his  Maker.  Immortal 
man  must — will  be  demonstrated. 

Most  sincerely, 

Your  co-worker  in  the  revelation  of  Christ's 
kingdom  on  earth, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  5,  1909. 

Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New 
York  City. 
My  trusted,  faithful  Students: — x 

The  Word  of  God  shall  "have  free  course,  and  be  glori- 
fied." "Pray  for  us  .  .  .  that  we  may  be  delivered 
from  unreasonable   .    .    .   men"  (2  Thess.  iii.,  1,  2). 

You  are  the  Word  manifest.  You  are  God's  mouth- 
pieces,— spiritual  ideas.  You  must  speak,  and  never 
cease  speaking  the  Word,  until  you  have  expressed 
what  God  desires  the  people  to  know.  God  has  given 
you  this  knowledge  of  the  enemies'  fear.     Do  not  let 

'Written  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  during  the  investigation  of  the  Committee  of  Inquiry 
as  to  my  teaching  of  Christian  Science. 


588  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

the  false  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism  handle 
you,  but  declare  for  divine  democracy  and  for  your 
liberty  as  the  sons  of  God.  Let  each  declare  repeatedly 
for  his  loyalty  to  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  The  Mother 
Church — "The  structure  of  Truth  and  Love"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  583).  Keep  realizing  and  repeating  the 
spiritual  fact  of  being,  that  your  voices  may  drown  the 
false  mental  argument  that  has  been  put  into  conscious- 
ness. Defend  your  divine  birthright,  your  oneness  with 
God. 

You  cannot  lose  any  object  in  divine  Mind,  and  there 
is  no  other  mind.  The  church  is  composed  of  the  people 
of  God.  Its  members  are  not  in  belief,  nor  in  matter 
forms  of  belief.  God  is  there  in  His  church  with  His 
people.  Love  is  there;  evil  has  neither  place,  presence, 
nor  power.  You  can  stand  in  the  Christ-consciousness 
knowing  that  God  is  there,  and  God  is  All.  Belief, 
and  its  manifestation,  a  material  man  and  material 
universe,  is  illusion,  and  its  claim  to  a  voice  is  not  to  be 
heard  nor  believed.  It  is  neither  person,  man,  woman, 
nor  child.  It  is  mortality,  in  all  its  manifested  shadows, 
which  must  disappear  as  man  appears  and  voices  God, 
the  ever-present  I  am. 

Realize  your  immortal  consciousness,  and  let  God 
raise  His  own  witnesses  to  fight  the  "  beasts  atEphesus. " 
Let  each  dare  to  be  a  Paul,  and  prove  the  power  of 
Truth  and  Love.  You  are  called,  chosen,  and  faithful. 
You  are  God's  voice  expressed  in  individual  man.  He 
will  reflect  through  each  of  you  His  intelligence,  His 
wisdom  and  His  love — which  are  able  to  dispel  beliefs 
which  have  no  Principle,  no  substance,  therefore  no 
reality.     Let  Love's  rod  and  Love's  staff  sustain  you. 

The  "great  red  dragon,"  the  Adam-dream,  or  lie, 
never  was,  and  never  will  be  able  to  stand  before  the 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  589 

Christ  in  you,  and  in  those  who  reflect  Christ.     There 
is  no   presence  but  the  one  God  and  His  ideas.     Let 
"the  word  of  the  Lord  .    .    .  have  free  course,  and  be 
glorified"  (2  Thess.  iii.,  1).     Man  is  God's  glory. 
Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  6,  1909. 

My  dear  Mr.  D.   .    .    : — 

Your  communication  of  yesterday  was  a  great  relief 
to  me.  After  I  had  sent  my  letter  directly  to  our 
beloved  Leader,  I  feared  that  I  might  have  disobeyed 
her,  and  that  I  ought  to  have  sent  it  to  you  to  decide 
whether  she  would  care  to  hear  it. 

The  rumor  is  false  that  I  am  "exhibiting  a  letter  pur- 
porting to  have  come  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  which  she  is 
reported  to  have  said,  'I  am  allowing  the  Board  of 
Directors  to  continue  their  persecution  of  you,  because 
if  I  would  call  them  off,  their  malice  towards  you  would 
be  so  great  that  it  would  probably  kill  you.'  "  I  must 
say  I  never  received  such  a  letter.  I  have  never  said  nor 
intimated  that  I  had  received  any  such  letter.  It  would 
be  impossible  for  my  Leader  to  make  such  an  unscien- 
tific statement  without  denying  me  before  the  Father- 
Mother  God.  She  has  ever  taught  me  to  claim  my 
immortality.  I  know  she  claims  it  for  me  always.  I 
claim  it  for  myself,  and  no  such  report  could  emanate 
from  her  or  from  me  or  circulate  among  those  who  heed 
my  teaching. 

I  rest  in  the  conviction  that  I  am  immortal,  and  that 
nothing  can  prevent  my  following  my  beloved  Leader 
in  the  demonstration  of  this  supreme  fact,  a  demon- 
stration of  such  importance  to  all  mankind,  and  neces- 


59°  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

sary  to  prove  the  truth  of  what  is  declared  in  Science 
and  Health  and  in  our  beloved  Leader's  other  writings. 
The  report  that  I  can  be  killed  denies  the  fundamental 
fact  in  divine  Science  that  man  is  immortal. 

I  see  no  press  representatives.  Many  of  my  dear 
students  have  not  risen  to  where  they  can  read  the 
signs  of  the  times,  and  some  ask  me  why  our  beloved 
Leader  does  not  speak  on  my  behalf.  I  tell  them 
never  to  question  her  actions,  her  wisdom,  nor  her 
love  for  me,  for  mine  and  for  all.  I  ask  them  whether 
any  one  can  demonstrate  another's  problem,  and  I 
assure  them  that  the  divine  Principle  which  amply 
sustained  Jesus  and  our  Leader,  sustains  me  and  each 
one  in  proportion  to  his  fidelity  to  Principle  and  its 
idea. 

I  refer  them  to  our  Leader's  letter  in  the  Sentinel, 
where  she  warns  me  to  watch  and  pray  that  I  be  not 
separated  from  her,  my  Leader,  "and  best  earthly 
friend"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910), 
therefore  they,  too,  must  watch,  work,  and  pray,  keep- 
ing the  Bible,  Science  and  Health,  and  the  Manual  of 
The  Mother  Church  ever  before  them,  as  guides  in 
demonstrating  Christian  Science  as  taught  by  our  dear 
Leader. 

I  send  some  letters  to  show  you  the  methods  of 
malicious  animal  magnetism  at  this  hour.  All  the 
seeming  powers  of  a  suppositional  hell  can  not  separate 
me  from  my  Leader,  nor  prevent  me  from  following 
her  to  the  height  of  final  demonstration. 

For  her  sake  and  for  the  brethren  "  I  sanctify  myself.  " 
Faithfully,  gratefully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

To  Mr.  A  ...     H  ...     D  ...     , 
Chestnut  Hill, 
Brookline,  Mass. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  591 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  8,  1909. 

My  dear  Mr.  D .    .    .    : — 

I  had  not  intended  to  intrude  upon  you  the  problem 
which  now  confronts  me,  but  as  false  reports  regarding 
my  action  are  reaching  your  ears,  as  is  proven  by  your 
letter  of  the  fourth  inst.,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  tell  you 
the  following  facts. 

On  the  day  that  I  received  notice  of  the  action  of  the 
Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors,  September  26th, 
I  requested  the  Clerk  of  my  church  to  call  a  meeting 
of  the  Trustees.  This  meeting  took  place  October  1st. 
I  send  you  herein  copy  of  the  communication *  which  I 
sent  to  the  Board  on  that  day.     I  did  not  attend. 

A  Committee  was  appointed  at  that  meeting  to  con- 
sider and  report  what  action  would  seem  appropriate. 
This  Committee  made  its  report  to-day,  and  the  Board 
of  Trustees  decided  to  proceed  with  an  investigation  in 
conformity  with  this  report. 

One  word  more  I  venture  to  say.  The  Master  said, 
"Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead."  "Follow  me."  In 
"The  Way  of  Wisdom,"  published  in  the  Christian 
Science  Journal  of  February,  1909,  our  beloved  Leader 
says,  among  other  things,  "When  my  dear  brethren 
in  New  York  desire  to  build  higher, — to  enlarge  their 
phylacteries  and  demonstrate  Christian  Science  to  a 
higher  extent, — they  must  begin  on  a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other,  and  propor- 
tionably  estimate  their  success  and  glory  of  achievement 
only  as  they  build  upon  the  rock  of  Christ,  the  spiritual 
foundation." 

Therefore,  I  concern  myself  primarily  with  the 
"wholly  spiritual"  building,  thus  enjoined  upon  me  by 
our  spiritual  Leader,  in  order  that  the  "house  not  made 

1  This  communication  appears  on  page  504. 


592  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  may  appear. 
Thus  only  can  I  continue  my  labors  for  Christ  and 
for  the  brethren,  which  labors  of  love  have  hitherto 
brought  me  peace  and  joy  in  the  midst  of  error's 
increasing  rage. 

Faithfully,  gratefully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

P.  S.  I  enclose  also  a  letter  which  is  self-explanatory, 
and  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  return  it  to  me  when  you 
have  finished  with  it. 

To  Mr.  A  ...     H  ...     D  ...     , 
Chestnut  Hill, 
Brookline,  Mass. 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  16,  1909. 

The  Board  of  Trustees, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 
Beloved  Brethren: — 

I  hand  you  herewith  copy  of  my  letter  of  this  day " 
to  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  which  is 
self-explanatory.  I  hand  you  also  my  resignation  as 
a  member  of  your  Board. 

I  desire  to  repeat  here  what  I  said  yesterday  to  the 
Committee  which  you  have  appointed  to  make  an 
investigation  regarding  conditions,  practices,  and  teach- 
ings in  this  church.  I  depend  upon  no  one  but  God 
and  my  Leader.  I  desire  no  human  sympathy.  I  do 
not  need  it. 

Hold  to  your  fidelity  to  God  and  to  our  Leader,  as  I 
have  taught  you,  and  follow  me  only  so  far  as  I  follow 
my  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.      "Upon  the  rock, 

1  The  letter  referred  to  appears  on  page  230. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  593 

Christ"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  484),  spiritual  under- 
standing, I  have  built  this  church,  with  the  aid  of 
your  steadfast,  loyal  devotion  to  Principle  and  to  our 
dear  Leader,  "and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  it. " 

Rise  to  the  height  of  "wholly  spiritual"  building 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390), and  wait  for 
the  glory  prepared  for  those  who  love  God.  My  love 
is  ever  flowing  to  you. 

Your  faithful  co-worker, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  3,  1909. 

Committee  of  Inquiry,  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  of 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 
Beloved  Brethren: — 

You  are  aware  that  I  immediately  complied  with  the 
orders  of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  I  shall  continue  to  watch, 
work,  pray,  and  love  God  and  humanity,  as  I  have  done 
day  and  night  for  many  years.  I  am,  therefore,  not 
questioning  them,  nor  referring  to  them  in  any  of  my 
statements,  but  shall  confine  myself  to  the  work  of 
this  local  branch  church,  and  to  the  conditions  which 
have  been  existing  here. 

The  privilege  of  talking  with  a  few  of  my  advanced 
students,  who  were  practitioners  in  the  Reading  Room, 
and  who  were  daily  engaged  in  doing  the  healing  work, 
was  sanctioned  by  the  following  words  of  our  Leader, 
in  Retrospection  and  Introspection,  page  85 : 

Teachers  of  Christian  Science  will  find  it  advisable  to 
band  together  their  students  into  associations,  to  continue 
38 


594  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

the  organization  of  churches,  and  at  present  they  can 
employ  any  other  organic  operative  method  that  may 
commend  itself  as  useful  to  the  Cause  and  beneficial  to 
mankind. 

Therefore  I  had  visited  with  these  workers  and  shown 
them  the  necessity  of  being  awake  to  the  subtler  forms 
of  evil,  the  powerlessness  of  occultism  when  met  with 
Truth  and  Love,  and  also  the  claim  of  evil,  "deceived 
and  deceiving"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  451). 

I  realized  the  solemn  responsibility  of  handling 
malicious  animal  magnetism  for  the  defense  and  pro- 
tection of  one's  self  and  for  humanity.  In  Miscellaneous 
Writings,  pages  114  and  115,  our  Leader  says: 

The  teacher  in  Christian  Science  who  does  not  specially 
instruct  his  pupils  how  to  guard  against  evil  and  its  silent 
modes,  and  to  be  able,  through  Christ,  the  living  Truth, 
to  protect  themselves  therefrom,  is  committing  an  offense 
against  God  and  humanity. 

. 
It  is  always  painful  to  recall  the  treachery  and  be- 
trayal which  are  the  qualities  of  the  carnal  man.  But, 
unless  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice  self,  and  incur  "the 
exalting  ordeal  of  sin's  revenge  on  its  destroyer  "  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  48),  we  are  disobedient  to  the  command 
of  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  says: 
"When  error  confronts  you,  withhold  not  the  rebuke  or 
the  explanation  which  destroys  error"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  452).  And  again  our  dear  Leader  says: 
"Truth,  through  her  eternal  laws,  unveils  error.  .  .  . 
Even  the  disposition  to  excuse  guilt  or  to  conceal  it 
is  punished"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  542).  And 
from  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  118,  we  read: 
"However  keenly  the  human  affections  yearn  to  for- 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  595 

give  a  mistake,  and  pass  a  friend  over  it  smoothly,  one's 
sympathy  can  neither  atone  for  error,  advance  individ- 
ual growth,  nor  change  this  immutable  decree  of  Love: 
1  Keep  My  commandments. ' " 

Here  I  must  refer  to  some  of  the  statements  which 
have  been  made.  One  is,  that  I  treat  people  to  injure 
them  without  their  knowledge  or  consent,  which  in 
Christian  Science  is  designated  as  malpractice.  I  have 
never,  knowingly  nor  intentionally,  treated  a  person 
without  his  knowledge  or  consent,  to  control  him  or  to 
injure  him,  or  to  deprive  him  of  his  self-government. 
I  have  always  taught  my  students  so  to  spiritualize 
their  thought  that  the  influence  of  their  treatment 
would  be  always  to  bless  and  to  heal. 

In  Science  and  Health,  page  94,  we  read:  "Our 
Master  easily  read  the  thoughts  of  mankind,  and  this 
insight  better  enabled  him  to  direct  those  thoughts 
aright."  Disciples  of  Christ  to-day,  as  taught  by  our 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  are  striving  to  possess  the  Mind  of 
Christ,  and  thus  to  be  able  to  heal  all  manner  of  sin  and 
disease  through  the  power  of  Truth.  Our  beloved 
Leader  has  followed  his  example,  and  has  personally 
done  the  mighty  works  which  he  did.  She  is  now 
leavening  universal  consciousness  through  the  power  of 
Spirit,  which  she  reflects. 

Humanity  must  be  educated  to  discern  and  distin- 
guish the  difference  between  Christian  Science  Mind- 
healing  and  mental  malpractice,  whether  innocent, 
ignorant,  or  malicious.  A  true  Christian  Science  practi- 
tioner consecrates  himself  to  the  service  of  God,  to  the 
healing  of  the  sick  and  the  reforming  of  the  sinner. 
He  constantly  turns  away  from  the  contemplation  of 
the  material  world,  the  flesh  and  evil,  to  imbibe  more 
of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  that  he  may  gain  power  on  the 


596  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

side  of  divine  Mind-healing.  Our  Leader  says,  "His 
thoughts  can  only  reflect  peace,  good  will  towards  men, 
health,  and  holiness"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol. 
ix.,  p.  88). 

He  never  directs  his  thought  to  any  one,  save  to 
bless  and  to  protect  that  one  from  the  evil  mental 
forces  which  threaten  to  injure  him,  or  to  harm  others 
through  him.  The  keen  intuitions  of  the  advanced 
Christian  Scientist  detect  the  operation  of  malicious 
forces.  A  scientific,  spiritual  thought  blesses  all  and 
injures  none.  The  Christian  Scientist  enlists  to  destroy 
evil,  sickness,  and  death.  The  activities  of  Truth 
do  not  destroy  man;  they  efface  sin,  and  finally  its 
embodiment,  and  reveal  the  real  man,  God's  image  and 
likeness. 

Mrs.  Eddy  defines  malpractice  in  Miscellaneous 
Writings,  page  31 : 

Mental  malpractice  is  a  bland  denial  of  Truth,  and  is  the 
antipode  of  Christian  Science.  To  mentally  argue  in  a 
manner  that  can  disastrously  affect  the  happiness  of  a  fel- 
low-being— harm  him  morally,  physically,  or  spiritually — 
breaks  the  Golden  Rule  and  subverts  the  scientific  laws  of 
being. 

To  think  a  name,  or  speak  aloud  a  name  in  a  treat- 
ment, reaches  the  patient,  and  a  Christian  Scientist 
reflecting  only  Truth  and  Love  or  voicing  God,  good, 
can  only  bless  the  patient  or  friend.  To  address  a 
person  whom  you  know  to  be  innocently,  ignorantly,  or 
maliciously  working  to  hinder  your  progress  in  Chris- 
tian Science,  or  who  is  invading  your  field  of  labor,  or 
manipulating  your  students  or  patients  and  endeavoring 
to  remove  your  landmarks, — to  address  the  person  by 
name  with  the  arguments  of  Truth,  the  omnipotence 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  597 

of  good  and  the  powerlessness  of  evil,  is  requisite  in 
self-defense. 

Unless  a  Christian  Scientist  is  armed  with  the  quali- 
ties of  the  Christ-mind,  he  cannot  successfully  cope 
with  a  malicious  mortal  mind.  His  only  work  is  to 
convince  himself,  and  this  patient  or  person  who  is  an 
avenue  for  error,  that  error  is  powerless  to  harm,  and 
that  malicious  mortal  mind  in  all  its  forms  is  futile 
to  injure  or  to  destroy  good.  Our  Leader  says,  "You 
command  the  situation  if  you  understand  that  mortal 
existence  is  a  state  of  self-deception  and  not  the  truth 
of  being"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  403). 

The  Christian  Scientist  should  be  governed  by 
Principle,  by  the  unerring  law  of  God.  A  true  teacher 
in  Christian  Science  turns  his  students  to  Principle,  and 
away  from  physical  personality  and  conforms  strictly 
with  the  requirements  of  Article  xxvi,  Section  2,  of  the 
Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  which  reads: 

Care  of  Pupils.  Sect.  2.  Christian  Scientists  who  are 
teachers  shall  carefully  select  for  pupils  such  only  as  have 
good  past  records  and  promising  proclivities  toward  Chris- 
tian Science.  A  teacher  shall  not  assume  personal  control 
of,  or  attempt  to  dominate  his  pupils,  but  he  shall  hold  him- 
self morally  obligated  to  promote  their  progress  in  the  under- 
standing of  divine  Principle,  not  only  during  the  class  term 
but  after  it,  and  to  watch  well  that  they  prove  sound  in 
sentiment  and  practical  in  Christian  Science.  He  shall 
persistently  and  patiently  counsel  his  pupils  in  conformity 
with  the  unerring  laws  of  God,  and  shall  enjoin  them  habit- 
ually to  study  the  Scriptures  and  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  a  help  thereto. 

The  Mother  Church  is  very  dear  to  every  Christian 
Scientist,  and  when  thinking  or  speaking  of  it  we  are 


598  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

mentally  in  it.  The  Mother  Church  edifice  is  a  sym- 
bol of  Mind.  As  we  rise  into  "wholly  spiritual" 
consciousness,  the  symbol  disappears,  revealing  the 
Church  Triumphant,  the  "house  not  made  with 
hands."  The  Master  said,  "The  kingdom  of  God  is 
within  you. " 

This  branch  of  The  Mother  Church  contributed 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  thousand  dollars  to  The 
Mother  Church  Extension,  which  evidences  its  love  for, 
and  part  in  the  possession  of  this  symbol  of  the  Church 
Triumphant.  The  Publishing  House  is  another  type 
of  Mind,  and  belongs  to  all  Christian  Scientists  who 
contributed  toward  it,  and  who  love  the  message  it  is 
designed  to  publish.  We  possess  our  part  in  its  mental 
structure,  and  we  go  in  and  out  reflecting  Truth  and 
Love  which  guard  and  protect  its  interests. 

For  twenty-five  years  I  have  practised  Christian 
Science  Mind-healing.  I  am  a  Christian  Science 
Doctor,  with  the  degree  of  C.  S.  D.  I  have  healed  all 
manner  of  diseases  through  understanding  the  illusion 
of  material  phenomena  and  the  demonstration  of 
spiritual  thought-force.  My  practising  students  are 
mental  metaphysicians.  I  was  shocked  at  the  develop- 
ment of  the  claim  of  cancer,  tumor,  and  other  diseases, 
which  seemed  to  be  increasing  and  which  the  practi- 
tioners were  not  healing  satisfactorily.  I  detected  in 
the  students  this,  that  while  they  admitted  that  there 
was  "no  life,  truth,  intelligence,  nor  substance  in  matter  " 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  468),  they  had  not  made  unreal 
their  belief  in  the  organs  of  a  material  body. 

I  saw  that  beliefs,  false  thoughts,  floating  in  the  mental 
atmosphere,  such  as  malice,  fear,  envy,  jealousy, 
revenge,  lust,  and  hypocrisy  found  "unsuspected  lodg- 
ment" (Science  and  Health,  p.  235)  in  different  organs 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  599 

of  the  human  anatomy  or  body.  To  point  out  these 
receptacles  for  diseased  beliefs,  to  talk  them  up,  in 
order  to  talk  them  down  and  out,  and  make  them  unreal 
as  matter,  was  my  object.  I  therefore  began  to  take 
up  the  names  that  Adam  gave  to  his  mechanism,  and 
to  rob  mortal  mind  of  its  hidden  lodging-places  for 
propagating  and  bringing  forth  disease  and  the  creations 
of  material  sense.  I  attacked  these  false  concepts  as 
unreal  and  showed  that,  in  their  places,  were  qualities 
of  God.  I  declared  for  the  nothingness,  the  falsity  of 
material  generation  and  the  greatness,  allness  of  the 
spiritual  man  and  spiritual  generation  and  universe. 

This  attack  upon  Adam,  or  the  carnal  man,  was 
necessary.  My  object  was  to  destroy  these  time- 
honored  gods  of  material  generation,  and  to  lift  the 
students'  thought  to  the  spiritual  idea  and  spiritual 
generation,  which  is  the  substance-idea  back  of  the 
false  consciousness '  which  is  embodied  in  organic 
matter.  The  words  of  our  Master,  "For  which  of  those 
[my  good]  works  do  ye  stone  me?"  apply  to  this  experi- 
ence. I  desire  to  note  here,  that  the  students  who  com- 
prehended these  lessons  have  been  greatly  exalted  and 
have  done  quicker  and  better  healing  since. 

From  this  higher  realization  we  shall  fulfil  our 
Leader's  injunction  and  build  "on  a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other."  We  shall 
reveal  our  spiritual  individuality  in  God's  image  and 
likeness.  We  have  already  had  glorious  glimpses  of  the 
"new  heaven"  and  the  "new  earth,"  and  have  heard 
a  great  voice  out  of  heaven  saying : 

.. 

The  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men,  and  He  will  dwell 
with  them,  and  they  shall  be  His  people,  and  God  Himself 
shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God. 


600  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

And  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes ;  and 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying, 
neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain :  for  the  former  things 
[thoughts]  are  passed  away  (Rev.  xxi.,  3,  4). 

Our  Leader  says: 

Then  thought  gently  whispers:  "Come  hither!  Arise 
from  your  false  consciousness  into  the  true  sense  of  Love, 
and  behold  the  Lamb's  wife, — Love  wedded  to  its  own 
spiritual  idea. "  Then  cometh  the  marriage  feast,  for  this 
revelation  will  destroy  forever  the  physical  plagues  imposed 
by  material  sense  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  574,  575). 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

m  I  xt      „       , 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 

November  6,  1909. 

To  the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors,  of 
The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  Mass. 
Dear  Brethren: — x 

In  reply  to  your  letter  of  November  3rd,  I  must 
repeat  that  I  have  complied  strictly  with  your  orders 
not  to  teach  Christian  Science  nor  to  convene  nor  attend 
my  Students'  Association.  I  have  dropped  all  my 
practice  and  have  avoided  seeing  students,  as  far  as 
I  could  without  being  discourteous  and  rude,  in  this 
hour.  During  the  services  in  the  church  I  have  fre- 
quently taken  my  car  and  kept  out  until  the  hour  was 
past  when  students  might  call  to  see  me,  or  the  inmates 
of  my  home. 

My  time  is  spent  in  reading  and  studying  the  Bible, 
Science  and  Health,  and  our  beloved  Leader's  other 
works,  and  the  Church  Manual.     As  I  wrote  you  I 

1 1  obeyed,  to  the  letter,  constituted  authority,  well  knowing  that 
God  would  deliver  me  if  I  offered  no  resistance. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  601 

should  continue  to  pray,  so  I  do.     I  am  obedient  to 

your  orders  to  the  extreme,  as  my  household  will  testify. 

I  would  be  glad  if  you  would  explain  to  me  what,  in 

my  letter,   appears  to  you  to  indicate  disobedience. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  13,  1909. 

My  dear  Mr.  D  .   .    .    : — 1 

I  go  to  Boston  to-morrow  to  appear  before  the  Board 
of  Directors  on  Monday  morning  at  nine  o'clock. 

I  have  hesitated  to  intrude  upon  your  time  even  for  a 
moment,  but  the  seriousness  of  the  hour  impels  me  to 
write  you.  The  enclosed  letter  from  one  of  the  teachers 
of  a  well-known  girls'  school  in  Massachusetts,  is 
self-explanatory. 

If  I  did  not  know  that  the  "enemy  of  good"  {Chris- 
tian Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910)  reverses  Truth, 
and  that  its  lies  are  too  evil  to  do  anything  but  to 
destroy  evil,  I  should  never  attempt  to  cross  swords  with 
the  "dragon."  Our  beloved  Leader's  words,  "But 
why  should  we  stand  aghast  at  nothingness?"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  563),  give  me  courage. 

My  love  and  loyalty  for  my  Leader,  and  my  under- 
standing of  her  teachings  is  all  that  is  on  trial.  I  can 
go  "to  the  dungeon  or  to  the  scaffold"  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  99)  in  demonstration  of  the  ever-present 
Christ,  but  I  can  never  be  separated  from  my  beloved 
Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  She  has  put 
in  my  hands  all  that  I  need,  in  order  to  contradict  the 
statement  of  the  adversary;  that  she  repudiates  me 
as  a  loyal  student  and  my  interpretation  of  Christian 

1  To  Mr.  A  ...  H  ...  D  ...  ,  Chestnut  Hill,  Brookline,  Mass. 


602  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

Science.  I  have  numerous  letters  from  my  Teacher 
and  Leader,  letters  of  counsel,  of  advice,  of  commenda- 
tion. These  letters  are  my  joy  and  consolation  at  this 
hour.  I  have  never  shown  them  even  to  our  Com- 
mittee of  Inquiry,  because  each  member  knows  that  I 
am  loving,  loyal,  and  obedient  to  my  Leader. 

But,  in  laying  certain  of  these  letters  before  the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  I  do  not  feel  that  I 
am  making  them  public  or  transgressing  Article  xxii., 
Section  8  of  the  Manual,  for  as  only  the  members  of 
this  Board  are  permitted  to  be  present,  according  to 
Article  xi.,  Section  5,  the  privacy  of  these  letters 
is  assured.1 

I  shall  be  at  the  Touraine  Monday  should  you  wish 
to  communicate  with  me. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  22,  1909. 

Mr.  J.  V.  DiTTEMORE,  Secretary, 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors, 
Boston,  Mass. 
Dear  Sir: — 

I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  18th  instant,  advis- 
ing me  that  my  name  has  been  dropped  from  the  roll 
of  membership  of  The  Mother  Church.  I  note  with 
due  appreciation  the  hope  expressed  in  the  concluding 
words,  "that  your  future  course  of  action  may  show 
your  desire  to  again  become  eligible  for  membership 
in  this  Church. " 

I  assure  you  that  I  shall  not  neglect  any  opportunity 

'These  letters  from  Mrs.  Eddy  to  me  were  not  exhibited,  because  there 
were  others  present  at  the  trial  besides  the  Directors. 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  603 

to  draw  nearer  to  God,  and  to  follow  my  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  into  the  "full  understanding  of  the  divine 
Principle  which  triumphs  over  death"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  31). 

Kindly  convey  to  each  of  the  Directors  my  sincere 
wish  that  we  may  all  assist  and  rejoice  her,  by  rising  to 
this  height  of  realization  and  demonstration.  In  such 
case  there  will  be  no  possibility  of  continued  separation. 
The  "unity  of  good"  will  have  destroyed  the  error 
that  has  occasioned  the  present  action. 

Meanwhile  I  wish  for  each  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  a  continued  increase  of  fidelity  and  fruitful 
service  to  our  beloved  Leader,  and  to  the  Cause  of 
Christian  Science,  of  which  she  is  the  Discoverer, 
Founder,  and  perpetual  Head. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  22,  1909. 

The  Board  of  Trustees, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 
Dear  Brethren:— 

You  concluded  recently  a  comprehensive  inquiry, 
and  your  report  made  my  continued  membership  in 
this  branch  church  seem  suitable  and  proper.  Since 
then  I  have  been  advised  that  my  name  has  been 
dropped  from  the  membership  roll  of  The  Mother 
Church.  As  this  may  place  the  members  of  your  Board, 
of  which  I  am  a  member,  in  an  embarrassing  position, 
I  have  decided  to  resign  from  membership  in  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  and  I  now 
request  that  my  name  be  dropped  from  the  membership 
roll.     I  shall  continue  to  make  it  my  sole  effort  to  obey 


604  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

Principle  and  to  follow  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy. 

In  taking  this  step,  I  desire  to  thank  the  members  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  for  all  they  have  done,  during 
past  years,  to  serve  God  and  our  Leader,  through  the 
upbuilding  of  this  church.  There  is  no  robbery  in 
divine  Mind.  Goodness  is  its  own  paymaster.  There- 
fore you  are  already  abundantly  recompensed  for  past 
services,  and  can  never  lose  the  reward  of  well  doing. 

I  am  informed  that  some  objection  was  made,  during 
the  recent  inquiry,  to  the  continued  payment  of  the 
annual  sum  voted  to  me  in  recognition  of  my  services  to 
this  church.  Money  is  neither  useful  nor  desirable  to 
me  unless  it  comes  as  a  grateful  recognition  of  services 
rendered  to  those  from  whom  it  comes.  It  was  my 
purpose,  therefore,  at  a  suitable  time,  to  suggest  the 
discontinuance  of  this  payment.  In  view  of  the  recent 
action  by  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  it  would 
seem  undesirable  that  this  payment  be  continued ;  even 
though  all  the  members  of  this  branch  church  were 
united,  as  in  former  years,  in  giving  this  proof  of 
gratitude  for  what  I  have  done,  and  am  doing  for  them 
and  for  this  church. 

For  establishing  this  branch  church  more  securely 
as  a  part  of  the  Mother  Vine,  and  for  making  it  even 
more  fruitful  than  in  the  past,  greater  consecration  on 
the  part  of  all  the  members  is  necessary.  This  greater 
consecration  will  be  manifested  in  higher  realization 
and  demonstration  of  Truth  and  Love.  In  this  work, 
the  Bible,  Science  and  Health,  The  Mother  Church 
Manual,  and  other  writings  of  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  are  a  "sufficient  guide  to  eternal 
Life"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  497). 

I  make  this  simple  request,  that  the  Trustees,  and 


Letters  to  Church  Officials  605 

also  the  members  of  this  church,  will  constantly  listen 
for  our  Leader's  voice,  impersonally,  through  devout 
prayer  and  through  the  proper  study  of  her  writings. 
Following  her  "as  she  follows  Christ"  (Message  for 
iqoi,  p.  70),  you  cannot  lose  the  way  to  heaven,  har- 
mony, eternal  oneness  with  God. 

Faithfully  in  Truth  and  Love, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

RESOLUTION 

OF 

THE   BOARD   OF   TRUSTEES 

OF 
FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST,  NEW  YORK  CITY, 

November  24,  1909 

Resolved,  That  we  accept  with  unfeigned  regret,  and 
only  at  her  urgent  request,  the  resignation  of  Mrs.  Augusta 
E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D.,  as  a  member  of  this  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  her  official  relations,  Mrs.  Stetson  has  given  us  service 
for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  effort  to  further  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science  in  this  community.  Whoever 
knows  anything  of  the  progress  of  the  movement,  in  the 
period  covered  by  these  years,  is  aware  that,  so  far  as  this 
branch  church  is  concerned,  she  has  been  beyond  all  com- 
parison the  foremost  contributor  to  the  labors  required  for 
the  results  accomplished,  and  that  the  cardinal  precept  of 
her  teaching  and  example  has  always  been,  as  it  is  now,  that 
of  unswerving  loyalty  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  and  to  her  teachings. 

Both  from  the  standpoint  of  material  achievement,  as 
well  as  from  that  of  spiritual  attainment,  she  has  left  the 
evidence  of  her  untiring  devotion,  in  the  structure  which 
houses  this  congregation,  in  the  large  body  of  adherents 


606  Letters  to  Church  Officials 

which  assembles  here  regularly  for  worship,  and  above  all 
in  the  spiritual  growth  of  the  membership  of  this  church. 
But  for  the  inspiration  of  her  faith  and  the  stimulus  of  her 
high  and  earnest  purpose,  none  of  these  results  would  have 
been  attained  in  any  such  measure.  For  ourselves,  there- 
fore, as  Trustees,  we  rejoice  in  the  work  which  she  has  done, 
we  are  grateful  in  that  we  have  been  permitted  to  share  the 
work  with  her  as  co-laborers,  and  we  desire  to  record  our 
recognition  of  the  great  spiritual  blessings  which  have  come 
to  us  in  official  association  with  her. 

E.  F.  Hatfield,  Chairman. 

John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk. 


. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

LETTERS  TO  FRIENDS,  FELLOW- WORKERS, 
AND  STUDENTS 


If  I  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels,  but  have  not  love, 
I  am  become  sounding  brass,  or  a  clanging  cymbal. 

And  if  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed  the  poor,  and  if  I  give  my  body 
to  be  burned,  but  have  not  love,  it  profiteth  me  nothing. 

I  Corinthians,  xiii.,  I,  3.     (Revised  Version.) 

Understanding  the  control  which  Love  held  over  all,  Daniel  felt  safe 
in  the  lions'  den,  and  Paul  proved  the  viper  to  be  harmless. — Science 
and  Health,  p.  514. 

Winter  Hill,  Somerville,  Mass., 
January  12,  1888. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  good  letter  is  before  me.  I  needed  no  assur- 
ance of  your  love  for  me,  for  I  feel  it  always.  You  are 
God's  child  and  He  is  Love — therefore  you  reflect  love 
to  me  and  to  all.  Truth  has  anchored  you  to  the  rock, 
Christ,  and  though  the  waves  of  error  may  surge  below, 
you  are  safe  on  the  eternal  foundation.  I  was  obliged 
to  come  home  to  Boston  on  business.  It  was  peremp- 
tory, but  I  had  no  idea  of  not  returning  sooner,  though 
I  felt  I  could  not  go  back  to  New  York,  for  I  had  not 
enough  practice  to  warrant  the  expense  there,  and  I 
am  too  independent  to  occupy  those  lovely  rooms  and 
allow  Mrs.  K  ...  to  pay  for  them. 

607 


608  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

My  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says  that  I  must  take  the 
pulpit  when  I  return,  so  I  must  be  economical  and  help 
pay  for  the  hall  in  which  we  will  hold  services.  I  hope 
I  will  have  practice  enough  to  defray  my  expenses  in. 
that  city  of  great  demands.  I  shall  find  something 
small  and  reasonable,  and  go  out  to  my  patients  until 
I  can  afford  an  office.  I  do  not  think  Mrs  K.  .  .  feels 
any  worse  about  my  leaving  her  home,  than  I  do  to 
leave  it,  for  I  have  been  very  happy  with  her  and  Mrs. 
Z.  .  .  .  I  shall  go  right  there  when  I  return — then 
look  about  for  a  modest  room.  It  really  makes  me 
lonely  to  think  of  going  elsewhere,  but  I  must  not  mur- 
mur. I  must  not  have  such  a  beautiful  home,  until 
Love  gives  it  to  me  for  my  services  to  sick  and  sinning 
humanity. 

I  am  very  happy.  My  home  here  in  Winter  Hill, 
with  all  my  dear  ones,  is  delightful,  but  my  Leader 
desires  me  to  work  in  New  York  City,  and  I  shall  do 
the  best  I  can. 

In  some  way,  I  will  be  able  to  preach  as  Mrs.  Eddy 
desires  me  to  do,  and  to  remain  in  New  York  this  winter, 
even  though  without  salary  and  perhaps  with  few 
patients.  God  will  provide  for  me  she  says,  and  I  must 
trust.     Pioneers  must  labor  and  wait. 

Give  my  love  to  Mrs.  K.  .  .  ,  and  tell  her  that  I  will 
soon  be  with  her.  Remember  me  to  Mrs.  Z .  .  .  ,  and 
for  your  own  dear  self  accept  much  love.  It  is  over- 
flowing to  all  the  faithful,  and  for  you  in  particular, 
because  you  love  and  serve  God. 

Do  not  mind  your  indebtedness,  I  know  that  will  be 
all  right.     Send  me  strong  thoughts  of  Truth  and  Love. 
Lovingly  in  Truth, 
Yours  always, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  609 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
January  24,  1893. 

My  dear  Sister: — 

You  are  indeed  sowing  the  seed  of  Truth  and  Love 
and  you  will  reap  a  plentiful  harvest.  All  that  we  sow, 
we  reap.  So  look  to  it  well,  dear  heart,  that  your 
thoughts  reflect  the  divine  Mind.  We  all  have  to 
watch  lest  the  adversary  enter  and  sow  tares.  We  have 
to  stand  before  the  Lord,  and  there  alone  will  we  find 
the  angel,  who  will  remove  our  iniquity,  our  nothingness, 
and  take  away  our  filthy  garments,  mortal  thoughts. 
Stand  in  the  consuming  fire  of  His  love,  and  let  it 
destroy  all  the  chaff,  or  carnal  sense — the  sin  of  the 
belief  of  matter  as  substance,  or  as  anything  but  error, 
illusion — the  "talking,  lying  serpent"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  529),  the  carnal,  so-called  mind. 

We  want  only  the  true  consciousness,  the  image  and 
likeness  of  our  Father-Mother  God.  We  must  know 
but  one  Mind,  and  one  body — the  body  of  Christ,  of 
which  we  are  all  members.  We  want  to  see  the  spiritual 
universe,  which  expresses  God,  and  His  idea, — man. 
In  this  understanding  how  close  is  our  relation  to  God! 
To  let  Him  guide  and  govern  is  to  rest  and  reflect  His 
omnipotence  and  omnipresence.  Worry  and  anxious 
care  come  from  our  false  sense,  and  should  cease. 

I  am  sure  that  you  will  do  good  work  wherever  you 
are,  dear.  Think  and  express  only  the  true  and  real. 
Do  not  rehearse  unpleasant  experiences,  unless  you 
desire  to  suffer  a  little  more.  Let  the  "old  man"  die. 
Put  on  the  "new  man, "  Mind  of  Christ. 

All  goes  well  here.  Our  article  is  finished.  It  is 
the  grandest  work  of  the  kind  ever  done  for  our  Leader, 
up  to  the  present  time,  and  I  am  so  happy  to  have  done 
it.  Thank  God  I  have  suffered  out  of  the  flesh  far 
enough  to  be  a  transparency  for  God,  to  reflect  His 
39 


610  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Word,  and  place  His  anointed  in  human  consciousness, 
in  this  Encyclopaedia  published  by  James  T.  White  & 
Co. 

Every  effort  of  the  enemy  proved  powerless  to  pre- 
vent this  biographical  sketch  of  our  Leader  from  appear- 
ing in  this  book.  The  sword  of  Truth  and  Love  was 
wielded  and  Truth  and  Love  have  won.  Every  point 
was  conceded,  and  at  last  Truth  vanquished  every 
objection,  and  prevailed.  It  seemed  to  cost  me  much, 
but  like  the  mother  who  has  been  "delivered  of  her 
sweet  promise"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  562),  I  rejoice 
and  forget  the  pangs  of  travail. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  coming,  if  the  dear 
Love  is  bringing  you.  Dear,  Mr.  F.  .  .  ,  your  hus- 
band, will  some  day  be  drawn  to  Christ  by  divine  Love. 
Be  faithful  to  him  in  giving  him  Truth.  Do  not  force 
it  upon  him.  He  must  be  allowed  to  take  it  as  he 
can  assimilate  it.  Milk  for  babes — strong  meat  for 
men. 

All  would  send  love  if  they  were  here.  I  go  home  to 
Boston,  and  to  Concord  next  week. 

Give  my  kind  regards  to  Mr.  F.  .  .  ,  and  believe 
me, 

Ever  yours  faithfully, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
143  West  48TH  Street,  June  7,  1897. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  letter  gives  the  true  tone.     Love  is  leading  you. 

You  are  doing  the  Father's  work,  and  He  will  give  you 

wisdom  and  strength  for  every  hour  and  every  demand. 

I  have  so  many  students  that  I  rejoice  that  I  am  able 

to   reach   them   impersonally.     I    cannot   write   them 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  6n 

personal  letters  unless  I  work  during  all  my  vacation 
(which  I  always  take  for  study),  therefore  I  cannot  give 
each  even  a  hurried  note.  I  shall  read  and  demonstrate 
and  commune  with  God,  and  gain  more  realization  of 
divine  Principle — Love — that  I  may  do  more  and  better 
spiritual  healing  next  year,  and  also  that  I  may  reflect 
spiritual  power  from  day  to  day  to  my  dear  lambkins 
and  to  poor  suffering  humanity  as  I  go  in  and  out  with 
them. 

I  know  that  you  are  faithful.  I  trust  you  implicitly. 
Christ  is  guiding  you,  and  you  are  subordinating  your 
human  self  to  the  divine.  The  world  will  soon  cry 
out  for  the  living  God,  and  humanity  will  find  health 
and  joy  in  Christ's  Christianity.  How  I  yearn  to  bring 
humanity  in  from  feeding  on  the  husks  which  the  swine 
refuse,  and  to  feed  all  on  the  milk  of  Truth  and  Love 
— Life  eternal. 

Be  meek,  dear.  You  do  nothing  except  by  reflection. 
God  and  you  cooperate  as  Principle  and  idea.  You 
reflect  eternal  Life  and  Love.  Read  and  demonstrate. 
Do  not  neglect  study  and  communion  with  God.  Get 
your  Bible  Lessons  faithfully.  They  cover  the  hour  and 
show  you  the  demands.  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  in  the 
early  fall.  We  will  resume  the  work  after  a  month's 
close  application  to  study  of  the  Bible  and  Science  and 
Health,  with  a  more  invulnerable  armor  than  ever  before. 
God  be  praised  for  Christian  Science,  and  for  our  God- 
anointed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  Christian  Science  will 
be  more  and  more  to  the  world  as  the  light  of  Truth 
grows  more  effulgent.  My  love  to  the  darling  children. 
Kindly  remember  me  to  Mr.  R.  .  .  ,  and  believe 
me, 

Ever  yours  in  Christ, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


612  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
July  22,  1897. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

While  reading  your  letter  I  had  a  good  laugh  at  your 
expense.  I  am  glad  that  error  tripped  you,  for  nothing 
makes  us  so  indignant  at  false  material  belief,  and  so 
humble  as  to  find  we  have  been  an  avenue  for  erring 
thoughts. 

I  have  been  tripped  once  since  I  came  from  Concord, 
and  have  rebuked  myself  every  hour  since.  We  should 
grow  self-righteous  if  we  did  not  make  an  occasional 
mistake.  You  never  made  trouble,  dear,  and  you 
never  will.     I  have  no  fear  for  you. 

The  hour  has  struck  when  we  are  stirred  to  the  depths 
by  Truth  and  Love,  and  are  being  tested.  See  that  you 
guard  yourself  against  a  tendency  to  personal  idolatry, 
and  human  pride.  Labor  to  destroy  self-love,  and  self- 
will.  Jealousy  seems  to  be  in  the  air,  and  many  are 
meeting  its  claims.  Watch,  for  the  hour  is  near  when 
the  bridegroom  will  call. 

We  must  get  our  dominion  over  the  material  world, 
the  fleshly  mind,  and  all  evil.  I  know  that  you  will 
crush  out  the  material  self  that  is  trying  to  hold  you  to 
this  dream,  and  would,  if  it  could,  deprive  you  of  your 
divine  birthright,  eternal  Life,  divine  consciousness. 
I  am  constantly  on  guard.  The  lie  is  active,  but  God 
guards  me  and  I  shall  win. 

Love  to  all.     All  send  you  much  love. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  22,  1899. 

My  dear  Sister: — 

Your  sweet  loving  note  seemed  to  me  a  tone  from 
the  great  heart  of  Love,  whose  divine  pulsation  reached 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  613 

me  and  gave  the  sense  of  Love's  peaceful  harmony. 
I  wonder  if  your  eyes  are  open  to  the  necessities  of  the 
hour.  Error  is  playing  its  final  losing  game,  and  Truth 
is  proving  Her  immutable  strength  and  firm  foundation. 
The  good  are  opposed  by  evil  in  this  crucial  hour,  and 
the  evil-doers  are  going  on  to  final  self-destruction — 
materiality. 

We,  who  are  in  the  front  ranks  and  have  stood  for 
years  as  standard  bearers,  know  the  hour,  and  stand 
with  eyes  to  the  heavens  and  face  invulnerable  to  the 
storm,  waiting  for  Love  to  deliver  Her  own,  and  for 
evil  to  destroy  itself  and  its  own.  There  is  need  of  much 
wisdom  and  love,  and  pitiful  patience  and  forbearance 
with  those  who  have  some  of  the  letter  of  Christian 
Science,  but  scarcely  an  iota  of  the  spirit,  which  to-day 
is  more  necessary  than  ever. 

I  grieve  when  I  see  "fools  rush  in"  to  decapitate  the 
sinner,  where  angels  would  wait  with  tears  and  prayers, 
to  destroy  the  sin  and  to  save  the  sinner.  I  find  that 
error  is  trying  to  blind  some  to  the  fact  that  they  are 
taking  personal  control  of  others'  students,  by  attempt- 
ing to  terrify  them  in  regard  to  their  teachers,  and 
the  influence  thus  gained  separates  them  from  their 
teachers,  and  turns  them  to  others  whose  "sheep" 
they  are  not.  It  is  a  test  for  students,  and  if  they  lose 
their  teacher's  voice  and  find  that  they  are  following 
an  "hireling,"  who  does  not  know  their  need  and  who 
has  not  enough  spiritual  discernment  to  see  the  wolf 
approaching,  then,  by  bitter  experience,  they  will  have 
to  learn  divine  order,  and  loyalty  to  Principle  and  idea. 

I  am  leaving  my  dear  students  in  A.  .  .  to  demon- 
strate for  themselves  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Bible, 
and  Science  and  Health.  By  this  I  mean  that  I  think 
of  them  as  Love's  ideas  and  leave  them  to  God,  since 


614  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

they  must  meet  this  test,  and  must  learn  to  perceive 
the  personal  control  which  is  being  held  over  them  by 
those  who,  by  making  them  afraid  of  their  teacher, 
try  to  turn  them.  I  know  this  is  only  the  influence 
of  error  working  through  Mrs.  D.  .  .  and  her  students, 
to  injure.  My  students  must  work  it  out  with  Principle 
for  I  shall  not  interfere  till  they  are  tested;  then,  if  I 
find  they  have  done  their  best  to  stand  and  be  loyal  to 
Principle,  to  their  great  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  me, 
as  their  teacher,  I  shall  come,  and  with  spiritual  power 
defend  them  from  those  who  would  destroy  them.  I 
know  that  God  will  do  His  work  and  will  move  me  to 
act  when  error  is  ripe  for  destruction. 

I  am  sure  my  dear  H.  .  .is  safe.  There  are  some  who 
cannot  be  moved.  I  saw  when  I  was  there  that  Mrs. 
D.  .  .  was  not  handling  error  with  Truth  and  Love — 
therefore  it  was  overcoming  her  and  she  did  not  know  it. 

Oh,  my  dear  student,  watch  as  never  before.  The 
battle  will  not  be  long.  It  is  nearing  its  end.  Let  us 
see  the  divine  order  which  our  Leader  has  established, 
and  follow  her  example.  I  had  two  long,  lovely  visits 
with  her  in  Concord  in  August.  I  felt  that  I  would  be 
more  patient  and  long-suffering  than  ever  with  my 
students  when  I  heard  how  she  had  tried  and  tried  to 
save  hers.  She  has  given  them  every  chance  to  reform, 
picking  them  up  when  they  fell,  and  standing  them  on 
their  feet,  only  to  see  them  overcome  again  by  the  same 
sin.  At  length  some  have  been  saved  by  overcoming 
sin,  while  others,  who  could  not  be  aroused,  went  back 
to  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt.  I  have  done  the  same  for 
my  students,  but  Mother's  long-suffering  and  forbear- 
ance are  beyond  all  I  ever  dreamed.  God  help  me  to  do 
my  whole  duty  to  those  whom  God  has  given  me:  never 
to  leave  one  struggling  student,  but  to  watch  and  pray 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  615 

till  he  is  either  saved,  or  leaves  me  because  he  cannot 
endure  Love's  rebuke  and  rod. 

I  know  that  your  sweet,  pure  nature  will  repel  any- 
mental  suggestion,  or  lying  argument,  or  claim  of 
hate  and  envy  from  the  malpractitioners.  God  will 
bring  my  dear  straying  student  to  Himself  in  His  time. 
Mrs.  D.  .  .  did  not  conquer  sin,  and  she  must  suffer 
till  she  turns  from  it.  I  love  her  but  I  hate  the  sin. 
Jesus  loved  good  and  hated  iniquity,  therefore  we  must 
deny  and  destroy  it  with  love.  I  must  leave  Mrs.  D. 
...  to  work  out  her  problem,  while  I  close  my  mental 
avenues  to  the  error  and  thereby  prevent  it  from  enter- 
ing my  consciousness. 

I  beg  you  will  pardon  this  scrawl.  I  am  writing 
in  such  a  hurry.  I  want  to  get  just  a  word  to  you 
immediately.  Now  know  that  the  evil,  which  many  are 
making  real,  is  powerless  if  you  meet  it  with  truth  and 
love.  God  is  supreme — is  All — and  evil  cannot  reverse 
Truth.  You  uncover  error  to  make  it  unreal.  Many 
uncover  it  and  then  continue  to  make  it  real.  Thus 
they  are  self-mesmerized.  I  hope  all  will  see  how  no 
one  can  rise  into  an  immortal  consciousness  while 
holding  sin  as  real  over  any  one,  or  believing  that  one 
is  both  mortal  and  immortal.  We  must  regard  evil 
as  impersonal,  then,  if  we  live  in  impersonal  good,  we 
shall  have  no  attraction  for  impersonal  evil,  and  thus 
shall  separate  ourselves  from  all  who  are  avenues  for 
so-called  evil,  the  lie  of  the  Adam-dream.  This  is 
to  "come out  from  among  them,  and  be  .  .  .  separate." 

I  hope  I  may  see  you  here  with  H.  .  .  this  winter. 
If  you  desire,  come  to  my  Quarterly  Students'  Meeting 
in  October. 

Ever  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


616  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

MESSAGE1 

Thy  Christmas  tree  hangs  heavy  laden 

With  gifts  far  more  precious  than  gold; 
Aye,  even  with  good  deeds  resplendent, 

Whose  numbers  will  never  be  told. 
How  blessed  to  know  that  thy  mission 

Is  to  minister  daily  to  those, 
Who,  in  the  swift  march  of  existence, 

Sink  down  'neath  the  weight  of  their  woes. 
Full  many  a  faint,  weary  flower 

Hath  been  with  new  vigor  supplied, 
Which,  but  for  thy  sweet  ministration, 

Might  long  since  have  faded  and  died. 
I  never  have  sought  thee,  and  found  thee 

Too  busy  to  lend  me  thine  ear; 
Or,  to  beam  with  a  sweet  smile  of  welcome, 

Which  could  not  but  fill  me  with  cheer. 
These  flowers,  so  seemingly  fragile, 

Are  yet  burden-bearers  for  me; 
Consenting  to  carry  a  message 

Of  love,  from  thy  student  to  thee. 

D.  F. 


REPLY  TO  THE  CHRISTMAS  POEM 

Yes,  my  Christmas  tree  hangs  heavy  laden 
With  treasures  more  precious  than  gold ; 

And  the  angels  unite  in  my  vespers, 
As  I  ponder  their  value  untold. 

Its  branches  are  weighted  with  pure  thoughts, 
Which  I  hung  one  by  one  on  Life's  tree; 

Till  the  sunshine  of  love-light  revealM 
These  jewels  of  Spirit  to  me. 

1  Verses  by  a  Student  sent  with  roses  on  Christmas  Day,  1899. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  617 

It  is  blessed  to  know  that  our  Saviour 

Has  called  me  to  gather  his  own ; 
To  watch,  and  to  guide,  and  present  them 

Each  a  perfect,  a  tried  living  stone. 


As  I,  faint  and  weary,  have  listened 

For  the  Shepherd's  voice,  far  on  the  height, 

I  have  heard  the  lone  mountain  lamb  bleating, 
And  have  tarried  to  give  it  Love's  light. 

I  have  oft  heard  the  voice  of  the  Master, 
Calling,  "Lovest  thou  me — Feed  my  sheep," 

And  I  quickened  my  earnest  endeavor 
Up  the  mountain  path,  rugged  and  steep. 


Not  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  if  offered, 
Could  purchase  one  jewel  from  me, 

Which  I  found  in  the  rough,  and  have  polished, 
Till  its  prism  hues  flash  from  my  tree. 


There  is  one  minor  chord  in  my  anthem, 
But  which  Love  is  attuning  each  day, 

As  I  think  of  the  gems  that  have  fallen, 
Ere  Love's  minstrel  had  finished  her  lay. 


Yes,  my  Christmas  tree  is  heavy  laden, 
But  its  branches  are  mighty  to  hold 

Every  gem,  which  the  dear  Love  has  given, 
Every  wanderer  once  in  my  fold. 


6i8  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

The  flowers  so  pure  and  so  fragrant, 

Brought  quickly  your  message  to  me, 
And  I  forward  my  love,  on  the  wings  of  a  dove, 
My  dear  faithful  student  to  thee. 

A.  E.  S. 
December  27,  1899. 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
March  29,  1900. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Just  a  line  to  tell  you  that  I  have  sat  as  still  as  a 
mouse  in  your  dress  for  two  days,  and  have  not  let  it 
drop  in  the  dust.  I  have  taken  the  very  best  care  of 
it,  while  feeling  so  satisfied  with  my  elegant  costume, 
that  I  forget  it  is  not  mine.  Really  I  consider  this  one 
of  the  greatest  boons  I  ever  received.  Error  would 
have  sent  me  to  the  Communion  service  a  reproach  to 
the  Cause  for  lack  of  harmony  in  my  wardrobe,  but 
Love  reflected  Herself  in  you,  dear  H.  .  .  ,  and  I 
am  all  right.  It  is  wonderful  how  well  your  gown  fits 
me. 

Now  dear,  so  much  for  my  externals.  My  thoughts 
fly  to  you  and  yours  in  your  home.  I  feel  I  have  been 
a  long  time  from  my  flock.  I  shall  not  get  home  till 
Saturday. 

Be  strong  in  your  understanding  that  Love  rules, 
and  that  all  dominion  is  yours.  I  feel  meek  and  humble 
when  I  think  of  my  blessed  students  whom  God  has 
given  me.  I  rejoice  that  I  can  work  day  and  night  for 
them,  even  though  I  have  no  time  to  properly  clothe 
my  corporeality  and  had  to  borrow  your  gown  to 
go  to  Communion.  I  shall  work  more  for  my  church 
than  ever  instead  of  less,  for  this  has  made  my  students 
faithful  and  strong. 

Give  much  love  to  your  dear  mother  and  A.  .  .   , 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  619 

and  to  your  husband  and  children,  and  with  devoted 
love  to  you,  I  am, 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  24,  1900. 

Beloved  Student: — 

You  are  "wise  unto  salvation."  "My  son  [daugh- 
ter], give  me  thine  heart"  is  God's  imperative  demand. 
"Son,  thou  art  ever  with  me,  and  all  that  I  have  is 
thine,"  is  the  assurance  of  our  loving  Father-Mother 
God.  God  gives  us  all  that  we  have,  and  when  He  says 
"build  Me  an  house,"  we  have  the  work  to  do  for  Him. 
"Thy  silver  and  thy  gold  is  Mine, "  saith  the  Lord. 

Oh!  if  the  world  only  knew  the  rich  mines  of  hidden 
treasure  in  spiritual  consciousness,  and  how  it  evolves 
things  for  our  use,  which  we  must  richly  enjoy,  there 
would  be  great  investments  in  the  stocks  and  bonds  of 
creative  Mind.  We  have  all  answered  to  God's  call, 
and  His  temple,  in  symbol,  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City,  will  be  built.  Thousands 
will  enter  its  gates  and  learn  of  immortality  here  on 
earth.  What  a  rich  reward  will  be  yours,  dearest! 
Dear  M  .  .  .  will  continue  to  be  seen,  and  heard,  and , 
felt  in  the  church  as  the  days  go  by,  as  we  lose  the 
finite  in  the  infinite. 

Love  and  gratitude  inexpressible  to  you  and  yours. 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72 nd  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  14,  1900. 

My  dear  Friend: — 

I  am  unable  to  give  you  the  desired  information.  I 
know  nothing  of  the  Field  there,  and  I  regard  your  cau- 


620  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

tion  as  most  wise.  I  find  great  pleasure  in  the  fact 
that  Love  and  Truth  are  omnipotent,  and  that  if  we 
trust  in  divine  Mind,  we  shall  be  saved  from  our  would- 
be  destroyers — evil,  evil  thinkers  and  doers.  My  work 
is  to  conquer  all  sin  in  myself  and  to  aid  others,  who 
appeal  to  me,  so  far  as  I  can.  God  takes  care  of  the 
evil-doer,  or  more  scientifically,  Truth,  like  the  light, 
puts  darkness,  or  evil,  to  flight  and  thus  error  destroys 
itself. 

I  discern,  through  spiritual  sense,  the  future  of 
Christian  Science — "the  survival  of  the  fittest,"  and 
I  behold  the  evil  thinker  and  doer  reaping  the  result 
of  false  thinking.  Through  spiritual  sense  I  perceive 
those  churches  disappear,  whose  shepherds  could  not 
quench  the  thirst  of  their  flocks,  when  the  demand  for 
pure  water  (true  Christian  Science),  was  made.  Those 
who  were  led  to  the  fountain  of  living  waters  by  their 
shepherds,  teachers,  are  safe  in  the  ark  of  spiritual 
understanding,  and  are  awaiting  the  reappearing  of 
Christ  through  woman — our  beloved  Leader. 

Thus  we  must  work  and  wait  God's  time  of  sifting 
the  wheat  from  the  tares,  and  we  must  be  careful  not 
to  attempt  to  steady  the  ark  of  spiritual  progress. 

I  am  glad  that  Love  spoke  through  me  to  you.      I  love 
divinely.     This  I  know.     I  must  fulfil  the  law  of  Love. 
Yours  in  Christ, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

24  West  72ND  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  14,  1901. 

My  beloved  Valentine, 

Individual  and  Collective: — x 
How  can  I  choose  my  Valentine  when  each  dear  one 

1  Written  for  a  Valentine  party  of  young  people,  Christian  Scientists, 
at  Brooklyn,  and  sent  by  me  in  lieu  of  my  presence. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  621 

is  to  me  "altogether  lovely"  and  the  aggregate  is  God's 
own  body  or  Christ,  and  we  are  all  "members  in  particu- 
lar"? How  can  I  find  sufficient  reflection  of  the  heart 
of  Love  to  reflect  to  each  of  you  a  share,  to  unite  each 
in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  and  bind  you  together  in  the 
bonds  of  Mind,  till  you  all  respond  to  the  pulsation  of 
the  ever-present  Father-Mother  Love?  I  hold  you 
to-night  in  the  unity  of  good.  You  unite  with  me  in  the 
love  of  Christian  Science,  and  in  the  peace  and  joy  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  which  is  ever  with  all  who  love  and  obey 
God. 

Let  each  strive  to  see  the  other  as  spiritual,  the  mani- 
festation of  God,  and  listen  to  our  beloved  Leader's 
latest  words.  Shut  the  door  of  your  thought  on  all  that 
is  not  Truth  and  Love.  Love  is  God,  and  God  is  good. 
We  are  good  and  true  and  loving — because  God  is  the 
only  source  of  our  being.  Be  ye  perfect.  Be  happy, 
sinless,  and  harmless,  and  Christ  will  dwell  in  your  midst 
to-night  and  will  fill  your  dear  hearts  with  innocent 
pleasures  and  heavenly  unity.  Legions  of  angels  fill 
your  environment  and  could  your  spiritual  eyes  be 
opened,  you  would  see  the  heavenly  hosts  which  con- 
stitute the  spiritual  universe.  There  is  no  other  uni- 
verse. Your  ears  would  hear  the  grand  Te  Deum  of 
rejoicing,  because  so  many  of  you  have  turned  your 
faces  to  Christ,  and  are  coming  into  the  boundless 
bliss  and  immortality  which  Love  has  prepared  for  you. 
Please  sing  for  me  "Shepherd,  show  me  how  to  go" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  397),  and  realize  that  in 
those  words  our  dear  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  speaks,  and 
let  her  be  our  precious  Valentine. 

Lovingly,  ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


622  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

143  West  48TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  5,  1901. 

My  dear  Miss  C  .    .    .   : — 

Your  letters  should  have  been  answered  sooner — 
but  you  know  something  of  my  work,  and  will  excuse 
me.  I  have  carefully  considered  your  request  in  regard 
to  your  church  membership,  and  I  think  it  is  best  for 
you  to  be  a  member  where  you  reside. 

You  will  feel  that  you  belong  to  the  body  there,  and 
it  is  right  for  you  to  tender  your  resignation  from  this 
church.  The  Clerk  will  send  you  a  letter,  and  I  am 
sure  that  you  will  do  a  great  work  for  the  Master  in  that 
field.  We  are  getting  on  in  a  wonderful  way.  It  is 
seemingly  a  very  straight  and  narrow  one,  but  the  dear 
ones  are  walking  in  it  bravely  and  fearlessly,  and  the 
growth  in  realization  is  marked.  Good  is  our  God, 
and  Love  enfolds  us.  We  just  reflect  and  reflect  and 
reflect  divine  Love,  but  what  a  rod  Love  is  to  the  error 
in  ourselves  and  in  others.  Nevertheless  we  rejoice 
in  it,  and  work,  and  some  day  we  shall  hear,  "Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father." 

I  send  you  much  love,  and  will  always  be  glad  to 
see  you.  Stand  for  Truth  and  Love,  but  stand  in  meek- 
ness, looking  always  to  the  source  of  all  things — God, 
our  Father- Mother  Love. 

I  am  ever  your  sister  in  the  bonds  of  Christ, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  31,  1903. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  few  lines  to  you.  I  am  battling  with  the  in- 
tense heat,  and  the  church  problem, — in  fact,  striving 
against  material  sense  testimony — looking  for  deliver- 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  623 

ance,  and  the  fruition  of  the  long,  weary  pilgrimage  from 
sense  to  Soul,  from  matter  to  Mind,  and  the  completion 
of  our  dear  church  edifice. 

I  think  your  daughter  should  wait  until  the  fall 
months  to  be  treated.  All  are  now  resting  from  the 
active  work  of  treating  patients;  they  have  to  refresh 
themselves  by  reading  and  self-examination  and  quiet 
communion  with  God.  I  can  do  nothing  now  for  you 
as  my  whole  time  is  employed  for  the  church.  Strikes 
and  other  discordant  phenomena  show  that  the  birth 
is  prolonged — a  test  of  our  faith  and  understanding. 
The  strikes  have  not  arrested  the  work  on  our  church, 
though  delegates  are  in  and  out  constantly.  I  shall 
know  that  God  governs  these  delegates,  and  that  there 
is  no  other  power,  and  no  other  presence  but  God's 
delegates. 

I  know  that  you  are  working  mentally,  dear,  and  that 
your  good  thoughts  help  me  and  all.  I  will  do  all  I 
can  for  your  daughter,  if  she  decides  later  that  she 
wants  treatment.  Love  untold  to  you,  my  dear,  dear 
student. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  8,  1903. 

My  dear  Dr.  A  .   .    .   : — l 

If  all  who  have  enlisted  in  the  Master's  service  could 
give  proof  of  holy  ministration  and  consecrated  lives, 
during  long  years  of  warfare  with  the  flesh,  when  the 
Spirit  contended  for  supremacy,  and  conquered,  we 
should  have  many  such  "living  epistles"  as  you,  whose 

*  Reply  to  a  letter  from  a  Presbyterian  clergyman. 


624  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Christ  would  be  manifest  on  the  face  and  in  the  Christly 
mental  touch. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  note.  It  was  a  cup  of  cold 
water,  and  I  drank  it  with  an  Amen.  I  was  glad  to 
know  that  you  recognized  the  earnest  conviction  of  my 
faith,  and  that  Truth  and  Love  as  understood  in  Chris- 
tian Science,  is  Light,  which  leads  into  the  way  the 
Master  pointed  out,  and  in  which  he  walked. 

I  thank  you  again,  and  appreciate  your  approval. 
Please  give  my  love  to  dear  Mrs.  A  .  .  .  .  I  am 
indebted  to  you  both  for  my  beloved  student  A  .  .  .  , 
and  my  heart  goes  out  to  the  father  and  mother  in  the 
flesh,  who  taught  her  how  to  live,  that  God  might  be 
honored  and  obeyed.  Together  we  all  will  continue 
our  march  towards  the  city  of  our  God. 

Tenderly  your  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  27,  1904. 

My  dear  Mr.  S  .   .    .   : — 

You  are  most  appreciative  of  my  efforts  to  help  you 
in  your  problems  of  Truth  over  the  fleshly  ills.  I  am 
embarrassed  with  such  an  expression  of  gratitude,  and 
wonder  what  I  can  do  to  merit  your  kindness.  Please 
do  not  think  that  I  am  unmindful  of  the  awakened 
Christ  in  your  consciousness.  I  am  rejoiced  to  see  in 
you  the  irresistible  conflict  between  the  human  and  the 
divine,  or  mental  chemicalization.  It  appears  to  our 
material  sense  to  be  physical  discord,  but  it  is  the 
Master's  hand  sweeping  across  the  harp-strings,  attun- 
ing your  being  to  health,  harmony,  and  immortality. 
The  jarring  and  twanging,  which  are  restoring  you  to 
your  dominion  over  all  things,  do  not  seem  pleasant  now, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  625 

and  sometimes  we  become  weary  of  the  struggle  to 
overcome  the  evidence  of  the  false  senses,  but  Love 
never  fails  us,  and  we  triumph  if  we  cling  steadfastly 
to  Truth. 

You  are  immortal  and  perfect,  for  there  is  but  one 
creator,  eternal  Life,  whom  you  reflect.  Error  is 
powerless  when  you  know  this,  and  the  false  claim 
called  mortal  mind  and  its  matter  body  cannot  deceive 
and  hold  you  in  discord  or  disease.  The  false  and 
untrue  must  disappear  before  the  Christ-man  who 
stands  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  Truth,  his  face  to  the 
heaven  of  Soul.  The  strong  swimmer  for  the  shore  of 
eternal  Life  increases  in  strength  and  reaches  his  goal. 

May  the  dear  Father-Mother  God  be  found  by  you 
in  every  trial  of  your  faith,  so  near  and  omnipotent 
that  you  will  never  fear,  but  will  know  the  nothingness 
of  matter,  the  allness  of  divine  Mind,  and  your  eternal 
oneness  with  Principle  or  divine  consciousness.  I  am 
always  ready  to  help  you  when  you  cannot  put  to 
flight  the  lie  of  disease.  I  am  sure  you  will  use  the 
Word  of  God,  try  your  own  sword,  and  never  let  it 
trail  in  the  dust. 

Sincerely  and  faithfully  your  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  May  10,  1905. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

Your  letter  of  explanation  gives  me  joy.  "Whoso- 
ever will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it"  (Matt, 
xvi.,  25).  You  and  dear  L.  .  .  have  chosen  wisely. 
You  will  find  all  that  you  require  in  the  college  to  which 
you  are  directed.  "God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver." 
You  have  given  up  your  false  sense  for  your  true  sense, 


626  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

and  Love  will  supply  your  present  need.  The  dear 
Christ  is  guiding  us  wisely  in  this  hour,  giving  us 
material  food  and  clothing,  until  we  shall  be  fed  and 
clothed  spiritually  or  mentally.  "Your  fathers  did  eat 
manna  in  the  wilderness,  and  are  dead. "  Christ  Jesus 
said  that  we  should  eat  of  the  bread  of  heaven  and  live. 

The  Word  of  God,  or  the  substance-thought  of  Life, 
supports  our  being,  and  feeds  and  satisfies  our  immortal 
cravings.  The  material  bread  satisfies  the  mortal 
desires,  or  material  belief.  Let  us  renew  our  deter- 
mination to  rise  above  all  sensuous  desires  or  appetites, 
and  continue  to  denounce  the  claim  of  pain  or  pleasure 
in  matter,  until  we  are  finally  freed  from  it.  This  aids 
the  ejection  of  error,  and  in  time  we  shall  all  gain  domin- 
ion over  the  flesh  and  evil.  The  fleshly  mind  must  be 
put  off.  The  "old  man"  with  his  deeds  must  be 
repudiated. 

I  am  very  happy  about  you,  dear  E  .  .  .  .  I  wish 
I  had  more  students  like  you.  Your  church  is  warmed 
by  your  love  and  L  .  .  .  's.  Let  this  letter  be  for  you 
both.  I  have  so  little  time  in  which  to  write.  I  shall  be  in 
your  church  when  the  organ  is  set  up,  to  give  a  blessing 
and  to  receive  one  from  my  dear  students. 

With  much  love  to  you  and  the  dear  flock,  I  am, 
Yours  faithfully, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  6,  1905. 
My  dear  Sudent: — 

I  wonder  if  you  sent  me  the  tuition  for  class  instruc- 
tion, with  a  sense  of  the  terms  of  the  past,  or  if  you  con- 
sider that  you  have  received  more  than  the  amount  of 
the    present    term.     The    tuition    formerly    was    one 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  627 


hundred  dollars,  but  at  present  it  is  fifty  dollars.  Shall 
I  return  the  fifty  dollars? 

I  have  two  students  in  this  class  who  "love  much," 
and  I  feel  that  I  am  responsible  for  giving  much,  as 
I  walk  "the  way"  with  them.  I  shall  be  faithful  to 
my  obligations,  and  you  will  witness  the  example  of 
fidelity  to  Principle,  and  to  those  who  stand  for  good 
in  their  respective  order.  I  know  where  the  faithful 
are  to  be  found,  and  I  know  their  rich  reward  is  sure. 

Our  journey  is  through  the  tangled  wilderness  of 
fear  and  doubt.  Mental  robbers  are  on  every  hand 
ready  to  rob  us  of  our  inheritance;  mental  thieves  are 
in  the  road  that  winds  upward,  to  steal  our  passport 
to  spiritual  consciousness,  the  city  of  God,  and  Cain 
is  always  in  ambush  to  spring  upon  Abel  unawares, 
and  to  deprive  him  of  his  power  to  press  on,  or  to  take 
his  life.  This  is  the  false  belief  which  the  Christian 
Scientist  must  render  powerless.  God  is  our  strength 
and  refuge.  Love  is  our  invincible  armor.  Panoplied 
in  Truth  and  Love,  we  are  impregnable  and  "only  with 
thine  [our]  eyes"  will  we  behold  the  reward  of  the 
wicked. 

I  have  perfect  trust  that  the  good  we  embody  will 
deliver  us  from  the  merciless  foe.  With  our  unde- 
stroyed  errors  constantly  lessening,  we  shall  keep  up 
our  march  away  from  sin  and  death,  towards  Life 
eternal,  Love,  and  Truth.  Let  our  thoughts  blend 
with  those  of  our  creator,  and  let  God  govern  our  every 
thought.  Then  we  will  rise  to  know  that  there  is  no 
power  and  no  presence  but  Love  and  Her  ideas, — a 
perfect  God  and  perfect  man,  or  universe,  of  which  we 
are  members,  and  which  we  occupy  and  enjoy. 

I  thank  you  for  all  that  you  have  done  for  me  and 
for  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  for  the  Cause 


628   Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

of  Christian  Science.     I  hope  I  may  ever  be  grateful 
for  such  a  student. 

Ever  most  faithfully  and  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  7,  1905. 

My  dear  sister  in  Truth: — 

I  received  your  kind  letter  and  thank  you  for  your 
appreciation  of  my  efforts  to  show  you  "the  way." 
I  pray  you  may  always  walk  in  it,  and  that  you  will 
watch  that  you  do  not  lose  the  chord  of  Christ  by  listen- 
ing to  the  foolish  virgins,  who  are  letting  their  lamps 
go  out  by  listening  to  and  obeying  the  lulling  jargon 
of  the  malicious  mental  malpractitioners  who  argue 
"No  personality,"  "Personal  control,"  etc.,  the  most 
subtle  of  all  the  methods  ever  argued  by  error. 

I  am  strong  and  courageous  in  the  warfare  against 
evil.  My  efforts  are  put  forth  to  grapple  with,  and 
master  in  myself  (and  for  all  who  are  ready  to  receive 
the  Truth),  the  one  evil,  sensuous  mesmerism,  whether 
in  the  pains  or  the  pleasures  of  mortal  mind,  physical 
or  mental.  Gustatory  pleasures  darken  many,  and 
prevent  the  healing  of  disease.  God  is  coming  nearer 
to  us  than  ever,  and  the  hour  has  struck  when  the  faith- 
ful are  reaping  a  rich  reward. 

We  have  had  a  sifting  in  our  ranks.  About  fourteen 
followed  L  .  .  .  but  none  of  them  were  ever  true 
Scientists.  They  were  very  material,  and  always  a 
care  to  me.  The  relief  is  great  since  the  dead  wood  is 
removed.  We  are  so  happy  in  our  work,  and  the  church 
is  so  grandly  strong,  so  mighty  in  meekness,  unity,  and 
love.  I  believe  that,  for  one  year,  they  who  have  gone 
out  have  suffered  from  the  force  of  divine  Love  which 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  629 

their  error  resisted.  They  simply  could  not  endure  the 
purifying  fires  of  Truth  and  Love.  They  could  not 
rise  with  us  to  the  demands  of  Christ. 

But  God  will  continue  His  work,  and,  sooner  or  later, 
they  will  have  to  endure  the  heat  of  the  furnace,  seven 
times  heated,  which  will  purify  even  the  gold  of  human 
character.  I  rejoice  that  I  have  loved  all,  and  still  love 
the  good  and  hate  (resist)  the  evil  wherever  I  see  it. 
This  is  our  salvation — to  hate  evil  as  the  Master  did 
and  to  rebuke  it  under  every  form.  I  hope  to  see  you 
here  in  the  near  future.  Please  give  my  love  to  H.  .  . 
and  Mr.  A.    .    .   . 

Yours  lovingly  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
- 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
1  West  96TH  Street,  May  10,  1908. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

Just  a  bon  voyage  and  safe  return  to  your  loved  ones 
here.  I  have  much  to  do,  but  I  am  determined  to  get 
this  letter  off  to  you,  and  no  one  shall  prevent  me  from 
telling  you  that  I  shall  miss  you  in  our  church.  You 
will  work  faithfully,  I  am  sure,  to  reflect  without  ceas- 
ing, the  God-thought.  This  is  sure  to  be  felt  in  human 
consciousness,  and  thus  you  do  much  mental,  impersonal 
universal  work.  Both  you  and  dear  C  .  .  .  ,  I  know, 
are  standing  firm  at  your  mental  posts.  I  shall  be 
glad  when  you  return  and  are  active  in  your  teacher's 
field. 

I  am  always  in  my  place  of  spiritual  observation, 
dear  L.  .  .  ,  so  you  will  know  that  everything  is 
prosperous  during  your  absence.  I  would  be  so  happy 
if,  during  the  summer  months,  my  people  would  settle 
down  to  work  in  the  healing  of  the  sick,  and  demonstra- 


630  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

tion  of  Truth.  This  will  eventually  be  done  by  all, 
and  all  will  find  joy  in  bringing  the  world  to  Christ. 
I  have  no  other  purpose,  no  other  joy,  and  shall  not 
have  until  I  awake  in  His  likeness,  wherein  is  fulness 
of  joy. 

Be  happy,  and  work  in  your  Bible  and  Science  and 
Health,  and  rise  into  newness  of  life  with  our  beloved 
Leader. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  23,  1908. 

My  dear  Mrs.  S.    .    .   : — 

Please  pardon  my  delay  in  replying  to  your  letter. 
I  am  so  pressed  with  work  I  cannot  do  as  I  would.  I 
am  sure  that  in  Chicago  there  are  many  Scientists  who 
could  answer  your  question  as  well  as  I,  because  there 
is  but  one  reason  for  failure  to  verify  Jesus'  promises, 
viz. :  lack  of  conformity  to  God's  law.  "The  law  of  the 
Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus"  sets  one  free  from  the  law 
of  sin,  and  limitation  which  you  say  binds  you.  We  all 
should  demonstrate  more  of  the  affluence  of  the  love 
which  is  divine,  which  sees  matter  as  the  "material 
pigment"  {Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  79),  or 
manifestation  of  so-called  mortal  mind,  and,  through  the 
lens  of  spiritual  sense,  discerns  that  man  is  immortal, 
— the  idea  of  God,  our  brother  man. 

The  condition  to  which  you  refer — limitation — seems 
to  be  the  result  of  the  letter  of  Christian  Science,  and 
not  enough  of  the  spirit.  We  may  make  the  demand 
on  Principle,  but  it  can  be  demonstrated  only  so  far  as 
we  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ.  If  we  ask  for  under- 
standing and  love,  and  conform  to  the  law  of  God, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  631 

and  desire  to  leave  all  false  material  sense  and  false 
appetites,  the  pleasures  as  well  as  the  pains  of  sense; 
if  we  pray  to  become  one  with  God  consciously,  for, 
of  course,  we  are,  and  always  have  been  God's  ideas, 
we  shall  gain  the  ear  of  the  infinite,  and  the  forces  of 
divine  intelligence  will  operate  on  the  false  material 
senses,  like  light  upon  darkness,  and  will  gradually  dis- 
pel fear  and  doubt.  Love  will  chase  away  the  clouds 
of  so-called  self-love,  self-will,  hatred,  envy,  jealousy, 
revenge,  lust,  and  self-deception,  which  in  greater  Or 
lesser  degree  compose  the  carnal  mind,  which  is  opposed 
to  Christ.     There  is  not,  and  there  never  was,  a  good 

mortal  man. 

■ 

All  mortals  are  composed  of  belief — sin  and  death 
— the  lie.  Further  we  learn  in  Christian  Science  that 
there  never  was  a  creative  lie  which  created  a  universe. 
God  is  the  only  creator  of  the  universe,  including  man, 
and  God  is  Truth.  God  is  your  loving  Father,  who 
ever  guides  and  governs  His  own  ideas  in  perpetual 
harmony.  He  supplies  His  own  universe  with  life, 
for  He  is  Life  eternal.  You  are  a  member  of  His  body, 
or  universe,  and  if  you  abide  in  Love  you  cannot  want. 
Love  abounds  in  beauty  and  affluence. 

We,  to-day,  even  at  our  best,  have  but  a  faint  com- 
prehension of  our  divine  possibilities.  We  must  strive 
to  be  transparencies  for  Love  and  Truth.  We  must 
come  out  from  the  world  of  material  worshipers,  and 
be  separate.  We  "cannot  be  partakers  of  the  Lord's 
table,  and  of  the  table  of  devils;"  we  cannot  contem- 
plate the  false  and  illusive  material  creation,  or  linger 
mentally  in  the  pleasures  of  physical  sense,  and  ex- 
pect to  bring  out  the  effect  of  Spirit — health,  strength, 
peace,  and  love  for  God  and  man. 

A  Christian  Scientist  must  be  single-eyed.     Immor- 


632  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

tality — eternal  Life  must  be  his  goal.  He  must  find 
and  partake  of  the  bread  of  Truth,  and  drink  of  the 
water  of  life — spiritual  thoughts,  which  sustain  and 
reconstruct  the  body;  he  must  eat  (think)  less  of 
material  food,  which  at  best  merely  satisfies  belief, 
and  has  no  life  abiding  in  it.  As  we  rise  God-ward,  we 
lose  our  material  appetites,  and  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness.  Then  Love  appears,  and  the  words  of 
our  beloved  Leader  are  remembered : 

Fed  by  Thy  love  divine  we  live, 
For  Love  alone  is  Life. 

{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  388). 

I  hope,  dear  Mrs.  S  .  .  .  ,  that  I  have  not  written 
beyond  your  comprehension,  nor  forgotten  to  give 
"milk  to  babes. "  You  know  I  do  not  understand  just 
where  you  are  in  Christian  Science.  I  am  sure  that 
you  will  deny  error  or  evil  as  power,  and  will  refuse  to 
admit  limitations,  but,  dear  fellow  pilgrim,  you  can 
demonstrate  only  so  far  as  you  have  attained  the  divine 
elements  of  Truth  and  Love.  Then  work,  watch,  and 
pray  to  be  like  Christ  and  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy — the  meek,  loving,  compassionate,  tender,  and 
true  representative  of  Christ.  You  will  do  this,  for  God 
will  eventually  force  you  to  obey  His  law  of  perfect  love. 
Faithfully  your  friend, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 

November  22,  1909. 

Beloved  Student: — 

You  are  learning  of  God  His  "hidden  mystery" — 
that  "wisdom"  is  better  "than  fine  gold."  "She  is 
more  precious  than  rubies :  and  all  the  things  thou  canst 
desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto  her. "     I  am  strong 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  633 

in  faith  and  in  love  for  God,  for  my  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  for  my  beloved  students  whose  under- 
standing of  Truth  and  Love,  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy, 
is  now  being  tested,  and  for  poor  humanity  who  needs 
the  love  which  is  spiritual,  to  be  freed  from  bondage 
to  sin  and  the  belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  God.  If 
all  my  dear  students  had  your  spiritual  intuition,  I 
would  have  less  to  meet  in  this  hour. 

I  am  demonstrating  for  myself,  with  wonderful 
peace  and  strength,  but  I  pray  for  my  dear  students 
that  their  faith  fail  not.  I  kiss  the  cross,  knowing  that 
this  cup  must  come  sooner  or  later  to  every  follower 
of  Christ.  It  is  a  joy  to  know  that  so  many  are  learning 
to  love  divinely,  and  to  obey  our  blessed  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  in  her  watch-care  of  our  dear  church. 

I  was  on  the  witness  stand  in  Boston  when  danger 
threatened  my  students  and  church.  God,  through 
His  mouthpiece,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  spake  peace  to  the 
troubled  sea  of  human  concepts  and  calmed  the  waters. 
How  good  is  our  God,  and  His  spiritual  idea,  our  holy 
Leader.  I  send  you  deathless  love,  my  dear  student. 
I  am  grateful  for  your  protecting  care,  and  when  God 
comes  to  you  with  a  message,  will  you  send  it  to  me? 
I  am  glad  in  my  retirement  to  hear  from  you,  and  from 
all  who  discern  the  path  I  am  treading.  How  often 
the  words  of  our  Leader  have  come  to  me — "Would 
existence  without  personal  friends  be  to  you  a  blank?" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  266.) 

God  bless  you  and  yours.  Remember  me  to  Mr.  W. 
.  .  and  kiss  dear  little  R.  .  .  for  me.  Some  day 
we  shall  awake  in  God's  likeness. 

Love  untold, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


634   Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

TO  MY  DEAR  STUDENTS  AND  CHURCH 
MEMBERS 

"Fear  not,  little  flock,  't  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure, 
To  give  you  the  kingdom, "  the  robe  and  the  ring. 

Fear  not  the  mad  foe,  who  beholding  your  triumph, 
Pursues  to  destroy  with  the  merciless  sting. 

Take  heart,  the  avenger  can  not  overthrow  you; 

The  Cause  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  victory  sure ; 
Press  on  in  the  race  for  immortal  dominion, 

Nor  turn  back  to  idols — resist  and  endure. 
. 
Then  raise  high  the  standard  of  Truth,  as  you  follow 

Your  Shepherd,  who  leads  to  life's  pastures  immense; 
He  folds,  and  protects  from  the  wolf,  and  the  fowler, 

Who  lure  to  o'erthrow  in  the  valley  of  sense. 

Awake  to  your  birthright !    And,  guided  by  wisdom, 
Communing  with  Spirit,  the  quickening  dove, 

You  will  soar,  as  a  bird,  beyond  each  sin-barbed  arrow, 
And  rest,  safe  in  joyous  omnipotent  Love. 

A.  E.  S. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  8,  19 10. 

Dear  Mr.  L  .  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  is  evidence  that  you  discern  the  signs 
of  the  times  and  are  awake  to  the  demands  of  the  hour. 
You  will  remember  that  I  was  rebuked  for  declaring 
for  immortality  as  a  present  possession,  and,  for  my 
defense  against  mental  malpractice,  I  was  denounced 
as  making  myself  as  God.1  It  was  stated,  at  that 
time,  that  this  was  done  in  the  composite  letter,  in 

'John  x.,  33. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  635 

which  my  students  endeavored  to  see  me  and  all  as 
ideas  through  the  spiritual  concept.  They  declared, 
however,  that  they  had  not  made  this  concept  perma- 
nent, or  a  "conscious,  constant  capacity"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  209),  to  see  God  in  the  face  of  man,  yet 
that  they  must  stand  for  spiritual  being  as  the  only 
reality   if   they   would   destroy   mortal   belief. 

We  all  were  mocked.  One  asked  if  we  ate;  another 
what  we  had  for  breakfast,  and  if  immortals  ate  food. 
You  can  imagine  the  confusion.  To-day  my  articles 
have  been  accepted  by  thousands  as  true  Christian 
Science,  as  found  in  our  text-book,  Science  and  Health, 
and  in  our  beloved  Leader's  other  writings.  Our 
opponents  contradict  their  profession. 

The  tomb  with  electric  lights  and  telephone, — remov- 
ing our  beloved  Leader's  name  from  her  Manual  in  a  few 
weeks  after  she  entered  upon  her  final  demonstration — 
the  twelve  feet  of  concrete,  steel,  iron,  and  sod  under 
which  the  Directors  placed  a  material  belief — an 
illusion — the  circulation  of  obituary  notices  in  book 
form  and  the  Directors'  alliance  with  the  League  for 
Medical  Freedom — all  show  the  effort  of  malicious 
animal  magnetism  to  advertise  the  seeming  death  of 
our  Leader  and  hold  the  Field  to  mortality. 

It  was  told  me  that  one  in  First  Church  here  said 
that  I  was  ahead  of  the  times ;  that  it  would  be  centuries 
before  any  one  could  demonstrate  immortality.  There 
never  was  such  mental  darkness  on  the  earth  as  in 
these  days,  and  on  the  other  hand  there  was  never 
so  much  spiritual  light.  This  spiritual  force  is  the 
on-coming  Christ,  and  is  driving  evil,  so-called,  to  the 
surface  where  the  claim  to  evil  will  be  self -destroyed. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


636  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  6,  19 10. 

My  dearly  beloved  Student: — 

I  am  sending  you  a  booklet — the  poem  which  I  sent 
to  Mrs.  Eddy  with  the  loveliest  canary— the  sweetest 
singer.  The  poem  will  speak  for  itself.  The  cage  and 
bird  were  returned  to  me,  with  a  reply  in  verse  from  our 
beloved  Leader.  You  will  remember,  dear,  her  words 
to  me  in  that  poem,  "Tell  her  I  have  kept  her  heart. " 
She  kept  my  heart,  therefore  she  can  never  lose  it. 
Oh!  my  dear  student,  never  doubt  her  wisdom  and 
divine  love.  No  matter  what  I  have  to  meet,  I  know 
that  she  is  an  individual  idea  of  God,  His  voice  to 
humanity  in  this  age,  and  I  am  willing  to  drink  my 
cup  for  her  dear  sake,  as  well  as  for  my  own.  She 
cannot  lose  me.  I  am  ever  watching  with  her,  and 
rising    above    material    sense    to    the    spiritual. 

I  know  the  enemy  is  foaming  out  its  venom  at 
Truth  and  Love  which  I  reflect,  but  I  do  not  believe 
in  a  power  opposed  to  eternal  Mind,  therefore  persecu- 
tion has  no  terror  for  me.  I  am  striving  to  see  man 
in  God's  image.  The  enemy  is  striving  to  see  evil 
and  sin  in  man,  and  evil  and  sin  will  soon  be  self- 
destroyed. 

I  am  thinking  God's  thoughts  to  you,  as  you  sail 
over  the  sea  of  human  concepts.  You  will  reach  your 
desired  haven  and  enjoy  your  travel.  Remember, 
you  are  always  one  with  God.  Love  is  ever-present, 
and  you  can  never  be  separated  from  Her — your 
source  and  supply  of  life  and  peace,  joy  and  power. 
Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  "There  is  no 
pleasure,  no  bliss  in  mortal  things.  However  dear 
they  may  seem  to  mortal  sense,  to  Soul  they  are  not 
permitted."  Dwell  then,  dear,  in  your  Soul-sense, 
and  find  your  joy  in  contemplating  the  eternal  real. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  637 

I  shall  often  think  of  you,  and  you  will  feel  the  truth 
of  divine  reflection. 

God  bless  and  keep  you.  No  material  selfhood — 
only  the  divine  self,  must  be  at  last  demonstrated. 
Love  is  unfailing. 

Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  19,  1910. 
My  dear  Mr.  L  .  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  and  favor  are  before  me.  I  thank  you 
for  both.  It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  inquire  in  regard 
to  your  character.  I  shall  depend  upon  my  intuition 
and  judge  by  the  mental  impression  which  your  letter 
conveys.  You  would  better  understand  me  if  you 
were  a  Christian  Scientist,  or  a  divine  metaphysician; 
but  I  am  sure  that  you  discern,  in  this  hour,  a  religious, 
personal  conflict,  which  is  the  result  of  two  mental 
forces — the  so-called  mortal  mind,  and  the  immortal  or 
Christ-mind.  It  is  an  irresistible  warfare,  both  in 
individual  and  in  universal  consciousness.  The  world 
is  awaking  to  the  truth  that  Mind,  God,  is  power, 
and  expresses  and  governs  all  phenomena. 

May  I  beg  your  indulgence  while  I  preface  my 
letter  with  a  few  metaphysical  postulates  which  will 
enable  you  to  discern  my  position?  Christian  Science 
teaches  that  there  is  but  one  Mind — one  God;  there- 
fore "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  manifestation, 
for  God  is  All-in-all"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468). 
The  great  creative  Principle  is  Spirit,  Mind,  intelli- 
gence. Man  is  God's  idea  or  child,  made  in  the  image 
and  likeness  of  his  creator,  God.  There  is  but  one 
God,  one  creator,  and  one  man — which  is  the  universe 


638  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

or  manifestation  of  God,  or  God  and  His  Christ,  eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Individual  man  is  a  member 
of  the  body  of  Christ. 

There  is  but  one  primal  cause— one  Mind;  therefore 
man  is  a  mental  being,  emanating  from  God,  the 
source  of  all  life.  Man  reflects  Mind,  as  the  ray 
reflects  the  sun.  All  the  rays  proceed  from  the  sun 
and  compose  the  sun.  Thus  we  see  in  divine  meta- 
physics that  man  cannot  be  separated  from  God.  He 
cannot  be  detached  from  his  source,  neither  can  God  be 
deprived  of  His  ideas  or  thoughts.  This  is  absolute 
Christian  Science  as  taught  in  our  text-book,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
our  revered  and  beloved  Leader. 

We  have  Scriptural  authority  for  spiritual  creation 
in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  where  we  read  that 
"God  created  man  in  His  own  image,  in  the  image  of 
God  created  He  him.  .  .  And  God  saw  every  thing 
that  He  had  made,  and,  behold,  it  was  very  good." 
And  God  gave  man  dominion  over  all  the  earth.  I 
stand  immovable  in  this  conviction,  unflinchingly 
defending  my  true  consciousness,  my  divine  selfhood. 
I  admit  but  one  Power,  one  Presence — omnipotent, 
omniscient,  and  omnipresent  Mind  as  real,  and  I  declare 
my  oneness  with  this  great  and  only  source  of  being — 
our  Father-Mother  God.  The  opposite,  so-called 
mortal  mind,  or  Adam,  is  not  the  real  man,  but  is  the 
mortal  so-called  mind  which  is  always  opposed  to 
the  Christ-mind.  One  is  Truth,  the  other  is  error — a 
false  mentality  that  expresses  itself  in  a  material 
embodiment,  that  manifests  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 
These  two  opposing  mental  forces  have  always  been 
antagonistic. 

The  great  master  Metaphysician,  Jesus  the  Christ, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  639 

gained  a  sublime  victory  over  the  material  senses, 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  evil.  He  is  our  example. 
Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  discovered  and  founded 
Christian  Science  through  her  apprehension  of  the 
superiority  of  Spirit  over  matter,  or  the  divine  con- 
sciousness over  the  material  senses.  She  learned, 
through  a  highly  developed  spiritual  sense,  and  by 
constant  communion  with  God,  and  study  of  His 
Word,  how  Jesus  performed  his  mighty  works  of  heal- 
ing the  sick  and  destroying  sin.  She  is  following 
the  example  of  Christ,  and  has  established  this  great 
religious  truth  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  have  spiritual 
discernment  to  comprehend  it. 

Progress  is  the  law  of  the  infinite.  As  Truth  urges 
Her  claim  upon  mortals,  She  meets  resistance  from 
the  carnal  mind.  Only  the  dauntlessly  brave,  who 
have  enlisted  in  this  warfare,  'dare  to  encounter  the 
hostility  of  the  relentless  foe  to  Christ — the  carnal 
mind.  The  battle  is  on  for  the  supremacy  of  immortal 
Mind  over  the  mortal,  material  senses.  I  have  no 
fear  for  the  result.  Truth  is  always  the  victor.  My 
opponents  declare  that  my  teaching  is  erroneous 
because  it  conflicts  with  their  interpretation  of  Science 
and  Health  from  their  standpoint,  which  is  that  they 
are  mortal  now,  but  that  in  the  hereafter  they  will  gain 
immortality.  /  declare  that  "now  are  we  the  sons  of 
God;  "  that  now  is  man  a  divine  emanation  of  Spirit, 
and  in  the  words  of  Jesus,  "Whosoever  believeth  in 
him  should  .  .  .  have  everlasting  life."  This  under- 
standing will  destroy  the  belief  in  a  power  opposed  to 
God — called    mortal    mind. 

Thought  is  force.  It  must  be  apparent  to  the 
twentieth  century  thinker  that  man's  real  conscious- 
ness, which  proceeds  from   God,  must  carry  with   it 


640  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

the  power  of  God,  with  which  He  endowed  man.  This 
is  the  truth  of  being  and  must  be  demonstrated  by 
humanity,  either  here  or  hereafter.  Paul  says:  "For 
to  be  carnally  minded  is  death;  but  to  be  spiritually 
minded  is  life  and  peace"  (Romans  viii.,  6). 

To  be  a  follower  of  Christ,  a  true  Christian  Scientist, 
demands  not  alone  profession,  but  demonstration. 
Many  enlist  in  this  race  for  immortality,  but,  because 
of  the  price  which  Truth  requires  (the  sacrifice  of  per- 
sonal self,  self-will,  personal  ambition,  and  the  belief  of 
life  and  intelligence  in  matter),  few  continue  to  press 
onward  to  the  goal.  Many  fall  by  the  wayside  through 
lack  of  moral  courage;  others  through  lack  of  compre- 
hension of  the  deep  things  of  God;  and  many  because 
of  self-love,  self-will,  and  desire  for  worldly  popularity. 

They  are  slaves  who  will  not  choose 

Hatred,  scoffing,  and  abuse, 

Rather  than  in  silence  shrink 

From  the  truth  they  needs  must  think ; 

They  are  slaves  who  dare  not  be 

In  the  right  with  two  or  three. ■ 

The  true  Christian  Scientist  sings  with  the  spirit 
and  with  the  understanding,  "In  the  cross  of  Christ 
I  glory, "  because  the  cross  is  illumined  by  the  presence 
of  the  invisible  Christ.  The  cup  my  Father  has 
given  me  to  drink  has  within  it  no  redundant  drop. 
"[love's]  rod  and  [love's]  staff  they  comfort  me."2 

St.  Paul  says:  "But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love, 
joy,  peace,  longsuffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance"  (Gal.  v.,  22,  23).  This  I 
have  proved,  amid  the  most  crucial  experiences  which 
any  one  was  ever  compelled  to  endure.     I  have  never 

'Lowell.  'Science  and  Health,  p.  578. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  641 

for  a  moment,  during  twenty-five  years,  wavered  in 
my  allegiance  to  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
I  have  never  doubted  her  wisdom,  nor  permitted  a 
criticism  of  her  words  or  works.  I  have  always  been 
profoundly  grateful  for  her  unselfed  love  for  humanity 
and  for  me.  I  have  deeply  appreciated  her  gentle 
guidance  and  her  stern,  loving  rebuke;  her  forbearing 
patience,  and  her  watchful  care  of  my  feeble  efforts 
to  follow  Christ,  and  to  demonstrate  the  power  and 
presence  of  Truth  and  Love.  I  would  be  an  ingrate 
should  I  fail  to  appreciate  all  that  I  have  received 
from  my  beloved  Leader.  Could  she,  for  twenty- 
five  years,  have  walked  with  me,  and  commended 
me  as  a  faithful,  obedient  student,  and  then  forsake 
me  in  the  crucial  hour,  when  I  was  standing  for  spiritual 
reality  as  I  promised  her  that  I  would  do?  No,  she 
knew  that  my  hour  for  emergence  from  material 
organization  had  come  and  that  I  must  make  my  own 
demonstration. 

I  believe  that  I  am  demonstrating  the  spiritual  law, 
or  power  of  omnipotent  Love  against  opposing  forces 
in  the  realm  of  mortal  mind.  I  believe  that  I  am 
obedient  to  the  law  of  divine  Mind,  because  I  have 
demonstrated  the  potency  of  the  Christ-mind  over 
nearly  every  disease  to  which  flesh  is  heir.  During 
twenty-four  years  in  this  city,  as  a  demonstrator  of 
the  power  of  divine  Mind,  I  have  risen  above  seemingly 
insurmountable  obstacles  in  building  a  church  edifice, 
and  in  building  characters  on  the  rock  of  spiritual 
understanding  of  the  allness  of  God  and  the  nothing- 
ness of  a  suppositional  power  opposed  to  God — called 
mortal  mind  or  evil.  I  have  proved  the  Principle  of 
being  in  perfect  physical  health,  a  perfectly  harmonious 
environment,  and  calm  peace  which  is  inexpressible — 
41 


642  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

a  trust  in  ever-present,  omnipotent  Love,  which  must 
be  unity  with  the  source  of  my  being.  I  have  not 
yet  attained  to  the  ultimate  heights  of  spiritual  power, 
but  I  have  gained  sufficient  realization  to  meet  this 
hour. 

There  is  a  problem  before  the  world  that  has  never 
been  solved.  The  Bible  has  been  a  sealed  book.  Mrs. 
Eddy  has  opened  this  seal  and  given  to  the  world  the 
Key  to  the  hidden  treasures  of  the  Word  of  God,  and 
man's  unity  with  his  Maker.  She  has  unmasked  the 
forces  of  so-called  evil  which  compose  the  carnal  mind, 
namely — belief  of  life  in  matter,  which  is  so-called 
sin,  fear,  malice,  hatred,  revenge,  envy,  hypocrisy, 
etc.,  that  have  deceived  the  whole  world.  With  the 
power  of  the  Word  of  God  (our  spiritual  consciousness), 
we  are  freeing  ourselves  and  humanity  from  these 
false  forces,  and  are  teaching  the  Truth  which  sets 
free  from  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  The  human  contest 
is  for  spiritual  dominion  which  God  has  given  to  the 
Christ-man.  The  materially  minded  do  not  compre- 
hend spiritual  facts.  Paul  says:  "But  the  natural 
man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God: 
for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him:  neither  can  he 
know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned" 
(1  Cor.  ii.,  14). 

One  would  not  expect  a  pupil  in  addition  to  compre- 
hend the  terms  used  in  algebra ;  so  in  Christian  Science, 
only  those  who  strive  manfully  keep  abreast  with 
Truth;  but  these  are  one  with  God,  therefore  they  are 
the  majority. 

To-day  it  is  a  question  of  ecclesiastical  control  or 
despotism — official  domination  or  material  sense,  as 
opposed  to  individual  understanding  and  spiritual 
sense. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  643 

In  my  teaching  and  practice  I  am  closely  following 
the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  as  I  have  done  for 
twenty-five  years.  This  book  is  continually  unfolding 
to  me  the  wonders  in  the  law  of  God  hidden  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  but  now  made  manifest,  in 
the  operation  of  that  Law  or  Mind-force  to  those  who 
can  discern  it,  who  work  for  it  and  utilize  it  in  gaining 
their  freedom  from  the  bondage  of  sin,  sickness,  and 
death.  Only  the  works  will  prove  whether  it  is  i"  or  the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  who  understand  this 
law  sufficiently  to  demonstrate  it.  There  is  no  evidence 
as  yet,  that  the  Directors  are  the  demonstrators  of 
the  teachings  of  Science  and  Health  in  the  abasement 
of  material  selfhood,  or  that  their  judgment  of  divine 
metaphysics,   or   Christian   Science,   is  infallible. 

They  have,  up  to  this  time,  been  good  business  men, 
who  have  conducted  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  material 
organization  in  a  thoroughly  satisfactory  manner.  Now 
they  are  called  upon  to  show  their  understanding  of 
divine  metaphysics  and  to  judge  me,  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
oldest  students,  with  whom  she  has  walked  in  close 
association  and  with  devoted  love  for  twenty-five 
years.  During  those  years,  I  have  given  all  my  time 
to  the  study  and  demonstration  of  Christian  Science, 
and  thousands  have  been  healed  through  my  min- 
istry and  have  accepted  Christianity  according  to 
Christian  Science.  The  Directors  are  acting  in  their 
capacity  of  "the  highest  ecclesiastical  tribunal"  of  a 
material  organization.  Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  regard  to 
organization: 

Despite  the  prosperity  of  my  church,  it  was  learned 
that  material  organization  has  its  value  and  peril,  and 
that  organization  is  requisite  only  in  the  earliest  periods 


644  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

in  Christian  history.  After  this  material  form  of  cohesion 
and  fellowship  has  accomplished  its  end,  continued  organ- 
ization retards  spiritual  growth,  and  should  be  laid  off, — 
even  as  the  corporeal  organization  deemed  requisite  in 
the  first  stages  of  mortal  existence  is  finally  laid  off,  in 
order  to  gain  spiritual  freedom  and  supremacy  (Retro- 
spection  and   Introspection,    p.    45). 

Mrs.  Eddy  wrote  to  the  New  York  field  one  year 
ago: 

When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher, — to  enlarge  their  phylacteries  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent, — they  must  begin  on 
a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other, 
and  proportionably  estimate  their  success  and  glory  of 
achievement  only  as  they  build  upon  the  rock  of  Christ, 
the  spiritual  foundation.  This  will  open  the  way,  widely 
and  impartially,  to  their  never-ending  success, — to  salva- 
tion and  eternal  Christian  Science. 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science, 
but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p. 
390). 

Those  who  had  risen  to  discern  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being  were  ready  to  begin  striving  to  possess  a  "wholly 
spiritual"  consciousness,  and  thus  to  reflect  more  of 
the  power  of  omnipotent  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  When 
error  felt  the  increased  power  of  Truth,  urging  its 
claims  for  recognition  and  obedience,  there  was  resist- 
ance in  human  consciousness,  and  the  battle  of  error 
against  Truth  was  evident. 

Progress  is  the  law  of  divine  Mind,  God.  Those 
who  are  ready  rally  to  Truth's  standard.  They  heed 
not  the  overturning  and  upheaval  of  false  theories 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  645 

and  erroneous  material  interpretations  of  Truth  and 
Her  laws.  Mortals  cannot  arrest  the  onward  march 
of  divine  Science,  which  seems  to  human  sense  at  the 
present  hour  to  be  "on  the  scaffold;"  nor  can  it  terrify 
Her  standard-bearers  by  threats  and  invectives.  I 
cannot  wrong  my  intelligence  by  accepting  another's 
interpretation  of  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health 
when  that  interpretation  is  directly  opposed  to  my 
understanding  of  my  Leader's  teachings. 

I  have  solved  many  perplexing  problems  in  this 
most  material  and  active  of  cities,  and  have  proved 
the  power  of  good  over  the  claim  of  evil,  of  love  over  the 
claim  of  so-called  hate,  malice,  jealousy,  etc.  Great 
demands  have  been  made  upon  me  by  a  large  body  of 
students  from  every  walk  of  life,  which  have  forced 
me  to  gain  an  understanding  of  the  Science  of  Mind, 
that  has  uncovered  to  me  the  subtle  and  false  claims 
of  the  working  of  the  carnal  mind,  or  malicious  animal 
magnetism.  While  I  see  this  as  a  false  claim,  I  wrestle 
with  it,  and,  through  the  power  of  the  Christ-con- 
sciousness, make  it  unreal.  I  know,  by  spiritual 
intuition,  when  I  am  attacked  by  malicious  mental 
malpractice  in  its  efforts  to  destroy  my  usefulness  and 
intimidate  or  discourage  me.  My  defense  is  in  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit — the  Word  of  God ;  the  declaration 
that  God  is  the  only  power  and  the  only  presence; 
that  divine  Love  fills  all  space;  that  there  is  no  power 
nor  presence  opposed  to  God,  nor  to  man  who  reflects 
Him.  Evil  in  all  its  forms  is  powerless  to  overcome 
good,  and  must  disappear  and  leave  the  field  to  Love, 
who  fills  all  space.  This  is  the  mental  defense  of  a 
Christian  Scientist,  and  is  not  malpractice. 

Malpractice  is  the  effort  of  one  mortal  to  injure 
another,  or  to  intimidate  or  discourage  or  wrong  another. 


646  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

You  can  readily  see  that  anybody  occupying  a  promi- 
nent position,  wielding  the  sword  of  Truth,  which 
destroys  error — thereby  arousing  more  or  less  of  the 
mortal  within  and  without — must  have  his  defense 
behind  the  breastwork  of  omnipotence.  He  must 
dwell  in  spiritual  consciousness.  He  must  abide 
"in  the  secret  place  of  the  most  High,"  where  no 
poison-barbed  arrow  wounds  the  dove.  Mrs.  Eddy, 
herself,  is  above  and  beyond  this  mental  battle 
which  must  be  worked  out  by  me  as  a  metaphysical 
problem. 

I  am  like  a  mathematician  who  stands  before  the 
blackboard  working  out  a  mathematical  conclusion. 
The  audience  is  the  world,  interested  only  in  the 
solution.  I  am  not  looking  for  my  beloved  Leader 
to  spare  me  humiliation  or  shorten  the  process  by 
coming  forward  and  showing  me  where  I  should  add 
and  where  divide.  I  have  been  a  member  of  three 
classes  which  were  personally  instructed  by  her  in  the 
Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  and,  during 
twenty-five  years,  have  received  her  further  personal 
instruction  in  interviews  and  in  frequent  letters  from 
her  up  to  the  30th  of  August,  1909.  If  I  have  not 
attained  sufficient  spiritual  understanding  by  years  of 
watching,  working,  prayer  and  demonstration,  to  meet 
this  hour  alone  with  God,  I  merit  defeat.  Jesus  met 
his  test  of  the  power  of  his  Christ-consciousness  over 
the  material  world  alone  with  God.  He  was  tempted 
with  doubt  as  to  his  ability  to  conquer  the  malice  of 
the  world  when  he  cried  out,  "My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  Thou  forsaken  me?" 

While  in  Boston,  under  the  greatest  stress,  for  one 
moment  I  said,  "I  may  have  been  wrong,  but  I  thought 
I  was  absolutely  right."     Instantly  I  recognized  that 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  647 

I  was  meeting  doubt,  which  was  immediately  dispelled, 
and  I  knew  that  my  teachings  and  interpretations  of 
Science  and  Health  were,  and  had  been,  absolutely 
correct.  Therefore  I  could  not  be  induced  to  admit 
that  I  was  wrong,  although  excommunication  was 
threatened.  I  knew  that  my  students  and  my  church 
would  have  to  meet  the  test  of  my  excommunication, 
which   would   tax   their   faith   and   understanding. 

They  had  always  been  taught  by  me  to  love  and 
obey  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  (the  Directors)  although  some  mem- 
bers of  this  Board  had  been  but  a  short  time  in  office. 
Yet  seeing  all  this  before  me,  I  stood  unswervingly  for 
my  Christ-consciousness  and  for  my  beloved  Leader, 
whose  every  word  has  been  to  me  the  voice  of  wis- 
dom and  Love.  She  has  never,  during  this  crisis  in 
the  warfare  between  Truth  and  error,  condemned 
my  teaching  or  practice.  I  am  her  loyal,  loving, 
obedient  student.  If  she  considered  my  interpreta- 
tion of  her  teaching  erroneous,  she  would  inform  me. 
Until  she  does,  I  shall  defend  my  position,  and,  from 
the  vantage  ground  of  divine  Love,  I  shall  strive  to 
make  the  claim  of  evil  unreal,  and  wait  on  God  for 
the  result.  This  battle  is  inevitable.  Christ's  king- 
dom must  be  established  on  earth. 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never 

call  retreat ; 
He  is   sifting  out   the    hearts    of    men   before  his 

judgment  seat.1 

The  conflict  will  not  cease  until  victory  rests  on  the 
side  of  immutable  Truth.  Man  is  immortal.  Mortal 
man  is  a  myth,  which  will  disappear  when  man  awakes 

1  Julia  Ward  Howe. 


648  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

to  the  truth  of  his  being — that  he  is  not  material,  but 
spiritual,  an  emanation  of  divine  Mind.  For  this 
mental   Messiah   I   am   contending. 

I  trust  that  you  will  pardon  me  if  I  have  intruded 
too  long  upon  your  time  or  exhausted  your  patience 
with   metaphysical   statements. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  7,  1910. 
My  dear  Mr.  M.  .  .   : — 

This  is  the  first  opportunity  I  have  found  to  reply 
to  your  favor.  It  may  be  presumptuous  for  me  to 
assume  that  you  expect  an  acknowledgment,  but 
there  appears  in  your  letter  a  misapprehension  of 
a  scientific  point  which  I  must  correct.  You  write, 
"man's  self  is  formed  by  his  own  mind. "  God,  Mind, 
Spirit,  or  Principle,  is  the  only  cause  or  creator,  there- 
fore man  reflects  God — Mind,  and  has  no  mind  apart 
from  God.  The  one  omnipotent,  omnipresent  Mind 
is  man's  source  of  life  and  intelligence.  God  and  man 
(the  spiritual  universe)  are  one,  or  God  and  His 
Christ.  Individual  man  is  a  member  of  the  body  of 
Christ.  God  governs  His  manifestation  or  Christ, 
and  thus  every  man  is  held  by  the  law  or  power  of 
Spirit,  Mind.  This  is  absolute  Christian  Science,  and, 
sooner  or  later,  we  must  demonstrate  eternal  Life,  or 
spiritual  consciousness. 

I  did  not  intend  to  convey  the  impression  that  the 
Directors  alone  were  my  opponents.  Six  disloyal 
students  among  the  twenty-five  practitioners  failed 
to  understand  my  metaphysical  teachings  and  per- 
sisted in  misrepresenting  my  words.     Nineteen  of  the 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  649 

twenty-five,  who  understood  my  terms  from  a  meta- 
physical standpoint,  are  with  me.  The  six  reversed 
and  garbled  what  I  said,  and  carried  these  false  reports 
to  the  Directors.  "If  therefore  the  whole  church  be 
come  together  into  one  place,  and  all  speak  with  tongues, 
and  there  come  in  those  that  are  unlearned,  or  un- 
believers, will  they  not  say  that  ye  are  mad?" 
(1  Cor.  xiv.,  23.) 

One  of  my  students,  disloyal  to  Principle  and  idea, 
never  could  comprehend  metaphysics,  and  gave  me 
much  trouble  while  she  was  with  me.  I  have  a  letter 
in  her  own  handwriting,  in  which  she  denounced 
Mrs.  Eddy  and  her  teachings.  I  replied  to  her, 
telling  her  she  could  no  longer  be  a  student  of  mine. 
After  awhile  she  took  up  theosophy,  of  which  she  is 
said  to  be  an  ardent  follower.  This  woman,  Mrs. 
B  .  .  .  ,  was  before  the  Board  of  Directors  during  my 
first  trial  and  made  charges  which  I  denied,  until  I 
saw  that  it  was  useless  to  try  to  defend  myself,  and 
I  let  her  go  on  till  she  exhausted  her  accusations. 

After  returning  home,  I  found  Mrs.  B  .  .  .  's  letter 
to  which  I  have  referred  in  which  she  had  denounced 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  I  sent  it  to  the  Directors.  This  was 
the  only  witness  who  confronted  me  personally,  and 
I  had  long  since  repudiated  her  as  a  student.  Since 
then,  this  woman  has  used  the  press  to  publish  the 
most  absurd  statements  about  me.  They  are  false 
in  every  particular,  and  so  ridiculous  that  they  have 
made  many  friends  for  me  among  the  best  people  in 
this  city. 

We  have  a  man  at  the  head  of  the  Publication 
Committees  whose  duty  it  is  to  correct  false  statements 
against  Christian  Scientists  and  to  defend  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science — towards  whose  salary  our  church 


650  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

pays  nearly  three  hundred  dollars  a  month.  He 
works  with  our  present  Board  of  Trustees,  eight  of  the 
former  Trustees  who  stand  with  me  having  withdrawn 
from  the  Board.  This  man  has  never  corrected  an 
erroneous  report  concerning  me,  but  has  permitted 
any  one  to  testify  without  contradiction  as  he  or  she 
may  be  moved  by  ignorance  or  animosity.  This 
explanation  may  cover  the  question  of  malicious 
malpractice. 

If  I  seem,  as  you  say,  to  argue  "on  a  minor  issue, 
letting  serious  charges  go  by  default,"  it  is  because 
I  feel  that  it  is  not  possible  to  explain  them  to  one  not 
versed   in   the  workings   of   mental   malpractice. 

Referring  to  my  statement  that  Mrs.  Eddy  never 
told  me  my  teaching  and  practice  were  wrong,  I  will 
say:  she  is  my  Leader  and  Teacher.  She  has  always 
admonished  and  advised,  counselled  and  comforted, 
corrected  and  reproved  me  when  I  needed  her  wisdom 
and  experience.  In  this  hour  of  supreme  test,  Mrs. 
Eddy  has  written  me,  "The  Holy  Bible,  Science  and 
Health,  and  The  Mother  Church  Manual  are  your  safe 
guides.  Follow  them. "  I  infer  that  she  is  letting  me 
make  my  own  demonstration  and  prove  my  spiritual 
armor. 

I  am,  and  have  been,  confident  that  she  keeps 
a  watchful  eye  on  these  proceedings.  I  am  sure  her 
hand  is  on  the  helm  of  Christian  Science,  as  it  has 
always  been.  Mrs.  Eddy  is  wisdom's  mouthpiece. 
Her  word  is  law  to  me.  As  I  have  a  Leader  who  has 
always  faithfully  fulfilled  the  sacred  office  of  human 
mediator,  leading  me  by  her  spiritual  discernment  to 
Christ,  through  Christian  Science,  I  should  be  dis- 
loyal to  this  Leader  if  I  accepted  views  contrary  to 
my   understanding  of  her  teachings,   which   she  has 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  651 

publicly  and  privately  endorsed.  For  twenty-five 
years  I  have  proved  the  Truth  of  these  teachings  in 
health,  divine  love,  peace,  and  a  sweet  and  certain 
sense  of  God's  allness  and  the  true  brotherhood  of 
man. 

Your  advice  in  regard  to  my  future  work  would  be 
right  from  your  view-point,  but  not  from  mine.  I 
have  built  one  church  edifice,  and  I  do  not  need  to 
remain  in  that  mental  stage  of  material  organization 
and  build  another  church  militant.  I  have  made 
a  perfect  demonstration  of  a  perfect  material  church 
edifice,  and  perfect  organization  of  its  members  and 
its  work.  Now,  I  must  rise  and  further  spiritualize 
my  thought.  I  cannot  return  to  material  organization, 
but  must  begin  to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual" 
consciousness — a  wholly  spiritual  character,  which  will 
reveal  the  Church  Triumphant,  the  superstructure  of 
Truth  and  Love  "whose  builder  and  maker  is  God." 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  had  a  faint  conception  of 
this  spiritual  building  when  he  wrote : 

Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O  my  Soul, 
As  the  swift  seasons  roll ! 

Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  outgrown  shell  by  life's  unresting  sea! 

My  students  and  the  practitioners,  who  are  devot- 
ing their  entire  time  to  the  service  of  God  in  healing 
the  sick  and  teaching  the  truth  of  Christian  Science, 
besides  hundreds  of  other  students  of  mine  who  are 
not  giving  their  entire  time  to  the  healing,  are  stead- 
fast in  their  purpose  to  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ 
and  to  demonstrate  the  allness  of  God — good,  and  the 
nothingness  of  matter — evil. 


652  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

We  continue  to  protest  that  now  we  are  immortal, 
although  we  concede  that  so-called  mortal  thought 
and  its  embodiment,  the  matter  body,  are  still  in 
evidence.  Two  bodies  cannot  occupy  the  same  space 
at  the  same  time,  neither  can  the  mortal  and  the 
immortal  thought  be  simultaneously  entertained.  We 
must  choose  which  we  will  adopt.  Having  chosen  the 
immortal  thought,  we  repudiate  the  mortal,  material 
senses.  I  was  rebuked  for  claiming  my  present  im- 
mortality— several  of  the  Directors  stating  that  they 
were  mortals  now  but  would  finally  merge  into  im- 
mortality. From  that  premise  they  cannot  demon- 
strate immortality.  Accepting  and  working  from 
a  material  premise  will  never  result  in  a  spiritual 
conclusion. 

The  sixteen  practitioners,  who  were  dropped  from 
the  local  church,  continue  to  attend  services  regularly 
in  the  church  which  they  built.  In  meekness  and 
love,  they  "worship  Him  [the  Father]  in  spirit  and  in 
truth."  They  make  the  claim  of  evil  unreal  and  see 
only  the  perfect  man  in  the  brethren  and  are  leading 
humanity  to  know  God,  "whom  to  know  aright  is  Life 
eternal."  They  heal  the  sick,  and  give  the  hand  of 
compassionate  forgiveness  to  the  penitent  sinner,  for, 
through  the  veil  of  matter,  spiritual  sense  discerns 
God's  child.  They  are  not  clinging  to  my  physical 
personality,  but  to  Principle  and  idea,  and  to  the 
teaching  which  has  brought  them  health,  happiness, 
and  love  for  God  and  man.  Thus  we  walk  side  by 
side   in   unity   and   spiritual   love. 

I  thank  you  for  the  kind  interest  you  have  taken  in 
me,  and  assure  you  that  I  am  sitting  at  the  feet  of  the 
impersonal  Christ,  obeying  the  leadings  of  Truth  and 
Love — our    Father- Mother    God.      I    am    not    idly 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  653 

waiting,  but  am  actively  employed  in  the  study  of  the 
Bible,  Science  and  Health,  and  our  Leader's  other 
writings,  and  in  attending  to  my  correspondence.  I 
am  constantly  working  for  the  Cause,  for  my  students, 
and  for  all  mankind.  My  life  is  one  paean  of  praise 
to  God  for  His  greatest  gift  to  me,  my  revered  Leader 
and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  has  led  us  to 
Christ,  who  has  given  us  Christian  Science,  the  key  to 
immortality,  health,  holiness,  heaven — here  and  now. 
Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  19,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  enclosing  some  lines  which  came  to  me  last 
week,  and  which  apply  to  you  first,  last,  and  always. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  .  .  gathered  the  large  sheaf  of  wheat 
from  their  farm,  and  sent  it  by  Mrs.  R.  .  .  .  I  am 
speechless  in  my  effort  to  convey  to  my  faithful 
students  the  wonderful  spiritual  sense  which  has  come 
to  me  since  some  of  my  dear  students  were  ready  to 
emerge  from  material  organization.  I  seemed  to  be 
held  somewhat  to  the  temporal  sense  of  persons  and 
things,  but,  when  some  of  the  members  of  the  student- 
body  were  detached  from  their  anchorage  to  a  material 
organization,  and  many  others  were  ready  to  begin 
to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  I  felt 
that  I  could  rise  more  joyously  with  Christ,  and  lay 
my  jewels  in  his  hands. 

I  have  no  words  which  will  even  faintly  express  my 
peace,  and  power,  and  joy,  and  my  sacred  sense  of 
my  oneness  with  God  and  with  my  blessed  Leader. 


654  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

I  know  that  I  feel  her  encircling  arms,  and  no  power 
nor  claim  of  a  power  opposed  to  God  can  make  me 
believe  that  she  is  not  with  me,  an  invisible  spiritual 
presence  waiting  for  me  to  open  my  spiritual  eyes, 
and  behold  her.  I  know  that  material  sense  is  dis- 
appearing, and  that  spiritual  sense  will  reveal  God, 
man,  and  the  universe  to  me. 

I  trust  that  you  are  enjoying  your  vacation  and  will 
improve  the  time  in  spiritualizing  your  thought.  Give 
much  love  to  dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  . 

Faithfully,  affectionately  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Note — The  poem  referred  to  appears  on  page  366. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  16,  iqio. 
Dear  Mr.  I.  .  .  ; — 

Your  letter  surprises  me.  I  must  state  my  position 
in  regard  to  my  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
as  evidently  you  do  not  understand  it,  or  you  would 
not  condemn  me  for  defending  her  and  her  teaching. 
To  me  she  is  the  highest  manifestation  of  good,  of 
Love,  on  earth  to-day.  I  have  walked  the  thorn-road 
for  many  years,  and  have  been  encouraged  and  strength- 
ened always  by  her  Christly  life,  her  holy  example,  and 
her  demonstration  of  her  teachings. 

Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  and 
her  other  writings  were  God-inspired.  I  study  them 
day  and  night,  together  with  the  Holy  Bible  and  The 
Mother  Church  Manual,  and  they  are  leading  me  to 
understand  the  deep  things  of  God,  and  to  demonstrate 
the  Truth,  so  far  as  I  understand  it.  I  find  myself 
continually  thanking  God  for  Christ  Jesus  and  for  my 
revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  who  has  led  me  to  see 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  655 

how  the  deeds  of  Christ  were  wrought,  and  how  to 
love  as  he  loved. 

In  the  words  of  Paul,  I  declare  that  "neither  death, 
nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor 
things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor 
depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  sep- 
arate us  [me]  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord,"  nor  from  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who 
in  this  age  shows  us  the  Christ-principle,  and  leads 
us  out  of  the  belief  of  life  in  matter  into  the  under- 
standing of  life  in  Mind,  God. 

Human  language  is  inadequate  to  express  my  love  for 
God,  for  His  Christ,  and  for  my  precious  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy.  Please  read  the  6th  Chapter  of  2  Corinthians. 
I  am  following  Truth,  and  am  bringing  every  thought 
into  obedience  to  Christ,  as  fast  as  I  can  demonstrate. 

I  rejoice  that  I  am  walking  in  the  way  our  Master 
and  our  beloved  Leader  have  trod.  She  is  following 
Christ,  and  I  follow  as  she  leads.  I  do  not  see  the 
distant  path,  nor  can  I  always  understand  the  present 
footsteps  which  lead  me  out  of  material  sense  into 
Soul,  until  I  have  obeyed  the  teaching  of  the  Bible 
and  Science  and  Health  "with  Key  to  the  Scriptures. 
Then  my  spiritual  sense  illumines  the  way,  and  I 
press  forward  to  the  mark  of  the  prize — immortality. 
Through  material  sense  no  one  can  understand  either 
the  Bible  or  Science  and  Health.  This  is  why  I  work 
so  continuously  in  my  Leader's  writings,  that  Christ, 
Truth,  may  unfold  my  spiritual  sense,  and  reveal  the 
eternal  verities  of  God  and  His  spiritual  universe. 

Finite  mortal  man,  so-called,  evolves  sickness,  sin, 
and  death — a  universe  composed  of  beliefs — illusions,  in 
which  is  no  life,  intelligence,  nor  substance.  Jesus  de- 
nounced this  material  man  as  a  liar  from  the  begin- 


656  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

ning.  How  often  I  exclaim  with  Paul:  "Who  shall 
deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death?"  Truth, 
as  taught  first  by  Jesus,  and  to-day  by  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  will  set  us  free,  if  we  endure  unto  the  end  of  all 
belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  God. 

I  am  not  in  a  material  organization,  but  I  never 
have  refused  to  obey  constituted  authority — the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church — even  though  I  felt 
they  were  wrong.  My  interpretation  of  Science  and 
Health  differed  from  theirs.  I  accepted  their  verdict — 
to  be  dropped  from  The  Mother  Church  membership — 
with  no  sense  of  resentment  or  retaliation.  I  could 
not  resign  my  convictions  and  my  spiritual  interpre- 
tation of  the  Bible  and  of  our  Leader's  writings.  They 
acted  according  to  their  interpretation  of  Science  and 
Health.  My  explanation  of  divine  metaphysics  was 
apparently  unintelligible  to  them.  I  was  perfectly 
content  to  leave  the  question  with  God,  the  just 
Judge,  whose  decision  will  be  rendered  in  His  own  time. 
Sooner  or  later  all  must  begin  to  "build  ...  on  a 
wholly  spiritual  foundation  "  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  My  students  and  I  are  striving  to 
worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  We  are  waiting 
on  divine  Love  to  lead  us  to  the  true  fold,  and 
to  the  one  Shepherd — Christ.  Love  will  form  Her 
perfect  concept,  and  we  shall  finally  see  the  perfect 
man  in  our  brother  and  sister. 
Very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  3,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  aver  that  I  am  trusting  divine  Love  to  provide 
for  my  every  need  through  Her  own  avenues,   and 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  657 

then  I  seem  so  surprised  when  She  finds  channels, 
and  my  needs  are  met  in  the  affluence  of  Her  love. 
We  are  so  used  to  the  cruel  taskmaster,  mortal 
mind  (so-called),  with  its  selfishness  and  greed,  its 
envy  and  limitations,  that  we  find  ourselves  slow  to 
grasp  the  selfless  love  that  "seeketh  not  her  own," 
but  another's  good,  and  sacrifices  to  cheer  another's 
way. 

I  find  more  and  more  evidence  of  the  great  unfolding 
of  Love  in  myself  and  in  my  beloved  students,  as  we 
strive  against  material  sense- testimony.  I  have  so 
long  fought  for  my  immortal,  conscious  selfhood — 
my  oneness  with  Principle — and  have  had  to  suffer  so 
publicly  for  the  stand  I  have  taken  for  immortality, 
and  mental  practice  in  Christian  Science,  as  taught 
me  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  that  I  rejoice  to  see  our  beloved 
Leader's  article  in  to-day's  Sentinel.  I  feared  lest 
some  would  be  led  astray  by  the  false  teaching  which 
seems  to  prevail  at  present ;  but  my  Leader  has  waited 
until  all  are  sifted,  and  then  has  spoken.  The  wheat 
and  tares  have  been  separated  by  the  fan  of  Christian 
Science.  Her  words  confirm  our  position:  "You  can 
never  demonstrate  spirituality  until  you  declare  your- 
self to  be  immortal  and  understand  that  you  are 
so.  .  .  .  In  practising  Christian  Science  you  must  state 
its  Principle  correctly,  or  you  forfeit  your  ability  to 
demonstrate  it"  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xiii., 
p.  10). 

I  thank  you,  dear,  for  your  strong  reflection  of 
spiritual  sense,  which  supports  me  through  the  crucifix- 
ion of  my  human  selfhood  and  my  hourly  resurrection. 
God  bless  you  forever. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
4* 


658  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  21,  19 10. 

Dear  Mr.  W.  .  .  : — 

The  tribute  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
which  appears  in  your  magazine,  was  evidently  written 
by  one  who  "knew  her  but  to  love  her. "  Any  eulogy 
that  could  be  written  of  her  would  be  "to  gild  refined 
gold. "  But  the  great  moral  and  spiritual  work  which 
she  did  for  herself  and  for  humanity,  the  mighty 
wrestlings  to  overcome  and  rise  superior  to  the  false 
belief  of  mind  in  matter,  the  constant  persecution  which 
followed  her  spiritual  unfolding  as  she  met  the  enmity 
of  the  carnal  mind,  which  is  opposed  to  Spirit — all 
this  battle  between  Truth  and  error,  or  the  conflict 
between  Spirit  and  flesh,  impelled  her  to  rise  to  the 
zenith  of  demonstration  of  the  law  of  God — eternal 
Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

The  great  spiritual  blessings  which  flow  from  the 
life,  example,  and  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  if 
fully  comprehended,  would  place  her  in  the  very  heart 
of  hearts  of  mankind,  as  the  loving  friend  and  emanci- 
pator from  the  ills  of  the  fleshly  mind,  and  would  endear 
her  to  the  entire  world  as  a  universal  benefactor,  who 
still  lives,  and  reflects  the  omnipotence  and  omni- 
presence   of    infinite    Love. 

Those  who  have  spiritual  vision  will  emulate  her 
holy  life,  will  follow  her  Christly  example,  and  will 
patiently  work,  watch,  and  pray  for  spiritual  illumina- 
tion with  which  to  demonstrate  and  behold  man  in 
God's  image  and  likeness. 

I  take  exception,  however,  to  your  writer's  inter- 
pretation of  Christian  Science,  because  it  seems  to 
withhold  from  our  Leader  the  credit  due  her  for  her 
unfaltering  faith  in  God;  her  dauntless  courage  in 
crossing  swords  with  the  enemy,  the  claim  of  mortal 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  659 

mind;  and  her  willingness  to  lay  her  all  on  the  altar 
of  materialism  that  she  might  ascend  to  her  spiritual 
selfhood  in  divine  Mind  and,  by  reviving  the  waning 
faith  of  humanity  in  the  words,  works,  and  demon- 
stration of  Jesus,  might  restore  to  the  world  the  lost 
chord  of  Christ. 

Christian  Science  does  not  teach  vicarious  atone- 
ment. In  Christian  Science  man  must  work  out  his 
own  salvation,  and  by  putting  off  "the  old  man  [human 
will]  with  his  deeds,"  and  putting  on  the  new  man  in 
Christ  Jesus,  make  his  atonement  with  Mind,  God. 
This  necessitates  constant  communion  with  God.  The 
spiritual  animus,  or  will  of  God,  stirs  the  so-called 
mortal  will,  or  belief,  to  resistance,  which  compels 
the  strife  between  the  human  and  the  divine,  until 
error,  driven  to  its  utmost  limits,  destroys  itself,  and 
the  ideal  man,  spiritual  and  perfect,  is  revealed  in  the 
image  and  likeness  of  God,  perfect  Principle  and 
perfect  idea,   perfect   cause  and  perfect  effect — man. 

Let  me  quote  the  words  of  the  writer:  "The 
Principle  which  Mrs.  Eddy  discovered  in  1866  has 
sustained  her  for  forty-five  years."  The  Principle 
which  Mrs.  Eddy  discovered  in  1866  is  God,  and 
He  sustains  His  own  idea,  His  reflection,  throughout 
eternity. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says,  referring  to  Jesus,  "Out  of  reach 
of  the  barbarity  of  his  enemies,  he  was  acting  under 
spiritual  law  in  defiance  of  matter  and  mortality,  and 
that  spiritual  law  sustained  him"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  43).  Again  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "man,  di- 
vorced from  Spirit,  would  lose  his  entity.  But  there 
is,  there  can  be,  no  such  division,  for  man  is  co- 
existent with  God"  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  477,  478). 

Christian   Science,   as  taught   by   Mrs.   Eddy,   our 


660  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

beloved  and  revered  Leader,  acknowledges  but  one 
God,  one  Principle  or  great  primal  cause,  Mind, 
Spirit,  Soul — and  man  as  "The  compound  idea  of 
infinite  Spirit;  the  spiritual  image  and  likeness  of 
God;  the  full  representation  of  Mind"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  591).  Again,  on  page  475,  in  answer  to 
the  question  "What  is  man?"  I  read:  "Man  is  not 
matter;  he  is  not  made  up  of  brain,  blood,  bones,  and 
other  material  elements.  The  Scriptures  inform  us 
that  man  is  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God. 
Matter  is  not  that  likeness.  .  .  .  Man  is  spiritual  and 
perfect ;  and  because  he  is  spiritual  and  perfect,  he  must 
be  so  understood  in  Christian  Science." 

Understanding  this  divine  Principle  of  being, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  as  she  approached  the  valley  and  shadow 
of  death,  knowing  that  death  is  but  a  shadow,  an 
illusion  of  finite  sense,  which  must  be  met  and  dis- 
solved with  the  light  of  spiritual  understanding — as 
she  approached  this  valley,  she  declared,  "God  is  my 
life. "  Like  the  first  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science, 
Jesus  the  Christ,  who  at  this  supreme  moment  of  his 
demonstration,  cried,  "My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
Thou  forsaken  me?"  she,  with  sublime  faith  in  the 
Principle  of  being,  knew  that  her  life  was  "hid  with 
Christ  in  God." 

Jesus  triumphed  over  the  belief  of  the  flesh,  or  the 
embodiment  of  so-called  mortal  mind.  He  passed 
through  all  the  conditions  of  death  and  the  sepulchre, 
rolled  back  the  stone,  or  belief  of  matter  as  sentient 
substance,  and  appeared  in  visible  form  to  his  disciples. 
Christian  Science  teaches  that  here  or  hereafter  "The 
divine  must  overcome  the  human  at  every  point" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  43).  Thus  we  see  that  man 
must  manifest  his  spiritual  identity,  and  they  who 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  661 

have  developed  the  spiritual  senses  will  see  God  in  the 
face  of  man.  "Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart:  for  they 
shall  see  God,"  said  the  master  Metaphysician,  Jesus 
the  Christ. 

Again  I  quote  from  the  article:  "Christian  Science 
does  not  in  any  degree  differ  in  theory  from  the  teach- 
ings of  Jesus;  both  are  followed  by  the  same  results." 
I  agree  with  the  author  of  this  statement.  The  divine 
element  in  Jesus  was  his  spiritual  consciousness,  or 
the  reflection  of  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love — the 
law  of  Spirit,  which  annuls  the  false  claim  of  the  so- 
called  material  law. 

Paul  said,  "For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in 
Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin 
and  death"  (Romans  viii.,  2).  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
"Our  law  refuses  to  recognize  Man  as  sick  or  dying, 
but  holds  him  to  be  forever  in  the  image  and  likeness 
of  his  Maker"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  441). 

There  is  but  one  law,  and  one  law-giver,  the  eternal, 
unchangeable,  all-wise,  all-loving  Father,  God.  Ac- 
cording to  Christian  Science  there  is  no  other  creator, 
no  other  law  but  the  law  of  the  spirit  of  Life,  God  and 
man,  co-existent  and  co-eternal. 

Jesus  demonstrated  over  death  and  the  tomb;  he 
"vanquished  every  material  obstacle,  overcame  every 
law  of  matter,  and  stepped  forth  from  his  gloomy 
resting-place,  crowned  with  the  glory  of  a  sublime 
success,  an  everlasting  victory"  {Science  and  Health, 

P-  45). 

Jesus  manifested  himself  to  his  disciples  and  to 
"five  hundred  brethren  at  once,"  after  his  resurrection 
and  during  his  probationary  experience.  But,  because 
of  their  materiality  (they  believed  that  Jesus  had  died), 
they  were  not  able  to  follow  him  in  his  emergence  from 


662  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

flesh  to  Spirit.  He  never  left  them,  but  said  to  them, 
"Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world"  (the  end  of  the  belief  of  life  in  matter — 
Matthew  xxviii.,  20). 

This  demonstration  of  Jesus  has  been  appropriated 
by  "Spiritualists  "  to  indicate  that  spirits  return  to  earth 
and  hold  communion  with  mortals.  Scholastic  the- 
ology has  regarded  Jesus'  reappearance  to  his  disciples 
as  a  miracle.  Thomas  was  asked  to  put  his  finger  in 
the  print  of  the  nails,  and  to  thrust  his  hand  into 
Jesus'  side,  that  he  might  be  convinced  that  it  was  the 
same  Teacher  who  had  walked  and  talked  with  him 
in  the  flesh.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  in  Science  and  Health, 
page    83: 

Miracles  are  impossible  in  Science,  and  here  Science 
takes  issue  with  popular  religions.  The  scientific  mani- 
festation of  power  is  from  the  divine  nature  and  is  not 
supernatural,  since  Science  is  an  explication  of  nature. 

Again,  on  page  75,  we  also  read:  "Spiritualism 
would  transfer  men  from  the  spiritual  sense  of  existence 
back  into  its  material  sense.  This  gross  materialism 
is  scientifically  impossible,  since  to  infinite  Spirit 
there  can  be  no  matter." 

Again,  I  agree  with  the  writer  that  "Christian 
Science  healing  is  accomplished  by  the  silent  recogni- 
tion that  divine  Mind  is  the  only  power  and  presence, 
a  recognition  which  overcomes  all  the  imperfections 
of  mortal  existence."  But,  to  gain  this  "recognition 
which  overcomes  all  material  imperfections, "  one  must 
first  learn  what  one  has  to  overcome. 

The  Master  had  to  overcome  the  so-called  material 
world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  in  other  words,  the 
belief   of    life,    truth,    substance,   and  intelligence   in 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  663 

matter.  This  false  claim — animal  magnetism,  the 
animal  instinct,  based  upon  the  Adam-dream  found 
in  the  second  chapter  of  Genesis,  which  is  the  his- 
tory of  the  false  creation, — was  the  problem  which 
Jesus,  the  great  Metaphysician,  undertook  to  solve. 
His  was  an  Herculean  task,  as  his  history  bears 
record. 

Jesus  recognized  God  as  the  source  of  all  being, 
the  only  creator  of  man  and  the  universe.  He  per- 
ceived the  spiritual  fact  of  the  universe  including  man, 
and  repudiated  all  claims  to  another  power  called 
mortal  man  and  a  material  universe.  He  claimed 
his  divine  birthright,  his  oneness  with  Spirit,  or  Mind, 
and  began  his  demonstration  of  spiritual  consciousness 
over  the  sensuous  or  human  belief.  He  saw,  from  the 
first,  that  prophets  and  seers,  from  Moses  to  his  hour,  had 
grasped  Truth,  but  had  not  made  a.  final  demonstration 
of  the  supremacy  of  the  law  of  Spirit  over  the  claim  of 
a  material  law,  which  is  manifest  in  sin,  sickness,  and 
death.  He  counted  the  cost  of  an  attack  upon  the 
one  evil  that  had  deceived  the  whole  world  with  the 
lie  that  there  was  a  power  opposed  to  God,  which 
claimed  to  be  a  creator,  and  expressed  itself  in  a 
so-called  man,  composed  of  flesh,  blood,  and  bones, 
and  "subject  to  birth,  growth,  maturity,  decay" 
{Science  and  Health,   p.   305). 

With  this  stupendous  task  of  reversing  the  testimony 
of  the  so-called  carnal  mind  before  him,  trusting  the 
Principle  of  his  being,  God,  the  Father,  having  been 
spiritually  endowed  with  sublime  faith  and  power, 
Jesus  began  his  demonstration  of  the  law  of  Spirit  over 
the  claim  of  a  pseudo  material  law. 

Mrs.  Eddy  refers  to  him  in  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
page  162: 


664  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

He  must    stem    these    rising   angry    elements,  and  walk 
serenely  over  their  fretted,  foaming  billows. 


Clad  with  divine  might,  he  was  ready  to  stem  the  tide 
of  Judaism,  and  prove  his  power,  derived  from  Spirit,  to  be 
supreme ;  lay  himself  as  a  lamb  upon  the  altar  of  materi- 
alism, and  therefrom  rise  to  his  nativity  in  Spirit. 

Thus  we  faintly  perceive  the  responsibility  Jesus 
assumed  when  he  grasped  the  right  hand  of  God,  and 
went  forth  to  conquer  the  evil  in  carnal  mind,  and  to 
prove  the  power  of  man  when  governed  by  God. 

Our  beloved  God-appointed,  God-anointed  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  repeats  the  history  of  Jesus,  our  Way- 
shower,  and  is  the  first  to  discover  the  Science  of  being 
which  Jesus  left  as  a  rich  legacy  to  humanity.  When 
her  mission  dawned  upon  her,  she  clasped  the  hand  of 
omnipotent  Love,  and  humbly,  obediently  accepted 
the  cross,  that  she  might  fulfil  the  law  of  Love  which 
annihilates  sin,  disease,  and  death. 

In  regard  to  this  hour  of  her  experience  in  spiritual 
development,  let  me  quote  her  own  words: 

I  saw  before  me  the  sick,  wearing  out  years  of  servitude 
to  an  unreal  master  in  the  belief  that  the  body  governed 
them,  rather  than  Mind. 

The  lame,  the  deaf,  the  dumb,  the  blind,  the  sick,  the 
sensual,  the  sinner,  I  wished  to  save  from  the  slavery  of 
their  own  beliefs  and  from  the  educational  systems  of  the 
Pharaohs,  who  to-day,  as  of  yore,  hold  the  children  of 
Israel  in  bondage.  I  saw  before  me  the  awful  conflict, 
the  Red  Sea  and  the  wilderness;  but  I  pressed  on  through 
faith  in  God,  trusting  Truth,  the  strong  deliverer,  to 
guide  me  into  the  land  of  Christian  Science,  where  fetters 
fall  and  the  rights  of  man  are  fully  known  and  acknowledged 
(Science  and  Health,  pp.  226,  227). 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  665 

Of  the  truth  which  God  revealed  to  her  on  the 
"Mount,"  in  the  two  books,  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  The  Mother  Church  Manual, 
Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "No  human  pen  nor  tongue  taught 
me  the  Science  contained  in  this  book,  Science  and 
Health;  and  neither  tongue  nor  pen  can  overthrow  it" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.   no). 

The  Holy  Bible  was  written  by  God-inspired  men. 
Moses  came  down  from  the  "Mount"  with  the  two 
tables  of  stone — the  law  of  God,  which  he  was  to  enforce 
as  God's  representative  and  demonstrator.  From 
Genesis  to  Revelation,  the  law  of  God  has  proved  its 
own  self-protection  from  the  hand  of  the  profane 
writer.  The  last  words  of  John,  the  beloved  disciple, 
are  found  in  the  22d  chapter  of  Revelation,  18th  and 
19th  verses: 

For  I  testify  unto  every  man  that  heareth  the  words  of 
the  prophecy  of  this  book,  If  any  man  shall  add  unto  these 
things,  God  shall  add  unto  him  the  plagues  that  are 
written  in  this  book : 

And  if  any  man  shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the 
book  of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his  part  out 
of  the  book  of  life,  and  out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
things  which  are  written  in  this  book. 

Science  and  Health  and  The  Mother  Church  Manual, 
by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  were  God-inspired,  and  no  word 
can  be  added  to  them,  nor  any  word  taken  from  them 
under  penalty   of  infraction  of  the  law  of   God. 

The  beloved  disciple  foresaw  the  second  appearing 
of  Christ,  and  welcomed  the  reappearing  of  the  ideal 
man,  the  "king  of  kings,  and  lord  of  lords,"  who 
was  to  reign  forever  and  ever,  victor  over  death  and 
the  tomb.     In  joyous  anticipation  of  the  coming  of  his 


666    Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Lord,  he  heard  the  voice,  "Surely  I  come  quickly, " 
and  replied  to  this  heavenly  messenger,  "Even  so, 
come,  Lord  Jesus"  (Rev.  xxii.,  20). 

The  following  telegram,  sent  to  our  beloved  Leader 
four  years  ago,  expresses  my  thought  at  this  hour: 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  November  1,  1906. 
To  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 
Beloved  and  Revered  Leader: — My  students,  assembled 
to-day  at  the  annual  meeting  of  their  Association,  unite 
with  me  in  conveying  to  you  our  loyal  love.  We  re-affirm 
our  instant,  constant  allegiance.  We  are  individually 
watching  and  working  with  you,  realizing  that  we  also 
rise  with  you  in  proportion  to  our  understanding  and 
demonstration  of  your  teaching,  by  precept  and  example, 
of  the  eternal  law  which  governs  and  controls  all  created 
things.  Because,  in  this  sacred  hour,  from  your  cloistered 
communion  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High,  you  are 
demonstrating  the  immortality  of  Life  manifest  in  indi- 
vidual man,  we  look  for  the  appearing  of  the  ideal  man,  made 
in  God's  image  and  likeness,  never  to  disappear, — reflecting 
forever  the  presence,  power,  and  peace  of  the  eternal  Mind. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
President  of  the  Students'  Association  of  the  New  York 
City  Christian  Science  Institute. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  14,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  E.  .  .  : — 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  asking  if  it  is  my 
intention  to  "carry  on  the  work  accomplished  by  the 
late  Mrs.  Eddy,  either  in  Boston  or  New  York." 

I    have    publicly    expressed    my    conviction    that 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  667 

Mrs.  Eddy's  good  work — the  teaching  of  eternal  Life, 
will  be  carried  on  by  her  to  a  final  demonstration, 
and  that  she  will  manifest  the  embodiment  of  spiritual 
consciousness,  her  divine  selfhood,  the  Christ-idea. 
She  will  continue  her  work  in  her  Church,  and  will 
lead  on  the  nations  to  ultimate  emancipation  from  sin, 
disease,  and  death.  She  will  present  her  body  "a 
living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto  God"  (Romans 
xii.,  1).  This  second  coming  of  the  power  of  Truth, 
God,  to  redeem  man  and  woman  from  a  false  men- 
tality, or  belief  of  life  in  matter,  will  be  a  permanent 
dispensation,  when  God  will  dwell  with  men  on  the 
earth,  and  they  shall  be  His  people  and  shall  occupy 
the  new  earth  wherein  there  is  no  sorrow  nor  death. 

Man,  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  is  appearing, 
to  remain  a  visible  manifestation  of  Spirit  or  creative 
Mind.  False  material  concepts  with  their  false  pheno- 
mena, material  forms  and  images  are  disappearing 
under  the  light  of  spiritual  understanding,  which 
dispels   the   darkness   of  the   Adam-dream. 

It  is  my  intention  to  carry  on  my  individual  work  of 
demonstrating  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Bible  and  of 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  which 
my  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  commissioned  me  to 
do  when  she  sent  me  to  New  York  City  to  preach  the 
gospel,  heal  the  sick,  and  awaken  humanity  to  the 
power  of  the  Christ-mind  to  free  from  sin,  disease,  and 
death. 

As  fast  as  I  can  assimilate  Truth  and  Love,  I  free 
myself  from  sin,  which  is  the  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
or  a  power  opposed  to  Spirit,  God,  and  I  teach  and  aid 
others  to  arise  and  claim,  as  children  of  God,  their 
divine  inheritance — eternal  Life.  I  have  faithfully 
obeyed  my  Leader's  instructions,  and  have  striven  to 


668  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

comprehend  and  demonstrate  the  letter  and  the 
spirit  of  her  teachings.  "The  letter  killeth,  but  the 
spirit  giveth  life"  (2  Cor.  iii.,  6).  Mrs.  Eddy  em- 
phasises this,  when  she  says:  "The  vital  part,  the 
heart  and  soul  of  Christian  Science,  is  Love.  Without 
this,  the  letter  is  but  the  dead  body  of  Science, — 
pulseless,    cold,  inanimate"   {Science  and  Health,  p. 

113). 

I  have  proved  divine  metaphysics  to  be  demon- 
strable Truth.  For  twenty-six  years  my  Leader  has 
watched  with  me,  counselled  and  instructed,  and 
prayed  that  my  faith  would  endure  to  the  end,  and 
that  the  persecutions  which  always  attend  a  pioneer 
reformer,  could  not  induce  me  to  sheathe  my  sword — 
the  Word  of  God — until  victory  should  crown  my 
demonstration  of  immutable  Truth.  She  never  re- 
voked this  commission,  but  commended  my  work, 
and  enjoined  upon  me  the  necessity  of  putting  on  the 
whole  armor — truth  and  love,  that  I  might  be  able  to 
resist  the  opposition  of  the  carnal  mind,  and  "having 
done  all,  to  stand"  for  eternal  Life  and  man's  oneness 
with  God. 

My  present  position  seems  aggressive,  but  I  am 
never  heard  in  public  nor  in  private  except  to  defend 
my  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Christian  Science 
text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
and  to  declare  my  unswerving  and  ever-increasing 
loyalty  to  my  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  which  is  my  inalien- 
able  and   God-given   right. 

I  have  been  Pastor,  Reader,  and  teacher  in  my 
church — First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City — during  twenty-four  years.  A  large  number  of 
the  membership  are  my  students  and  friends  who 
agree  with  me  in  my  spiritual  views,  deduced  from  the 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  669 

Bible,  and  Science  and  Health.  There  is  no  contention 
in  this  church  between  those  who  unite  with  me  in 
the  interpretation  of  Mrs.-  Eddy's  teachings,  and  those 
who  hold  opposite  views,  and  who  at  present  have 
authority  in  the  material  affairs  of  the  church.  My 
people  attend  regularly  the  church  which  they  built 
as  a  tribute  to  our  beloved  Leader,  and  they  strive 
to  demonstrate  her  words,  that  "a  silent  grand  man  or 
woman  healing  sickness  and  destroying  sin  builds 
a  heaven-reacher.  Only  that  group  of  men  and 
women  gain  greatness  who  gain  themselves,  in  a  com- 
plete subordination  of  self"  (Letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy 
to  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  vi.,  p.  227). 

This  is  a  mental  battle,  a  conflict  of  opposing  forces, 
the  struggle  for  the  supremacy  of  Spirit  over  the 
fleshly  mind — of  Life  over  death.  Thus,  my  dear 
Mr.  E.  .  .  ,  you  will  agree  with  me  that  I  cannot  retire 
from  active  service  for  God  and  His  Christ,  which  was 
manifest  first  in  Jesus,  and  to-day  in  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
I  have  not  yet  fulfilled  the  law  of  Love,  and  it  is  my 
intention  to  continue  in  the  service  of  Christ;  "to 
watch,  and  pray  for  that  Mind  to  be  in  us  which  was 
also  in  Christ  Jesus;"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  497) 
to  obey  the  will  of  God  and  trust  Him  to  enable  me 
to  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  His  flock.  I  shall  not  prove 
a  coward  in  the  race  for  immortality. 

"God  is  my  life,"  were  the  words  with  which 
Mrs.  Eddy  entered  the  valley  and  shadow  of  darkness, 
to  test  the  light  of  Spirit  to  illumine  her  through  its 
illusion.  Jesus'  experience  and  teaching  would  have 
been  worthless  to  humanity  had  he  failed  in  his  final 
evidence  of  immortal  manhood.  Mrs.  Eddy  says  of 
Jesus : 


670  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Had  Life,  Truth,  and  Love  forsaken  him  in  his  highest 
demonstration?  This  was  a  startling  question.  No! 
They  must  abide  in  him  and-  he  in  them,  or  that  hour 
would  be  shorn  of  its  mighty  blessing  for  the  human  race 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  50) . 

For  two  thousand  years  Christians  have  admitted 
that  Jesus  made  his  demonstration  over  death,  and 
that  he  is  the  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life.  Mrs.  Eddy 
accepted  him  as  the  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life,  and 
said  to  her  followers :  ' '  follow  your  Leader  only  so  far 
as  she  follows  Christ"  (Message  for  1901,  p.  70). 
Therefore  Christian  Scientists  will  continue  to  believe 
her  teachings,  and  will  follow  her  example  in  the 
demonstration  of  "Immanuel,  or  God  with  us" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  34).  God  did  not  fail  the 
meek  and  mighty  Nazarene — His  masculine  representa- 
tive ;  nor  will  He  fail  Mary  Baker  Eddy — His  feminine 
representative  of  good,  God,  who  has  followed  the 
same  Principle — Christ — which  delivered  Jesus. 

Jesus  built  his  church  on  the  foundation  rock — 
Christ.  Mrs.  Eddy  continued  the  building — "The 
structure  of  Truth  and  Love"  (Science  and  Health, 
P-  583),  against  which  "the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail." 

In  regard  to  "Material  organization,"  Mrs.  Eddy 
says  that  it  is  "requisite  in  the  beginning;  but  when  it 
has  done  its  work,  the  purely  Christly  method  of 
teaching  and  preaching  must  be  adopted"  (Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  p.  359).  I  have  gone  through  all 
the  stages  of  material  organization  and  perfected  them. 
I  have  completed  for  myself  the  work  of  material 
organization,  and  am  adopting  the  "purely  Christly 
method." 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  671 

There  is  no  royal  road  to  immortality.  No  one 
can  escape  the  toil,  self-sacrifice,  self-abnegation, 
struggles,  defeats,  and  discouragements  that  are  neces- 
sary to  the  subjugation  of  the  human  during  the 
experience  of  material  organization,  when  the  "old 
man" — Adam,  is  disappearing,  and  the  "new  man" 
in  Christ  is  being  revealed.  All  must  work  through 
material  organization  and  perfect  it  before  they  can 
enter  upon  the  building  of  the  "house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens, "  or  wholly  spiritual 
consciousness — oneness  with  God,  and  from  this  point 
reflect  to  all,  the  Love  which  is  life,  health,  holiness, 
immortality. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  16,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  C.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  has  given  me  much  cause  for  gratitude 
to  God  that  you  have  acknowledged  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  as  the  way-shower  of  to-day  to 
eternal  Life.  You,  as  the  representative  of  your 
Nation's  (China)  consciousness,  have  responded 
to  the  impersonal  Christ  which  Mrs.  Eddy  is 
demonstrating. 

You  are  very  clear  on  the  subject  of  divine  meta- 
physics, and  stand  as  a  rebuke  to  many  who  have 
heard  her  words  and  profess  to  understand  her  teach- 
ings, but  who  show,  by  their  written  words,  and 
conduct,  that  they  never  understood  divine  meta- 
physics, or  Christian  Science.  There  must  be  a 
preparation  "of  the  heart  in  man,  and  the  answer 
of  the  tongue,  .  .  .  from  the  Lord"  ere  the  arm — power 


672   Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

and  presence — of  the  Lord  can  be  revealed.  In  this 
hour  I  realize  the  necessity  for  courageous  faith,  and 
the  unflinching  courage  which  Christ  alone  can  give  me, 
that  I  may  endure  unto  the  end  the  contradiction  of 
the  unillumined,  who,  as  of  yore,  would  crush  out  of 
a  life  its  divine  destiny.  I  have  no  fear  which  divine 
Love,   my   Shepherd,   will  not  dissolve. 

I  know  not  where  His  islands  lift 

Their  fronded  palms  in  air; 
I  only  know  I  cannot  drift 

Beyond  His  love  and  care.1 

The  world  must  awake  and  refuse  to  yield  ready 
assent  to  the  Adam  argument  that  death  is  inevitable, 
since  death  was  overcome  two  thousand  years  ago  by 
our  Master,  who  proved  that  he  was  alive  and  aotive, 
and  on  the  same  earth  which  mortals  supposed  he  had 
left.  His  present  followers  should  believe  in  his 
words,  accept  his  demonstration,  and  resist  the  false 
mentality  which  he  resisted;  deny  sense  testimony 
as  he  denied  it,  and  fight  for  the  supremacy  of  the 
Christ-mind  over  the  carnal.  Materialistic  reason 
and  false  logic  have  driven  man  from  God's  earth 
at  the  moment  of  seeming  death,  and  blind  belief 
has  refused  to  accept  the  possibility  that  man  can 
reappear. 

The  Bible  teaches  that  man,  the  divine  idea,  not 
so-called  mortal  man,  is  one  with  God — His  child; 
that  God  and  man  are  inseparable;  that  there  is  but 
one  God,  and  one  universe,  or  manifestation  of  God, 
the  only  cause.  We  are  also  taught  that  God  fills  all 
space;  that  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness 

« Whittier. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  673 

thereof."  Then  if  God  is  ever-present,  His  universe, 
including  every  idea  composing  it,  must  be  ever-present ; 
for  the  universe,  embracing  man,  cannot  be  separated 
from  God. 

The  question  arises,  where  does  man  go  when  he 
passes  through  the  experience  called  death?  Jesus, 
the  master  Metaphysician,  taught  mankind  the  im- 
mortality of  the  divine  consciousness,  and,  when 
humanity  gains  the  spiritual  sense  of  God,  man  and 
the  universe,  it  will  not  look  for  the  disappearance 
of  man  from  the  earth,  but  for  his  continued  mani- 
festation as  the  ideal,  indestructible  man  of  God's 
creating,  whose  ever-presence  he  reflects. 

All  the  powers  of  suppositional  evil — the  belief 
that  mortal  thought  and  its  matter  embodiment  is 
man — can  never  prevent  me  from  declaring  the  reality 
of  Life,  and  the  illusion  of  death.  Spiritual  sight  must 
increase,  and  material  sight  must  gradually  decrease 
until  the  final  revelation  of  the  true  man,  as  never 
having  died,  never  having  been  absent  from  God's 
earth. 

I  labor  indefatigably  for  the  Mind  of  Christ,  which 
destroys  the  belief  of  a  false  mentality  and  its  embodi- 
ment, that  has  deceived  the  whole  world  by  its  claim 
to  life,  substance,  and  intelligence.  Paul  said,  "Awake 
thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ 
shall  give  thee  light"  (Eph.  v.,  14).  Where  are  the 
soldiers  of  Christ  who  shall  proclaim  from  the  house- 
tops, "Man  is  immortal!  God  is  his  life!  He  cannot 
be  separated  from  the  source  of  his  being — Spirit, 
Mind,  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth"  ? 

Again  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  letter. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
43 


674  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  19,  191 1. 

Dear  Mrs.  D.  .  .  : — 

Your  favor  is  received.  As  I  have  publicly  declared, 
I  firmly  believe  that  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
will  make  a  final  demonstration  over  the  belief  of 
death  and  the  tomb.  For  twenty-six  years  I  have 
studied  the  Bible  in  connection  with  Science  and 
Health,  and  I  can  come  to  no  other  conclusion. 
Science  and  Health  is  illumined  with  the  light  of  Truth, 
and  every  page  claims  immortality  as  our  present 
inheritance. 

In  all  her  writings,  Mrs.  Eddy  points  to  the  spiritual 
man  and  the  spiritual  universe  as  the  real  and  only 
facts  of  being.  Jesus  taught  the  possibility  of  demon- 
strating the  dominion  of  Mind  over  matter,  of  Spirit 
over  flesh,  and  he  proved  it.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "follow 
your  Leader  only  so  far  as  she  follows  Christ"  {Mes- 
sage for  iqoi,  p.  70).  She  has  followed  him,  in  his 
demonstration,  to  the  tomb,  and  I  look  for  her  to  follow 
him  out  of  the  tomb,  and  to  reveal  herself  to  her  follow- 
ers and  to  the  world.  Christ  will  come  the  second 
time  to  them  who  "look"  for  him,  and  Mrs.  Eddy  will 
demonstrate  her  Christ  identity,  the  truth  of  being, 
in  God's  time  and  way. 

This  is  my  firm  conviction,  strengthened  by  every 
word  of  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  and  our  beloved  Leader's  other  writ- 
ings. Read  Science  and  Health,  page  508,  beginning 
at  the  28th  line;  also  page  209,  beginning  at  line  29 
to   next   page,    12th   line. 

Let  us  hold  fast  to  our  confidence  in  the  ability  of 
our  Leader  to  demonstrate  her  teachings,  and  to  come 
forth  from  the  belief  of  a  tomb  into  the  majesty  of 
a  glorious  victory  over  the  illusion  of  a  material  body. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  675 

Mrs.  Eddy  never  rebuked  me  for  false  teaching, 
but  always  commended  my  interpretation  and  demon- 
stration of  Christian  Science.  I  had  to  make  my  own 
demonstration  of  Christian  Science,  of  healing  the 
sick  and  sinful  and  building  the  church  edifice  in 
New  York  City  to  prove  the  power  of  divine  Love, 
and  my  own  understanding  of  Christian  Science  to 
deliver  me.  I  have  met  and  mastered  the  opposition 
of  materialism,  and  rejoice  in  perfect  health,  happiness, 
and  a  love  for  God  and  man,  which  makes  evil  power- 
less to  turn  me  from  my  unswerving  devotion  to  Chris- 
tian Science,  to  my  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  her  teachings  of  divine  metaphysics,  as  found  in 
all  her  writings. 

Wait  patiently  on  the  Lord,  and,  in  God's  own 
time,  whether  months  or  years,  He  will  manifest 
Himself  through  our  Leader  by  her  reappearance. 
Thought  must  be  spiritualized,  and  this  process  of 
spiritual  growth  should  engage  our  attention  and 
efforts,  until  purified  thought  beholds  the  divine  idea, 
where  once  we  beheld  the  image  of  the  material  con- 
cept. When  we  arrive  at  Christ  Jesus'  concept,  we 
shall  behold  the  perfect  man  in  the  image  and  likeness 
of  God.  John  says:  "Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God." 
Let  us  prove  this. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  30,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  E.  .  .  : — 

It  is  kind  of  you  to  acknowledge  the  copy  of  the 
Independent  in  such  an  interesting  letter.  I  ventured 
to  send  you  my  article  as  I  remembered  you  were  an 


676  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

editor,  and  thought  perhaps  you  might  be  interested 
to  hear  my  defense  of  the  position  I  have  taken. 

I  adhere  strictly  to  the  rules  of  divine  metaphysics, 
as  found  in  our  text-book,  Science  and  Health,  which  I 
have  demonstrated  for  twenty-six  years.  I  have  every 
reason  to  believe  that  Truth  will  enable  Mrs.  Eddy 
to  make  her  demonstration  in  verification  of  her  teach- 
ings. There  are  few  in  this  hour  who  are  willing  to 
live  the  life  of  Christ,  and  thus  gain  spiritual  under- 
standing of  the  power  with  which  God  has  endowed 
man.  They  do  not  "walk  .  .  .  after  the  Spirit," 
therefore  they  are  unable  to  comprehend  the  "things 
of  the  Spirit."  This  is  the  reason  of  the  present 
condition  among  some  calling  themselves  Christian 
Scientists. 

I  declare  that  I  am  immortal,  but  that  does  not 
mean  that  I  have  destroyed  all  the  beliefs  of  the  so- 
called  human  mind.  My  opponents  say  that  they  are 
mortal,  and  they  do  not  believe  it  possible  to  demon- 
strate over  death  and  the  grave  for  centuries,  there- 
fore they  will  not.  Mortal  man  is  sure  to  objectify  his 
thought  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

I  am  confident,  Mr.  E.  .  .  ,  that  you  can  understand 
my  article  if  you  read  it  thoughtfully.  It  will  appeal 
to  your  divinity,  your  Christ-mind.  Many  are  telling 
me  that  what  seemed  incomprehensible  at  first  reading 
became  clearer  at  every  repetition.  Begin  with  the 
premise,  "all  causation  is  Mind"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  417).  There  is  but  one  Mind — eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  God,  Principle.  Then  realize 
that  every  effect  is  a  mental  phenomenon.  The 
spiritual  universe  and  spiritual  man  are  the  expression 
of  this  one  and  only  real  and  eternal  consciousness,  or 
Mind,  and  this  real  man  and  universe  we  must  reveal. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  677 

There  is  a  claim  called  mortal  mind — the  Adam- 
dream  in  which  all  die.  This  is  a  false  mentality  and 
has  deceived  the  whole  world.  Jesus  detected  it, 
called  it  a  lie,  and  with  his  spiritual  power  vanquished 
death,  and  rose  above  the  temporal  to  his  spiritual 
selfhood.  This  false  mentality  evolves  false  pheno- 
mena— sin,  sickness,  and  death,  and  these  are  the 
works  of  the  so-called  devil,  or  evil  thoughts. 

Mrs.  Eddy  will  rise  to  the  supreme  mental  test  of 
spiritual  ascendency  over  the  belief  that  matter — 
concrete,  brass,  steel,  iron,  and  sod  are  substance, 
and  that  they  can  prevent  the  spiritual,  eternal  idea 
(whom  God  created,  controls,  and  sustains),  from 
manifesting  the  omnipresent  creator  in  His  ideal  man, 
her  divine  individuality. 

Spirit  is  Light.  Mortal  beliefs  are  darkness.  The 
Bible  and  Science  and  Health  teach  us  the  power  and 
presence  of  Truth,  and  our  oneness  with  God  and  His 
Christ.  The  following  Bible  statements  are  practical, 
for  Spirit  is  omnipotent,  and  whoever  reflects  most 
of  Spirit  believes  the  hour  now  is,  when  these  state- 
ments   will    be    proved: 

"For  He  hath  broken  the  gates  of  brass  [the 
belief  in  a  bronze  casket],  and  cut  the  bars  of  iron 
[reliance  on  steel  and  concrete]  in  sunder"  (Psalm 
cvii.,  16). 

To  know  that  "trenchant  Truth"  {Christian  Science 
Journal,  vol.  xxii.,  p.  258)  cuts  through  the  mists  of 
material  phenomena,  and  disperses  illusions,  is  to 
know  that  "with  God  all  things  are  possible,"  and 
that  Christ,  Truth,  will  come  the  second  time  and  this 
time  through  woman,  to  triumph  over  death  and  the 
grave.  My  faith  and  understanding  cannot  be  shaken. 
I  have  learned  why  I  was  so  offensive  to  those  in 


678  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

authority,  and  why  I  was  sustained  to  support  the 
true  teaching  of  our  great  Leader.  It  was  "trouble- 
some Truth"  which  the  human  sense  always  resists. 
I  could  weep  over  the  lack  of  spiritual  understanding 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Christian  Scientists.  They  are 
not  holding  up  the  banner  of  divine  metaphysics. 
Even  the  ordinary  thinker  sees  that  if  one  accepts  the 
text-book,  he  cannot  contradict  the  statements  which 
run  throughout  its  pages. 

There  are  many  who  say  that  because  I  believe  in, 
and  defend  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching,  that  I  am  most 
consistent,  and  they  commend  my  courage.  I  will 
send  you  a  reply  to  a  theologian  who  wrote  to  know 
if  I  were  really  proved  a  malpractitioner.  He  was  in 
sympathy  with  me  because  he  saw  the  inconsistencies 
of  my  opponents.  I  certainly  was  not  proved  a 
malpractitioner.  As  this  question  may  not  have  been 
fully  answered  in  my  letter  to  you,  I  will  ask  you  to 
read  my  reply  to  him  and  return  it  to  me.  This 
gentleman  is  a  professor  in  the  Boston  Theological 
University,  and  he  has  written,  since  receiving  my 
letter,  and  commended  my  stand  "if  I  believe  in 
•Christian  Science. " 

I,  with  my  students  and  followers,  seem  to  be  the  only 
ones  who  declare  for  the  possibility  of  a  demonstration 
of  Life  over  death  by  our  great  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 

You  see  how  fully  I  am  imbued  with  spiritual 
conviction.  It  must  be  the  power  of  the  Spirit  which 
sustains  me ;  for,  of  myself,  I  could  not  endure  such  an 
isolated  position  in  the  Field.  The  thinking  world 
seems  to  comprehend  my  scientific  attitude  better 
than  many  who  call  themselves  Christian  Scientists. 
I  have  a  large  number  of  students  and  friends  who 
are  clear  on  the  possibilities  of  the  demonstration  of 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  679 

our  Leader.  We  may  not  for  years  be  able  to  rise  to 
final  victory  over  the  last  enemy,  death,  but  we  are 
working  with  this  glorious  end  in  view. 

I  must  beg  your  tolerance  and  charity  as  I  impose 
upon  you  this  long  letter.  I  have  forgotten  to  forget 
self. 

The  lady  to  whom  you  refer  may  be  a  most  worthy 
Christian  Scientist,  and  your  test  of  her  metaphysical 
understanding  of  the  text-book,  her  adherence  to  its 
teachings,  and  her  attitude  towards  Mrs.  Eddy,  our 
revered  Leader,  will  decide  where  she  stands.  I  hope 
there  is  nothing  coming,  through  her  close  proximity 
to  you  in  the  same  building,  that  will  cloud  you  in 
regard  to  true  Christian  Science.  There  is  not  the 
harmony  in  the  ranks  there  should  be,  nor  that  there 
will  be  when  "Science  separates  the  wheat  from  the 
tares"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  300),  a  process  which 
is  now  apparent.  Few  to-day  grasp  the  true  meta- 
physics of  Christian  Science,  and  many  fall  short 
of  demonstration.  Envy  appears  to-day  as  in  the 
past,  and  the  good  rise  through  persecution. 
I  will  not  longer  presume  upon  your  kindness. 
Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  2,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  L.  .  .  : — 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  and  frank  criticism 
of  my  article  in  The  Independent. 

You  surely  will  not  ignore  divine  metaphysics  in 
judging  my  statement,  nor  agree  with  Dr.  H.  .  .  that 
it  is  "sublime  hysterics,"  for  it  is  based  entirely  upon 
this   hypothesis — the  allness    of    God — eternal     Life. 


680  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

This  implies  the  nothingness  of  all  that  is  unlike  God. 
Let  me  refer  you  to  the  definition  of  the  word  divine, 
according  to  the  Standard  Dictionary. 

"Divine: — Pertaining    to,    proceeding    or    derived 

from,   or  of  the  nature  of  God." 
Thus  you  see  I  am  arguing  from  the  only  causation 
which  Christian  Science  admits — divine  Mind,  intelli- 
gence, wisdom,  or  consciousness. 

Definition  of  theology — "The  branch  of  theological 
science  that  treats  of  God"  (not  of  the  opposite 
of  God,  which  is  the  so-called  carnal  mind  and 
its  phenomena — mortal  man    and   the   material 
universe). 
Definition  of  metaphysics — "The  branch  of  philo- 
sophy that  deals  with  the  conceptions  or  principles 
at  the  basis  of  all  phenomena,  including  being,  real- 
ity, substance;  .  .  .  the  science  of  real  .  .  .  being." 
God  alone  is  real  and  eternal,  and  He  is  expressed 
in  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe.     This  is 
the  "substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of 
things  not  seen"  (by  the  material  senses),  but  only 
by  spiritual  sense. 

The  definition  of  the  word  substance  (according 
to  Science  and  Health,  page  468)  is  "that  which  is 
eternal  and  incapable  of  discord  and  decay."  There- 
fore the  basis  of  all  phenomena  is  God,  the  only  creator, 
and  His  creation  must  be  immortal — the  manifestation 
of  the  one  and  only  reality,  God  and  His  Christ, 
including  every  individual  member  composing  the 
body  of  Christ. 

I  do  not  admit  two  powers  as  real.  I  declare,  in 
the  words  of  my  Leader,  that  "Spirit  is  infinite;  there- 
fore Spirit  is  all"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol. 
xi.,  p.  390).      All  phenomena  which  express  not  this 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  68 1 

one  and  only  cause — eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love, 
I  declare  to  be  false,  temporal,  the  Adam-dream  or 
mythological  creation  in  which  all  die.  My  conten- 
tion is  against  the  false  mortal  thought,  the  carnal 
mind  which  is  manifested  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 
Christian  Scientists  understand  the  power  of  the 
Christ-mind  in  the  degree  that  they  possess  and 
demonstrate  it. 

It  is  Spirit  and  the  spiritual  "thought-force,  which 
launched  the  earth  in  its  orbit  and  said  to  the  proud 
wave,  'Thus  far  and  no  farther'"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  124).  It  is  the  law  of  omnipotent  Life, 
which  Paul  declared  makes  us  free  from  the  so-called 
law  of  sin  and  death.  Spiritual  thought,  which  pro- 
ceeds from  God  and  is  substance,  destroys  the  seeming 
force  of  material  thought  and  its  phenomena,  which  is 
shadow,  appearing  and  disappearing. 

Twenty-six  years  ago  I  "enlisted  to  lessen  evil,  dis- 
ease, and  death"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  450),  accord- 
ing to  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ,  which  our 
great  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  had  discovered  to 
be  demonstrable  Truth,  as  taught  and  proved  by 
Christ  Jesus.  During  all  this  time  I  have  declared 
for  the  power  of  spiritual  thought,  or  the  Mind  of 
Christ  in  the  healing  of  sickness  and  sin.  I  have 
wrestled  with  the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence  in 
matter.  I  have  followed  the  teachings  of  our  Master, 
and  have  partaken  of  his  cup — the  suffering  and 
persecution  which  attend  those  who  follow  him  in 
their  endeavor  to  overcome  the  material  world,  the 
flesh  and  the  belief  in  a  power  opposed  to  God. 

I  believe  the  words  of  Jesus  are  true.  He  said, 
"He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he 
do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do; 


682  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

because  I  go  unto  my  Father."  Thus  his  words 
indicate  that  he  did  not  claim  to  be  the  only  one  who 
would  be  able  to  demonstrate  the  law  of  God  and  man's 
dominion,  but  that  greater  works  than  these  would  be 
possible  to  others  who  obeyed  the  law  of  Truth.  The 
greater  works  I  believe  to  be  the  overcoming  of  sin, 
sickness,  and  death,  through  one  born  of  material 
conception. 

In  this  age,  woman,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  went  forth, 
armed  wth  spiritual  understanding,  to  wrestle  with, 
and  destroy  the  carnal  beliefs — sin,  sickness,  and  death. 
She  could  not  escape  one  individual  experience  of  human 
womanhood,  but  met,  suffered,  and  overcame,  with 
the  power  of  her  Christ-consciousness,  the  carnal 
qualities  in  the  Eve  mentality.  This  our  great  Leader 
did  for  herself.  All  must  finally  follow  and  obey 
the  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ.  Thus  through  her 
earthly  struggle  between  the  human  and  the  divine 
she    has    fulfilled    the    law    of    Love. 

This  promise  of  the  Master — "The  works  that  I  do 
shall  he  do  also, "  has  many  times  encouraged  me  to 
press  forward  in  the  spiritual  warfare  against  the 
Goliath  of  material  sense — false  thoughts  which  cause 
physical  and  mental  suffering.  For  years  I  have 
struggled  alone  with  God  to  subdue  human  self,  to 
bring  every  mortal  thought  into  subjection  to  Christ, 
and  to  exalt  my  divine  selfhood.  In  pursuance  of  the 
example  of  the  Master  and  of  my  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
I  have  patiently  endured  cruel  injustice,  and  bitter 
wrongs.  I  have  submitted  to  every  indignity  that 
the  carnally  minded  have  inflicted,  that  I  might  prove 
the  power  of  divine  Love  to  make  unreal  all  evil.  Only 
for  the  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end,"  could  I  have  continued  in  this  great  city, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  683 

promulgating  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  demonstrating, 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  do,  that  it  is  "not  of 
myself:  but  the  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me,  He  doeth 
the  works." 

Until  I  studied  divine  metaphysics  or  Christian 
Science,  I  had  no  idea  of  the  meaning  of  the  "  Immacu- 
late Conception"  to  which  you  refer.  I  have  ques- 
tioned many  theologians  on  this  subject,  and  have  found 
that  they  did  not  understand  it.  They  accept  it, 
but  they  cannot  give  satisfactory  reasons  for  the  dual 
nature  of  Christ  Jesus.  He  was  human  and  divine. 
He  was  our  elder  Brother,  and  was  "in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin"  (Heb.  iv., 
15).  Because  he  partook  partly  of  the  nature  of  his 
human  mother,  he  was  not  wholly  spiritual  until  his 
ascension. 

This  explains  his  mighty  conflict  with  the  forces  of 
evil,  his  struggles  in  Gethsemane,  and  his  suffering  on 
the  cross,  when  the  cruel  barbarity  of  his  enemies 
compelled  him  to  cry  out,  "My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  Thou  forsaken  me?"  But  God  had  not  forsaken 
him,  and  his  divinity  was  demonstrated.  His  divine 
selfhood — the  Christ,  never  suffered.  The  human 
Jesus  was  the  mediator,  who  endured  the  cross,  despised 
the  shame,  and  finally  yielded  to  the  Christ;  thus 
was  his  eternal  Ego  revealed — his  oneness  with  the 
Father,  in  verification  of  his  words,  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one." 

You  say  "either  your  ambition  has  clouded  your  in- 
tellectual sincerity,  or  else  you  are  purposely  profane." 
Dear  Mr.  S.  .  .  ,  it  must  be  evident  to  you  that  from  my 
standpoint  I  am  not  profane,  nor  has  personal  ambition 
clouded  my  spiritual  ambition  to  be  wholly  Christ- 
like.    I  have  dared  to  stand  forth  alone,  and  to  pro- 


684  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

claim  my  faith  in  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind  to  raise 
the  seeming  dead,  well  knowing  that  I  am  meeting 
the  opposition  of  those  who  do  not  agree  with  me. 

In  fact,  I  am  daring  to  be  the  most  unpopular 
woman  in  the  material  world,  and  yet,  in  the  words  of 
Martin  Luther,  "Here  I  stand.  I  can  do  no  other- 
wise; so  help  me  God!"  Paul  asked,  "Do  I  seek  to 
please  men  [mortals]?  for  if  I  yet  pleased  men  [mortals], 
I  should  not  be  the  servant  of  Christ"  (the  immortal). 
I  must  declare  for  God's  allness,  and  the  Mind  of 
Christ;  therefore  it  follows  that  I  must  denounce 
mortal  mind  in  all  its  phenomena  as  unreal,  untrue 
in  its  statement  that  it  possesses  life,  substance,  and 
intelligence. 

Permit  me  to  quote  further  your  words:  "From 
the  time  of  his  birth  to  the  day  of  his  earthly  death 
he  never  uttered  a  word  that  has  not  been  proved  by 
the  centuries  to  be  truth,  without  change  or  modifica- 
tion."  I  agree  with  you,  Mr.  S.  .  .  ,  that  he  never 
uttered  a  word  that  he  did  not  himself  prove,  even  to 
the  power  of  Life  over  death  and  the  grave.  His 
Ego,  the  Christ,  was  "the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life" — the  manifestation  of  Spirit.  He  left  his  holy 
example  and  demonstration  for  all ;  but  have  his  words 
been  "proved  by  the  centuries"?  I  admit  that  they 
have  been  believed,  but  who  has  demonstrated  his  words : 
"Be  ye  therefore  perfect  [wholly  spiritual],  even  as 
your  Father  [Spirit]  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect"? 

Who  has  proved  the  truth  of  being  as  did  Jesus,  in 
healing  the  sick,  raising  the  dead  and  destroying  sin, 
through  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind?  Who  has 
walked  in  his  footsteps,  turned  away  from  the  material 
world,  as  real,  and  obeyed  his  advice — "Whosoever 
he  be  of  you  that  forsaketh  not  all  that  he  hath,  he 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  685 

cannot  be  my  disciple"  (puts  his  whole  trust  in  Truth 
to  provide  for  his  every  human  need)?  Who  has 
raised  a  Lazarus,  or  who  of  his  disciples  of  the  twen- 
tieth century  ever  raised  a  Tabitha,  as  did  his  disciple 
Peter?  In  fact,  who  has  done  the  works  of  the  Master 
among  those  who  have  believed  his  words  to  be  truth, 
throughout  the  twenty  centuries  which  have  elapsed 
since  he  proved  the  dominion  of  man  when  governed 
by  his  Principle,  God? 

I  know  of  no  one  who  has  accomplished  the  works 
of  the  great  demonstrator  of  immutable  Truth;  yet 
this  must  in  time  be  done  by  all  who  follow  Christ. 
God  demands  that  we  should  reflect  Him — eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth — manifest  His  workmanship, 
and  show  forth  the  might  and  majesty  of  His  repre- 
sentative— man,  in  His  image  and  likeness. 

Who  is  ready  to  take  up  the  cross,  antagonize 
sinners,  and  demonstrate  over  sin  and  death?  Human- 
ity is  rising  to  meet  this  demand  of  Christ,  whose 
invisible  presence  is  here,  and  is  speaking  to  all.  The 
ceaseless  longing  of  the  human  heart  for  something 
better  than  suffering,  sorrow,  disappointed  hopes, 
limited  possibilities,  and  inevitable  death,  which  the 
carnal  mind  imposes  upon  its  universe,  including 
mortal  man,  will  finally  turn  all,  like  tired  children, 
to   "Our   Father  which   art   in   heaven." 

I  know,  Mr.  S.  .  .  ,  that  your  Christian  heart  will 
credit  me  with  honest  convictions  and  a  sincere  desire 
to  follow  Christ.  For  twenty-four  years  I  have  been 
in  your  city  (New  York)  declaring  for  God's  omnipo- 
tence and  ever-presence.  As  I  obey  the  law  of  God, 
according  to  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  the  teach- 
ings of  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy ;  as  I  emulate  the  life  of  the  Master 


686  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

and  of  my  beloved  Leader,  I  shall  be  continually 
ascending  "unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father;  and  to 
my  God,  and  your  God,"  and  eventually  we  will  meet 
on  the  stairs  that  lead  to  immortality,  and  will  behold 
the  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth  which  spiritual 
sight  will  disclose. 

Referring  to  "Mrs.  Eddy's  career,"  to  which  you 
allude,  I  would  say  that  for  twenty-six  years  I  have 
been  closely  associated  with  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  The 
false  reports  against  her,  which  have  been  so  freely 
circulated  by  those  whom  her  spiritual  teachings 
antagonized,  or  by  those  who  refused  to  live  the  life 
of  Jesus  the  Christ,  which  she  enjoined  her  followers 
to  endeavor  to  do,  proved  to  me  that  she  was  walking 
in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master;  that  she  was  carrying 
the  same  cross — the  world's  hatred  of  the  Christ- 
mind;  receiving  the  same  denunciation  for  rebuking 
and  destroying  sin,  in  all  its  forms  and  phases,  which 
Jesus  received  before  the  Christ-man  was  acknow- 
ledged as  "Immanuel,  or  God  with  us"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  34). 

During  the  Master's  earthly  experience,  the  mate- 
rialists called  him  "a  man  gluttonous,  and  a  wine- 
bibber,"  and  declared  that  "He  casteth  out  devils 
through  Beelzebub."  They  asked,  "Can  there  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?"  and  "Is  not  this 
Jesus,  the  son  of  Joseph,  whose  father  and  mother  we 
know?  how  is  it  then  that  he  saith,  I  came  down  from 
heaven?"  (John  vi.,  42.)  They  would  not  believe 
his  words  nor  his  works.  Their  finite  sense  saw  only 
the  human  Jesus,  and  did  not  behold  the  ideal  man — 
the  Christ,  or  his  divine  selfhood. 

They  asked,  "Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us.  And 
he  said  unto  them,  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe: 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  687 

and  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me,  nor  let 
me  go"  (Luke  xxii.,  67,  68).  He  incurred  the  hatred 
and  met  the  anathemas  of  all  in  his  day,  except  a  few 
humble  disciples  who  followed  him  to  the  cross.  Even 
they  "stood  afar  off."  It  has  been  two  thousand 
years  since  this  good  man  was  deemed  worthy  of 
crucifixion  and  death  because  of  his  declaration  that 
he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  his  demonstration  of  the 
power  of  Spirit  over  the  carnal  mind.  Alone  with 
God,  forsaken  by  all,  he  worked  out  his  own  salvation 
and  came  forth  from  the  tomb  crowned  with  the 
glorious  victory  of  immortal  manhood.  Had  he 
failed  in  this  supreme  test  of  his  teaching,  the  world 
would  never  have  acknowledged  him;  but  God  is 
omnipotent,  and  enters  into  no  co-partnership  with 
evil. 

There  has  never  been  an  age  when  God  has  not 
manifested  Himself  to  humanity  through  some  human 
personality  or  mediator.  From  Moses  to  the  present 
time  God  has  found  a  witness  of  Himself.  Christ 
Jesus  was  sent  by  God  to  redeem  a  sinful  world,  but 
the  sinful  world  is  apparently  as  sinful  to-day  as  it 
was  when  the  Master  wept  over  Jerusalem  in  these 
words:  "0  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  .  .  .  how  often 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even  as  a 
hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye 
would  not!"     (Matt,  xxiii.,  37.) 

The  spiritual  element  in  humanity  has  not  yet  risen 
to  do  the  greater  works  which  Jesus  declared  his  follow- 
ers would  do.  There  is  no  vicarious  atonement. 
Jesus  did  his  work  for  himself,  and  to  show  humanity 
the  way  out  of  the  flesh  into  a  wholly  spiritual  consci- 
ousness; but  until  mankind  walks  in  "the  way"  which 
Jesus  pointed  out,  it  will  not  attain  to  eternal  Life. 


688  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

Mrs.  Eddy  occupies  the  position  before  the  world 
to-day  which  Jesus  occupied  two  thousand  years  ago. 
Not  until  after  his  reappearance  did  the  world  ac- 
knowledge that  he  had  made  a  demonstration  of  Life 
over  death. 

I  believe  that  God  will  hear  woman's  cry,  in  this 
hour,  for  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  sin,  sickness, 
and  death ;  I  believe  that  Christ  will  be  manifest  at  his 
second  appearing  through  woman;  that  the  second 
time  death  will  be  robbed  of  its  sting  and  the  grave 
of  its  victory,  and  that  the  law  of  Love  will  be 
fulfilled. 

I  beg  you  will  pardon  my  lengthy  reply  to  your 
letter.     Lest  I  be  tempted  to  presume  longer  upon 
your  courtesy,   I  will  close  with  kindest  regards. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  14,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  : — 

Your  kind  letter  should  have  received  immediate 
attention,  but  I  have  been  unable  to  reply  sooner. 
I  feel  that  all  the  nobility  of  true  manhood  has  been 
aroused  in  you  by  the  unparalleled  cruelty  and,  mis- 
representation with  which  I  have  been  assailed,  and  I 
fully  appreciate  your  kind  offer  to  defend  me  legally, — 
but  I  am  trusting  God,  the  strong  deliverer,  to  show 
me  how  to  endure  patiently  until  error  destroys  itself, 
and  my  heavenly   Father  vindicates  me. 

Since  the  "crucifixion"  began  I  have  continually 
prayed  for  strength  and  grace  to  demonstrate  the 
teachings  of  Jesus  and  my  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
to  "Wait,  and  love  more  for  every  hate"  (Miscellan- 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  689 

eous  Writings,  p.  389).  No  tongue,  no  pen  can  ever 
tell  the  bitterness  and  cruelty  of  the  persecution  to 
which  I  have  been  submitted, — and  yet  I  have  been 
enabled  to  say  during  it  all,  "Father,  forgive  them; 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do. "  I  have  spoken  only 
when  the  effort  has  been  made  to  convince  the  world 
that  I  am  not  a  Christian  Scientist,  or  that  I  am 
not  loyal  to  my  revered  and  beloved  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy. 

If  God  has  any  representatives  through  whom  He 
can  work  to  deliver  me,  and  prove  my  innocence  of 
the  charges  made  against  me,  and  the  effort  to  take 
as  many  of  my  students  from  me  as  possible  and  to 
wrest  from  me  my  church — the  work  of  consecration, 
prayer,  self-denial,  and  self-abnegation  for  the  Cause 
of  Christ,  He  will  make  it  known  to  me.  My  means 
of  defense  was  all  that  saved  my  life,  namely,  declaring 
to  each  individual  accuser  that  he  was  God's  per- 
fect child,  and  could  only  reflect  Truth  and  Love  to 
me  or  mine;  that  evil  was  not  power,  and  that  noth- 
ing could  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God  and  from 
each  other.  This  was  called  malpractice — because 
I  mentioned  the  names,  after  I  had  been  told  just 
what  was  being  planned  to  put  me  out  of  the 
Cause. 

Now,  my  dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  ,  you  see  the  situation, 
and  must  agree  with  me  that  they  are  in  authority 
in  the  material  organization,  and  that  I  must  wait  on 
God,  who,  in  His  own  time  and  way,  will  raise  up 
some  one  to  justify  me.  If  you  come  to  New  York 
I  shall  be  pleased  to  see  you  socially,  but  I  must  be 
excused  from  a  professional  call. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 
44 


690  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  2,  191 1. 

Dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  : — 

Your  most  kind  letter  is  before  me,  and  it  finds  me 
stronger  than  ever  in  my  faith  in  God  to  do  His  work 
in  His  own  time  and  way.  "Ye  shall  not  need  to 
fight  in  this  battle:  .  .  .  stand  ye  still,  and  see  the 
salvation  of  the  Lord." 

I  have  prayed  for  many  years  to  be  a  true  disciple 
of  the  Master,  and  now,  dear  Mr.  G.  .  .  ,  I  am  called 
upon  to  prove  my  worthiness  to  follow  him,  and  to 
love  God  and  His  children.  Jesus  met  every  indignity 
which  the  carnal  mind  could  inflict  upon  him,  and  yet 
he  did  not  resent  nor  resist  human  brutality.  He 
knew  that  he  must  rise  to  his  divine  power,  his  Christ- 
consciousness — the  love  which  alone  conquers  so-called 
malice,  envy,  jealousy,  revenge,  and  all  that  opposes 
the  real  and  eternal  man. 

He  crossed  mental  swords  with  error,  and  found  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit — the  Word  of  God — equal  to  the 
hour.  His  spiritual  individuality  gave  him  power 
to  make  unreal  the  elements  of  the  so-called  mortal 
mind.  His  God-given  birthright,  his  Christ-mind, 
enabled  him  to  see  the  necessity  of  making  evil  what 
it  is,  when  met  by  Truth  and  Love, — nothing.  It  is 
true  that  evil  seems  real  and  causes  much  mental 
and  physical  suffering,  if  it  is  believed  in  and  indulged ; 
but,  when  met  by  Truth,  and  resisted  and  conquered, 
one  learns  the  powerlessness  of  the  claim  of  evil,  and 
the  great  allness  and  might  of  God,  Mind. 

Light  dispels  darkness.  God  is  light,  and  man  is 
God's  image  and  likeness.  Jesus  could  say  to  those 
who  sought  his  life,  "Father,  forgive  them;  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do."  Nor  did  these  poor  mortals 
know  that  they  were  being  moved  by  the  evil  one — 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  691 

the  lie  which  has  deceived  the  entire  world  into  a  belief 
of  a  power  opposed  to  God,  Truth. 

The  illusion  or  lie  had  been  at  war  in  human  con- 
sciousness for  generations,  until  Jesus  discerned  his 
true  mental  power,  and  demonstrated  over  evil  and 
its  phenomena — the  mortal  mental  and  its  expression, 
the  material  body  and  the  material  universe.  He 
proved  them  powerless  to  destroy  or  to  hold  him  in  the 
grave.  As  his  follower,  I  must  make  all  evil,  and 
evil  thinkers  and  evil-doers  unreal  to  myself,  and 
discern,  through  all  the  illusions  of  the  fleshly  mind 
and  body,  the  Christ-man  in  God's  own  image — 
perfect  and  pure  as  his  Maker.  /  must  fulfil  the  law 
of  love. 

If  I  permit  error  to  become  real  to  me,  it  will  become 
a  part  of  my  mentality,  and  will  put  me  in  line  with 
evil  forces,  until  I  lose  my  balance  on  the  side  of  my 
divine  selfhood,  and  then  I  reap  the  effect  of  evil. 
Thought  is  force.  Thought  objectifies  itself,  and 
reveals  the  thoughts  by  the  phenomena  which  are 
produced.  Spiritual  thoughts  will  sooner  or  later 
disclose  the  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth,  wherein 
will  be  found  only  good. 

I  am  sure  that  you  understand  my  appreciation  of 
all  you  desire  to  do  to  befriend  me,  but  I  am  keeping 
my  heart  filled  with  love  for  God  and  man,  while  I 
defend  myself  against  the  false  claims  of  malicious 
mortal  mind,  by  sending  to  the  evil  thinker  love  and 
life  thoughts.  This  is  the  invulnerable  armor  which 
panoplies  me.  Evil  cannot  penetrate  it,  and  I  am 
safe.  I  will  not  believe  I  have  enemies.  Those  who 
would  harm  me  harm  themselves  only,  and  I  pity  the 
self -deceived  victims  of  the  carnal  mind. 

I  would  go  to  the  scaffold  or  the  stake  to  defend  the 


692  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
because  I  know  that  their  teachings  are  demonstrable 
Truth.  I  have  proved  it,  in  great  measure.  The 
whole  world  knows  what  I  have  met  and  endured. 
I  have  only  defended  my  convictions  and  interpre- 
tation of  Science  and  Health  and  the  Bible,  and  my 
loyalty  to  Mrs.  Eddy.  The  question  to-day  is,  who 
will  promulgate  Christian  Science  as  taught  by  Mrs. 
Eddy?  Who  is  a  true  divine  metaphysician  and  a 
follower  of  Jesus,  emulating  his  life  of  unselfed  love, 
and  overcoming  evil  with  good? 

Who  is  failing  to  walk  in  his  footsteps,  and  professing 
to  be  his  disciple  while  serving  error?  Nothing  will 
be  gained  by  denouncing  primitive  Christian  healing, 
and  the  faith  and  understanding  of  the  power  and 
presence  of  the  Christ-mind.  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
has  established  Jesus'  words  and  his  wonderful  teach- 
ing, and  nothing  can  overthrow  her  work. 

She  lives  and  is  active  in  the  mental  universe,  and 
will  reappear  in  God's  time.  I,  with  all  her  faithful 
followers,  must  "occupy"  till  she  comes  as  the  ideal 
image  and  likeness  of  Mind.  When  she  bursts  the 
cloud  of  sense,  what  will  her  followers  be  found  doing? 

To-day  the  question  is,  who  are  true  Christian 
Scientists?  Who  has  taken  the  cross  and  striven  to 
conquer  the  carnal,  and  exalt  the  Christ  in  themselves 
and  for  others?  I  believe  this  is  the  psychological 
hour  when  there  is  no  power  in  evil  longer  to  hide 
itself,  under  the  profession,  without  the  possession, 
of  the  true  understanding  and  life  of  a  Christian  or 
Christian  Scientist.  I  have  only  to  wait  on  my  Father- 
Mother  God,  and  Truth  will  uncover  all  error  in  those 
who  have  walked  after  the  flesh.  Then  our  beloved 
Leader's  words  will  be  understood — "promoting  and 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  693 

extending  the  religion  of  Christian  Science  as  taught 
by  me." 

I  have  not  permitted  any  one  of  many  kind  lawyers 
and  friends  to  move  me  to  take  any  steps  against  the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church.  I  have  been  told 
from  the  first  that  I  could  legally  be  immediately 
restored  to  my  former  position,  but  I  must  not  contend 
in  the  courts.  I  know  that  God  is  leading  me  out  of 
material  organization,  and  giving  me  the  place  He  has 
for  me  in  "wholly  spiritual "  work  in  the  world.  No  one 
can  deprive  me  of  my  life-work  and  its  fruits.  God 
will  do  His  will,  and  none  can  stay  His  hand.  Whoever 
wrongs  another  injures  himself.  Let  us  judge  between 
good  and  evil — then  leave  evil  to  destroy  itself.  It 
cannot  destroy  one  iota  of  good. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kindness. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  19,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  : — 

I  am  glad  that  you  have  had  an  evidence  of  the 
untruths  that  are  entertained  of  me.  Nothing  could 
have  been  further  from  the  facts  than  these  statements. 
You  know  how  I  have  resisted  association  in  this  suit, 
and  yet  if  I  had  not  corrected  this  report,  it  would 
have  been  accepted  as  a  fact  even  in  our  purely  friendly 
correspondence.  I  was  not  willing  that  any  one  should 
see  my  letters,  and  trusted  implicitly  in  your  promise 
to  protect  them.  I  knew  that  you  had  a  deep  rever- 
ence for  my  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  give  you  the  benefit  of  my 


694  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

understanding  of  Christian  Science,  as  I  was  sure  you 
would  assimilate  much  which  would  be  of  inestimable 
value  to  you.  I  knew  that  you  would  receive  this  in 
the  spirit  in  which  I  sent  it,  and  I  have  no  fear  that 
our  scientific  correspondence  will  be  used  in  any  one's 
interest. 

I  am  confident  that  there  is  a  protecting  influence 
overshadowing  me,  else  I  could  not  endure  the  conflict 
of  mental  forces  directed  to  me,  either  to  draw  me  into 
the  mental  battle,  or  to  cast  me  out  of  the  universe. 
I  must,  all  unconsciously,  be  in  somebody's  way,  and 
God  does  not  remove  me.  If  the  world  knew  my 
peace,  and  trust  in  my  Father  to  enable  me  to  rise  to 
"love  more"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  389)  for  every 
wrong,  and  how  I  have  only  kind  thoughts  for  those 
who  do  not  understand  me,  and  how  I  pity  them,  how 
the  fear  of  me  would  cease,  and  I  would  be  left  unmo- 
lested to  do  my  work  of  blessing  all  with  the  true 
teaching  which  Mrs.  Eddy  gave  to  the  world. 

I  am  sorry  that  my  article  went  to  the  printer  as  soon 
as  I  had  corrected  it,  or  I  would  have  sent  it  to  you. 
I  send  out  such  articles  to  my  students,  some  of  whom 
are  beginners  in  Christian  Science  and  need  help.  I 
am  not  giving  them  the  personal  help  I  formerly  did, 
so  an  occasional  article  is  an  aid  to  them  in  this  crisis. 
If  you  desire  to  get  this  in  print,  I  do  not  know  how 
you  could  do  it  without  making  yourself  known  as 
acquainted  with  me.  Then,  dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  ,  you  might 
find  yourself  very  unpopular.  It  would  hardly  be  just 
to  yourself  to  incur  the  condemnation  of  people  who 
innocently,  through  misrepresentation,  believe  me  to 
be  unworthy  to  be  a  member  of  The  Mother  Church. 

It  all  seems  so  strange  to  me,  and  yet  our  Master  was 
considered  worthy  only  of  an  ignominious  death  on  the 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  695 

cross.  Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  was  betrayed  by  dis- 
loyal students  from  the  first.  Why  should  I  refuse  the 
cup?  i"  will  drink  it  till  Love  removes  it,  and  I  win 
and  wear  the  crown  of  immortal  womanhood. 

I  send  you  under  separate  cover  a  corrected  copy  of 
the  letter.  I  take  so  little  interest  in  this  suit  now 
pending.  I  wish  it  were  finished.  God  has  given  the 
command,  and  all  will  see  Truth's  mighty  argument, 
and  wisdom's  decision.  The  will  or  command  of  God 
through  His  anointed — our  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
must  be  obeyed. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  21,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  C.  .  .  : — 

Yesterday  I  left  you  without  expressing  my  apprecia- 
tion of  your  great  kindness  and  courtesy  during  the  try- 
ing ordeal  in  which  we  all  participated.  I  have  been 
mindful  of  your  cooperation  with  my  friends  in  their 
desire  to  give  to  the  world  the  comforting  assurance 
that,  however  dark  the  clouds  of  fear  and  doubt  and 
discouragement,  with  which  poor  humanity  is  con- 
stantly contending,  there  remains  the  eternal  fact 
that  "  Love  watches  over  all, "  since  God  is  omnipotent 
and  ever-present,  and  "  Love  never  faileth." 

My  object  for  many  years  (twenty-five  of  which  I 
have  worked  in  New  York  City)  has  been  to  teach  man- 
kind to  turn  from  false  thinking,  which  evolves  discord 
and  disease,  and  to  know  the  Truth  of  being  which  sets 
free,  in  the  way  Jesus  the  great  master  Metaphysician 
taught  and  demonstrated,  and  which  Mrs.  Eddy  has 
once  more  given  to  the  world. 


696  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

When  I  first  heard  the  Victor  talking  machine,  I  saw 
its  great  possibilities  for  relieving  countless  thousands 
of  weary,  careworn  people  who  have  no  means  of 
diversion  from  the  daily  routine  of  labor,  mental  or 
physical,  and  no  ambition,  strength  or  money  to  put 
themselves  in  the  way  of  hearing  good  music,  or  of 
listening  to  words  which  quicken  and  inspire  to  action, 
and  to  the  development  of  the  best  within  them. 

I  understand  from  a  metaphysical  point  of  view  the 
mission  of  the  Victor  talking  machine.  It  has  hardly 
started  on  its  beneficent  errand.  Progress  brought 
it  forth,  and  it  is  in  line  with  infinite  progression.  No 
one  can  yet  comprehend  the  length  and  depth  and 
height  of  its  possibilities,  and  its  comforting,  elevating 
ministrations  to  humanity. 

I  am  not  considering  myself  alone  in  this  matter  of 
misunderstanding  between  the  parties  concerned,  and 
am  ready  to  accept  whatever  you  and  Mr.  M.  .  .  may 
deem  best  for  all.  I  admit  the  withdrawal  of  the  record 
of  my  poem,  "Love  Watches  over  All,"  will  be  a  sacri- 
fice for  me  to  make,  but  if  any  one  is  to  be  in  the  least 
injured  by  the  record  in  its  present  unsatisfactory 
presentation,  I  cannot  continue  to  desire  it. 

I  am  trusting,  however,  that  I  will  not  have  to  resign 
my  position  entirely,  but  that  some  arrangement  may 
be  made  for  another  to  preserve  the  record  as  you 
kindly  suggested.  The  situation  is  most  unpleasant 
and  I  regret  exceedingly  that  you  and  Mr.  M.  .  .  have 
been  involved. 

However,  you  are  both  equal  to  the  solution  of  this 
most  perplexing  problem,  as  was  shown  by  your  ex- 
perience of  yesterday.  I  am  sure  that  if  the  directors 
of  your  company  had  witnessed  the  wisdom,  justice,  and 
courtesy  of  their  representatives,  as  they  handled  this 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  697 

tangled  proposition,  their  estimate  of  your  ability  and 
value  to  the  company,  however  high,  would  have  been 
measurably  increased. 

I  thank  you  both  and  am  very  glad  to  have  met  you. 
If  you  need  to  confer  with  me  at  any  time,  please 
command  me  through  Mrs.  E.  .  .  . 
Most  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  22,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  : — 

The  newspapers  have  just  been  handed  to  me,  in 
which  I  notice  that  you  are  to  be  involved  in  the  case — 
the  "suit"  now  pending  in  your  city.  This  is  very 
easily  settled.  You  are  at  liberty  to  publish  my  letters 
in  reply  to  yours,  which  will  prove  to  any  one  that  I  am 
innocent  of  any  desire  to  appear  in  other  people's 
court  affairs.  You  can  show  that  our  correspondence 
was  purely  on  scientific  lines,  and  that  I  was  greatly 
interested  in  teaching  you,  or  in  replying  to  your  request 
to  know  something  more  of  Christian  Science  than  you 
already  knew. 

I  was  much  impressed  with  the  work  that  you  had 
done  for  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  Her  letter 
to  you,  which  you  sent  me,  when  you  offered  me  the 
benefit  of  your  legal  services,  touched  me  with  a  desire 
to  give  you  all  you  could  assimilate  of  Truth.  I 
positively,  from  the  first  refused  to  accept  your  legal 
aid,  and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  will  case 
now  being  contested  in  the  courts.  I  cannot  under- 
stand why  any  one  should  include  me  in  this  "suit." 

Certainly  it  is  as  foreign  to  me  as  to  any  one  in  the 
ranks  of  Christian  Science.     I  have  no  part  in  the 


698  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

present  court  contention,  and  shall  not  engage  in  it 
unless  I  am  forced  to  testify.  Our  correspondence  will 
prove  that  I  am  defending  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  and  the  teachings  of  Mrs.  Eddy — divine 
metaphysics,  and  that  is  all. 

I  trust  you  will  not  be  greatly  disturbed  by  this 
encroachment  on  your  time.  I  have  certainly  given 
you  much  instruction  in  true  Christian  Science.  Your 
letters  have  greatly  interested  me.  You  have  a  versa- 
tile pen,  and  you  are  a  seeker  for  Truth.  Mrs.  Eddy 
inspired  you,  I  am  sure,  to  rise  to  your  divine  selfhood. 
Your  tribute  to  her,  in  the  book  entitled  A  Biographi- 
cal Sketch,  made  you  many  friends  among  my  students, 
and  all  who  love  our  Leader  greatly  appreciate  your 
efforts  to  honor  her. 

Our  correspondence  has  been  profitable.  I  am  not 
moved  by  the  breath  of  praise  or  censure.  I  know  that 
Truth  must  be  lived  and  demonstrated  by  me  and  by 
all.  I  cannot  please  both  God  and  man.  Therefore, 
I  choose  to  please  God. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  29,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  F.  .  .  : — 

I  thought  I  had  shown  you  in  my  letter  why 
Mrs.  Eddy  did  not  interpose  in  my  defense  while  she  was 
personally  with  us.  She  knew,  long  before  she  entered 
upon  her  final  demonstration  over  the  last  enemy,  that 
her  hour  would  come  to  lay  down  her  physical  sense  of 
life,  and  rise  to  her  spiritual  sense  of  life  as  eternal. 
She  knew  that  when  she  came  to  this  hour  there  would 
be  a  question  as  to  the  material  interpretation  and  the 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  699 

spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Bible  and  her  teachings, 
as  found  in  her  writings — the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  her  other  works. 

She  knew,  from  her  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures, 
just  what  would  follow  after  she  personally  left  her 
followers.  Any  one  with  spiritual  understanding,  and 
a  knowledge  of  sacred  history,  would  know  what 
would  be  the  result,  when  the  spiritual  head  of  the 
church  ascended  in  the  scale  of  spiritual  building,  finally 
to  come  forth  in  demonstration  of  the  teaching  of  Truth, 
as  did  Jesus.  She  knew  that  I  would  have  to  meet  the 
opposition  of  those  who  were  on  a  material  basis,  and 
that,  if  I  continued  to  declare  for  absolute  Christian 
Science,  as  I  had  been  doing  for  years,  I  would  have 
to  meet  the  "enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Sen- 
tinel, vol.  xi.,  p.  910) — mortals  who  believe  in,  and 
defend,  as  real,  materiality — sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

She  has  told  me  for  years  that  I  would  have  to  suffer 
persecution  for  Christ's  sake,  and  of  the  cup  that  I 
would  have  to  drink.  I  have  all  this  in  our  correspond- 
ence. She  came  to  her  hour  of  final  demonstration. 
She  could  not  do  my  work  for  me.  I  could  not  do  her 
work  for  her.  Had  she  given  out  word  to  the  Field 
that  I  was  a  true  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science,  as 
she  has  told  me  that  I  am,  in  her  letters  to  me,  and 
had  she  advised  it  to  follow  me,  all  the  ignorant  and 
blind  followers — camp  followers  and  those  who  always 
work  to  be  associated  with  one  who  is  popular,  all  these 
would  have  clung  to  me,  and  I  should  have  had  dead 
wood  to  carry  further  up  the  hill  of  Christian  Science. 

She  knew  that  the  hour  had  come  for  me  to  demon- 
strate my  faith  in  the  Principle  of  being,  to  stand  against 
all  the  arguments  of  the  carnally  minded,  and  to  follow 


700  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

her  mentally.  She  had  walked  with  me  and  taught  me 
during  twenty-five  years,  and  she  knew  that  I  must 
prove  her  teachings  as  sufficient  to  protect  me,  and  to 
defend  my  life  in  this  hour  of  the  crucifixion  of  the 
human. 

She  did  not  want  my  church  to  interfere  with  the 
Directors.  She  wanted  them  to  go  on  and  separate 
me  from  the  material  organization.  I  was  ready  to 
begin  to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  She  knew 
that  all  who  had  risen  to  spiritual  apprehension  of  her 
teachings  would  understand  me.  All  who  had  not  risen 
to  the  demands  of  the  hour,  and  to  whom  mortality 
was  real,  followed  the  materialists  who  publicly  declare 
her  as  dead.  This  separated  the  spiritually  minded 
from  the  materially  minded. 

Had  she  not  advised  my  church  to  support  all  who 
were  supporting  the  Directors,  and  had  not  the  church 
obeyed  her,  but  fought  for  me,  I  should  have  been  held 
in  the  material  organization,  and  should  now  have  been 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Directors  who  are  at  the 
head  of  the  material  organization.  I  should  have  been 
subject  to  others'  material  concepts,  and  could  not  have 
defended  absolute  Christian  Science.  The  tares  and  the 
wheat,  the  material  and  the  spiritual,  could  not  continue 
together  at  the  harvest.  But  the  hour  had  struck. 
The  separation  came.  The  crucial  hour  arrived,  and  I 
was  advertised  throughout  the  world. 

Hosts  of  people,  who  would  never  have  listened  to  me 
as  a  Christian  Scientist,  espoused  my  cause  and  fought 
for  me  as  "the  most  brutally  treated  woman  the  world 
had  ever  known. "  Men  were  disgusted  with  men  who 
would  publish  broadcast  such  reports  about  a  Christian 
woman.     But  God  was  with  me.     I  lived  through  it  all, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  701 

and  all  who  had  risen  to  spiritual  apprehension  were 
at  my  side.  To-day  I  am  defending  the  true  teach- 
ings of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  as  she  requested  me  to 
do  in  her  letters  to  me,  which  you  may  see,  if  you  so 
desire. 

The  cleavage  between  the  spiritual  and  the  material 
Christian  Scientists  was  most  evident.  It  was  a  re- 
petition of  Jesus'  hour.  He  was  the  Son  of  God.  Many 
have  wondered  why  God  did  not  interfere  and  save 
Jesus  an  ignominious  death  at  the  hands  of  his  brutal 
persecutors.  But  Jesus  came  to  the  hour  when  he  had 
to  prove  his  teachings,  and  his  spiritual  power  over 
death.  Mrs.  Eddy  came  to  the  same  test  of  her  teach- 
ings. She  knew  that  this  conflict  must  go  on,  and  that 
I  must  make  my  own  demonstration.  She  permitted 
me  to  be  driven  to  the  zenith  of  my  understanding. 
She  told  me  in  her  carriage  (six  months  before)  that  I 
would  "never  run  from  the  foe."  I  never  have,  and  I 
never  will. 

The  question  now  is,  shall  we  have  a  spiritual  re- 
ligion or  shall  the  world  go  back  to  a  material  mentality, 
and  continue  to  submit  to  sin,  sickness,  and  death? 
The  genuine  Christian  Scientist,  who  understands 
Truth,  will  defend  the  true  teachings  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  and 
will  preserve  the  religion  of  love.  Those  who  are  still 
declaring  for  death  as  real,  and  matter  as  substance, 
belong  not  to  the  body  of  true  Christian  Scientists. 

Time  will  finally  decide  all  questions  pertaining  to  the 
real  and  false  Christian  Scientists.  I  am  on  the  rock. 
The  surging  sea  of  human  concepts  does  not  now  dis- 
turb me.  I  have  proved  my  spiritual  power  to  over- 
come evil  with  good.  My  people  are  rejoicing  in  having 
stood  for  Truth  amid  the  thunderings  of  error,  and  the 
lightning  flash  of  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  and  revenge  of 


702  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers 

impersonal  evil,  which   found   physical   personalities 
through  whom  to  work. 

I  have  met  all  with  truth  and  love,  and  have  de- 
fended our  blessed  Leader  and  her  spiritual  teachings 
until  there  are  now  thousands  who  know  the  true 
Christian  Scientist  from  the  false — the  genuine  Christ- 
ian Scientist  from  the  "pretender."  Never  again  will 
there  be  danger  that  Christian  Science  will  be  lost  to 
humanity  as  it  was  aforetime. 

I  hope  I  have  made  myself  intelligible  to  you,  and 
have  not  wearied  you. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  4,  1912. 

My  dear  Mrs.  B.  .  .  : — 

Since  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  entered  upon 
her  final  demonstration  over  "the  last  enemy,"  your 
question  has  been  put  to  me  by  many.  Some  have 
asked,  "Has  our  Leader  failed  to  demonstrate  her  own 
words,  'Life  is  real,  and  death  is  the  illusion'?  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  428.)  Mrs.  Eddy  tells  us  that  'It  is 
unchristian  to  believe  in  the  transition  called  material 
death,  since  matter  has  no  life'  (Unity  of  Good,  p.  38). 
What  shall  we  do?  The  word  has  gone  forth  from 
headquarters  that  she  is  dead:  a  monument  has  been 
proposed  to  be  erected  in  a  cemetery :  a  book  of  obitu- 
ary notices  has  been  published  and  circulated.  Every 
statement  contradicts  the  teachings  of  her  book, 
Science  and  Health.  What,  Mrs.  Stetson,  does  it  all 
mean?  Can  you,  who  have  been  so  long  associated 
with  Mrs.  Eddy,  enlighten  me?" 

To  all,  I  have  said  what  I  could  to  show  them  that 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  703 

Mrs.  Eddy  has  not  died.  That  she  never  lived  nor 
died  in  matter.  I  have  asked  them  if  they  believed 
their  dear  Leader  to  be  "unchristian,"  and  have  told 
them,  if  they  really  followed  and  obeyed  her  words, 
that  they  could  not  contradict  them  by  believing  her  to 
be  dead.  I  have  told  them  that  they  are  now  called 
upon  to  prove  their  understanding  of  Christian  Science, 
and  to  be  classified  as  "tares"  or  "wheat,"  "sheep"  or 
"goats."  If  any  one  makes  a  statement  which  con- 
tradicts Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings,  either  you  believe 
Mrs.  Eddy,  or  you  repudiate  her  words,  and  accept  the 
opposite  argument. 

I  credit  our  wise  Leader  with  the  understanding  of 
Truth,  and  I  wait  for  her  demonstration  of  spiritual 
power  over  the  false  claim  called  death.  I  never  for 
one  moment  doubt  her  ability  and  spiritual  might  to 
overcome  "the  last  enemy." 

Every  effort  of  the  evil  one,  hypnotism,  mesmerism, 
theosophy,  spiritualism,  etc.,  has  been  made  to  darken 
the  faithful  Christian  Scientists,  and  make  them  be- 
lieve in  the  testimony  of  material  sense  in  regard  to 
Mrs.  Eddy's  present  personal  absence.  But  Christian 
Science  makes  it  clear  that  she  lives:  that  she  exists 
by  reflection  of  God,  Life,  and  that,  when  she  has  risen 
to  a  point  of  spiritual  supremacy  over  mortal  mentality, 
all  who  follow  her  mentally,  in  the  resurrection  period 
of  her  demonstration,  will  rise  with  her,  and  behold  her, 
and  all  the  phenomena  that  spiritual  thought  reveals. 
This  will  be  having  part  with  her  in  the  higher  demon- 
stration of  the  infinite  possibilities  of  Christian  Science 
or  divine  metaphysics. 

You  can  readily  understand  that,  to  the  materially 
minded,  and  to  all  who  believe  that  she  is  dead,  there 
can  be  no  such  revelation  and  resurrection.     They  have 


704  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

not  been  able  to  discern  the  spirituality  of  our  great  and 
revered  Leader,  and  have  thought  that  she  disappeared 
with  the  absence  of  her  physical  presence.  Thus  they 
have  been  unable  to  grasp  the  higher  metaphysics,  and 
follow  her  in  her  ascending  thought.  In  other  words, 
they  have  returned  to  the  material  senses  and  have 
ceased  to  follow  our  Leader  in  her  line  of  light  and 
demonstration. 

Let  us  thank  God  that  she  did  not  leave  us  tempora- 
arily  until  she  knew  that  her  teachings  were  understood 
by  some,  and  that  she  could  enter  upon  her  final 
demonstration  over  the  powers  of  darkness,  while 
those  who  understood  her  teachings  would  defend 
Christian  Science  until  she  reappeared  in  the  glory  of 
ideal  womanhood.  In  the  words  of  Scripture  her  ad- 
vanced students  and  followers  are  they  who  "occupy" 
till  she  comes. 

You  ask  my  interpretation  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  statement : 
"To  say  that  you  and  I,  as  mortals,  will  not  enter  this 
dark  shadow  of  material  sense,  called  death,  is  to  as- 
sert what  we  have  not  proved"  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  40). 
This  was  written  when  Unity  of  Good  was  published, 
many  years  ago.  Mrs.  Eddy  has  since  then  declared 
for  immortality  in  all  her  writings.  She  constantly 
rose  to  a  clearer  apprehension  of  her  own  words,  and 
gradually  put  off  the  mortal  sense  of  herself  and  others. 
At  the  time  she  wrote  the  words  you  have  quoted  above, 
she  could  not  foretell  her  future  ability  to  demonstrate 
her  teachings,  nor  the  demands  Truth  would  make. 

She  added:  "The  achievement  of  this  ultimatum  of 
Science,  complete  triumph  over  death,  requires  time 
and  immense  spiritual  growth "  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  43). 
Mrs.  Eddy  rose  step  by  step  to  spiritual  attainments 
through  demonstration,  until  she,  like  Christ  Jesus, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  705 

met  "the  last  enemy,"  the  claim  of  death.  She  had 
learned,  through  spiritual  growth  in  Truth,  that  she 
must  make  a  complete  demonstration  and  triumph  over 
the  false  claim  of  mortal  belief,  called  death.  She  must 
prove  her  teachings  in  Science  and  Health.  In  the 
fulness  of  time  she  knew  that  her  hour  had  come  and 
she  laid  down  her  temporal  sense  of  life — entered  the 
"dark  shadow  of  material  sense,  called  death,"  and 
met  this  experience  of  belief. 

Her  last  words  ere  she  entered  upon  her  final  proof 
over  the  belief  of  life  in  matter  were,  "God  is  my  life. " 
She  perfectly  understood  that  she  was  entering  upon 
her  last  and  highest  demonstration,  and  she  knew  that 
when  she  had  conquered  the  illusion  called  death,  and 
should  come  forth,  some  of  her  students  and  followers 
would  have  spiritual  discernment  to  behold  her,  and 
would  testify  to  this  complete  vindication  of  her 
teachings. 

I  not  only  know  this  from  my  knowledge  of  divine 
metaphysics,  which  has  become  to  me  solid  conviction 
through  demonstration,  but  I  have  it  in  her  letters  to 
me  to  confirm  my  conclusions.  I  have  not  given  out 
what  would  quickly  convince  the  doubting  Thomases 
and  the  material  and  half-way  and  halting,  so-called 
Christian  Scientists.  They  have  had  ample  time  to 
learn,  as  I  have,  through  consecration  to  Truth,  and 
obedience  to  God's  law,  as  taught  by  His  anointed 
messenger  in  this  hour,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

They  are  now  obliged  to  make  their  choice  as  to  which 
is  real,  Life  or  death.  Some  have  publicly  shown  their 
position  in  Christian  Science,  and  quickly  classified 
themselves  by  admitting  death  as  real.  They  rolled 
the  stone  to  the  tomb  of  their  own  belief  that  our  great 
Leader  had  died.     But  she  never  was  in  matter — there- 

45 


706  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

fore  she  never  died,  nor  was  placed  in  the  tomb,  nor  in  a 
grave,  nor  in  a  cemetery.  They  literally  rolled  a  stone, 
compressed  material  concrete  thought,  steel  and  iron, 
to  the  grave  of  their  own  mentality,  and  yielded  to  the 
testimony  of  material  sense. 

But  Truth  has  triumphed,  and  has  established  Her 
mighty  power  and  presence  in  the  faithful  Christian 
Science  soldiers  who  are  looking  for  the  demonstration 
of  their  great  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  She  will 
redeem  her  birthright  as  the  ideal  woman  of  God's 
creating,  representing  the  motherhood  of  divine  Love, 
our  Father-Mother  God.  Mrs.  Eddy  asks:  "What 
then  are  matter,  sin,  and  death?  They  can  be  nothing 
except  the  results  of  material  consciousness"  {Unity 
of  Good,  p.  42). 

Through  which  concept  are  Christian  Scientists 
looking?  It  is  apparent  to  all  in  this  hour  that  the 
following  words  of  our  Leader  are  understood  by  the 
genuine  Christian  Scientist : 

This  testimony  of  Holy  Writ  sustains  the  fact  in  Science, 

that  the  heavens  and  earth  to  one  human  consciousness, 

that    consciousness    which    God    bestows,    are    spiritual, 

while  to  another,  the  unillumined  human  mind,  the  vision 

is  material.       This  shows  unmistakably  that  what  the 

human  mind  terms  matter  and  spirit  indicates  states  and 

stages  of  consciousness  {Science  and  Health,  p.  573). 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

ftairiv/  o  1  ^B  90ioj  I 

lisrti  nv/orfa  vbifdnq  9V£rf  Mil 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 

bsntzz&lo   yWorup   brm  t™„o~,  t^  ^d1   irolJi* 

January  17,  1912. 

My  dear  Mrs.  A.  .  .  : — 

I  am  always  glad  to  receive  messages  of  spiritual  love, 
and  I  thank  you  for  your  desire  to  help  me. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  707 

I  am  beginning  "to  build  .  .  .  on  a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390) 
as  fast  as  I  can  eliminate"  false  human  beliefs  of  a  mortal 
so-called  man  and  a  material  universe  which  God  never 
made.    These  carnal  beliefs  hinder  progress  Spirit-ward. 

I  am  willing  to  meet  the  condemnation  of  those  who 
disagree  with  me  in  regard  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  of 
Christian  Science.  I  have  shrunk  from  taking  up  the 
cross  in  defense  of  her  teachings,  which,  unless  they  are 
preserved,  "will  be  lost  as  they  were  aforetime."  I 
am  carrying  out  Mrs.  Eddy's  directions  to  the  letter, 
and  in  the  spirit  of  love. 

The  reflection  of  divine  Love  is  a  rod  to  error,  and 
whoever  wields  this  rod  is  sure  to  meet  the  antagonism 
of  the  human  or  carnal  beliefs.  I  would  gladly  retire 
from  the  watch-tower  of  spiritual  observation  and 
activity,  if  another  would  come  forth  and  protect  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science  from  sinking  again  into  mate- 
rialism, but  no  one  seems  unselfed  enough,  or  has  gained 
sufficient  spiritual  understanding  to  proclaim  publicly 
the  scientific  statement  of  being,  and  to  deny  the  evi- 
dence of  the  so-called  material  senses  in  regard  to 
Mrs.  Eddy  and  her  final  demonstration  or  reappearance 
as  idea. 

I  shall  declare  for  Christian  Science  in  its  purity, 
and  shall  continue  to  demonstrate  it  by  reflecting  spirit- 
ual love,  the  antidote  for  malice,  jealousy,  envy,  etc., — 
in  fact  to  protect  the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
against  all  who  defend  sin  and  death,  and  who  are 
perpetuating  the  belief  of  the  reality  of  evil. 

I  have  proved  mortal  so-called  mind  to  be  powerless 
to  hush  the  voice  of  God  through  His  anointed, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy.  I  know  that  she  is  guiding  her  own 
as  ever,  and  that  she  will  make  her  demonstration  to 


708  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

all  who  have  understood  her  in  the  past.  I  never  for 
one  moment  hesitated  to  obey  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  when  she  requested  me,  orally  or  by 
letter,  to  carry  out  her  advice  and  stand  for  Principle. 

She  asked  the  brethren  in  New  York  to  rise  with  her 
to  more  spiritual  altitudes,  when  she  said,  "When  my 
dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build  higher,  .  .  . 
they  must  begin  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than 
which  there  is  no  other,  .  .  .  Spirit  is  infinite;  .  .  . 
Spirit  is  all.  'There  is  no  matter'"  {Christian  Science 
Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

Some  were  ready,  and  the  separation  began.  I  have 
letters  of  counsel  from  our  Leader  to  defend  the  true 
spiritual  fact  that  she  never  lived  nor  died  in  a  matter 
body,  since  there  is  no  matter. 

Love  must  triumph  over  all  false  thinking.  I  shall  not 
disappoint  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Evil  can  only  destroy  itself  and  its  victims.  All 
who  are  ready  "to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual 
foundation"  are  rising  to  spiritual  vision  and  spiritual 
power,  and  are  revealing  the  eternal  verities  of  God, 
His  man  and  universe.     There  is  no  other  man. 

The  hour  is  imminent.  The  wise  virgins  have  oil  in 
their  lamps.  They  are  looking  for  the  bridegroom,  and 
anticipating  the  hour  of  final  deliverance  from  material 
beliefs  and  believers  in  the  illusion  of  life  in  matter. 

If  the  demand  is  ever  made  for  my  authority  in  stand- 
ing forth  and  defending  true  Christian  Science,  or  my 
reasons  for  my  confidence  that  our  Leader  will  make  a 
demonstration  of  her  teachings,  I  have  ample  proof  in 
the  letters  to  me  from  Mrs.  Eddy  which  I  have  in  my 
possession. 

I  must  make  my  own  demonstration  in  the  building 
of  the  Church  Triumphant,  as  I  made  it  in  the  church 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  709 

militant.  I  must  meet  the  bitter  antagonism  and  ma- 
teriality of  all  who  cannot  rise  with  Christ.  I  must 
drink  the  full  cup,  and  prove  my  spiritual  under- 
standing of  Christian  Science,  and  wait  for  the  crown 
of  immortal  consciousness. 

When  I  have  done  all  that  divine  Love  demands  of  me, 
and  the  world  requires  evidence  of  my  fidelity  to  my 
Leader's  instructions,  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  furnish  it. 

In  the  meantime,  all  are  being  classified.  They 
have  been  compelled  to  choose.  This  is  the  divine 
law  and  order. 

We  are  not  of  this  (material)  world.  We  are  looking 
for  a  ' '  city  which  hath  foundations. ' '  We  are  following 
Mrs.  Eddy,  our  Christly  Leader. 

I  thank  you,  dear  Mrs.  A  .  .  .  ,  for  your  kind  letter, 
and  trust  that  you  will  understand  that  I  am  always 
ready  to  unite  with  the  spiritually  minded  or  the  true 
Christian  Scientists.  It  is  obvious  that  the  spiritually 
minded  and  the  believers  and  defenders  of  matter  as 
real,  never  unite.  Two  cannot  "walk  together,  ex- 
cept they  be  agreed."  It  is  the  "unity  of  good" 
(Mary  Baker  Eddy)  that  all  who  follow  Mrs.  Eddy  un- 
derstandingly,  are  to-day  seeking. 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  16,  1912. 

The  Woman's  National  Weekly, 

University  City,  St.  Louis, 
Missouri. 
Dear  Co-workers: — 

Your  favor  of  September  30th,  191 2,  inviting  me 
to  become  a  candidate  for  election  as  a  delegate  to 


710  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

represent  the  American  Woman's  Republic  at  the 
International  Woman  Suffrage  Congress,  to  be  held 
at  Budapest  next  June,  is  before  me.  I  appreciate 
the  honor  you  have  conferred  upon  me  in  selecting 
me  as  one  of  twenty  delegates  to  represent  the  American 
Woman's  Republic. 

You  have  my  hearty  cooperation  in  your  efforts  to 
establish  the  rights  of  woman.  During  the  years  of 
my  religious  work  in  Boston,  and  for  the  past  twenty- 
six  years  in  this  city,  as  Pastor,  Reader  and  spiritual 
head  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  I  have  publicly  and  privately  endorsed  woman's 
rights.  While  I  am  not  personally  identified  with 
the  movement  for  Woman  Suffrage,  owing  to  great 
pressure  of  work  in  teaching  and  promulgating  divine 
metaphysics  or  Christian  Science  in  its  higher  demon- 
strations, yet  I  am  always  awake  to  the  movement 
and  active  in  using  my  influence  to  advocate  woman's 
interests.  This  with  my  literary  work  occupies  all 
my  time  and  precludes  the  possibility  of  uniting  with 
you  in  public  personal  service  for  the  cause  of  Woman 
Suffrage. 

I  am  confident,  however,  that  my  labors  of  love  for 
woman's  spiritual  mental  advancement  which  will 
ensure  her  equal  rights  and  privileges  with  man;  my 
never-ceasing  efforts  to  uplift  humanity  to  true  man- 
hood and  ideal  womanhood  are  effectively  operating 
in  individual  and  universal  consciousness,  inciting  to 
higher  ideals,  and  emancipation  from  mental  and 
physical  bondage. 

Mind  is  the  source  of  all  activity,  and  spiritual 
thought-force  is  leavening  human  consciousness  with 
the  divine  qualities  of  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  which 
are  gradually  eliminating  the  carnal  elements  which 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  711 

prevent  man  and  woman  from  exercising  the  dominion 
with  which  God  endowed  them,  when  He  made  them 
in  His  own  "image"  and  "likeness"  and  gave  them 
"dominion  .  .  .  over  all  the  earth." 

Through  spiritual  evolution  woman  is  emancipating 
herself  from  obedience  to  man-made  laws,  and  is  recog- 
nizing and  striving  to  obey  God's  law,  and,  under  the 
divine  impulsion  is  asserting  her  equality  with  man. 

It  is  not  a  question  of  time,  as  to  when  man  will 
concede  to  woman  equal  rights  and  privileges,  equal 
mental  ability  and  the  possible  achievement  of  as  great 
results  as  he  has  attained.  It  is  wholly  a  matter  of 
spiritual  development,  and  liberation  from  a  material 
mentality  with  its  consequent  thraldom.  During 
many  years  woman  has  encountered  fierce  opposition 
to  her  plea  for  social,  civic,  and  religious  equality, 
until,  driven  to  the  extreme  limit  of  patient  endurance, 
she  has  risen  in  defiance  to  opposition  to  her  convictions 
and  has  demanded  recognition  and  representation. 
She  has  met  what  all  reformers  encounter  who  have 
stood  for  spiritual  progress,  for  justice  and  equity. 

Never  on  custom's  oiled  grooves 
The  world  to  a  higher  level  moves, 
But  grates  and  grinds  with  friction  hard 
On  granite  boulder  and  flinty  shard.1 

Woman  has  already  won  a  signal  victory,  which, 
when  the  smoke  of  battle  is  dispersed,  will  reveal  her 
as  the  ideal  woman  standing  side  by  side  with  the  ideal 
man,  crowned  with  equal  rights,  and  endowed  with 
equal  mental  ability,  possibilities  and  spiritual  energies 
which  will  comprise  the  brotherhood  of  man  under  the 
law  of  supreme  intelligence  and  Love. 

1  Whittier. 


712   Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

The  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  met  the  same  resistance  to  her 
metaphysical  postulates,  from  those  who  refused  to 
grant  woman  the  right  of  spiritual  interpretation  of 
the  Bible,  which  reversed  man's  material  interpretation 
of  the  Holy  Word.  But,  God-impelled  and  God- 
inspired,  this  brave  woman  heeded  not  the  pointed 
bayonet  of  prejudice  and  time-honored  theories. 
Trusting  in  immutable  Truth,  this  immortal  scribe 
of  Spirit,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  began  her  emancipation 
from  bondage  to  human  so-called  laws.  She  lifted 
woman's  hope  and  faith  to  the  exaltation  of  her  divine 
selfhood,  her  eternal  birthright,  her  prerogative  to 
representation  and  participation  in  all  that  concerns 
the  individual  and  universal  welfare  of  mankind. 

Alone,    reviled    and    denounced    by    materialists, 

understood  only  in  a  small  degree  by  the  few  who 

perceive  and  accept  Truth,  this  spiritually  illumined 

woman  repeated  to  the  world  Jesus'  message  of  Truth 

which  heals  the  sick  and  reforms  the  sinner.     As  the 

world  rejected  Jesus '  teachings  and  practice,  so  to-day, 

at  Christ's  second  appearing,  it  rejects  the  message 

of  salvation  from  sickness  and  sin  proclaimed  by  a 

woman. 

_     •  .  ..  ill 

Permit  me  to  quote  from  a  sermon  preached  by  me 

in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

in  1888.    "How  does  Christ  speak  in  his  divine  code  of 

Science?     It  was  a  woman  who  put  the  leaven  into  the 

meal  which  leavened  the  whole  lump;  it  was  a  woman 

who  poured  the  precious  ointment,  an  offering  of  divine 

inspiration;  a  woman  knelt  at  the  foot  of  the  cross 

when  all  the  terrified  men,  save  one,  forsook  Jesus. 

To  a  woman  Jesus  first  revealed   himself  after  the 

resurrection.     It  was  the  woman  in  Revelation  who 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  713 

was  to  be  clothed  with  light  to  interpret  the  Word  of 
God.  Woman's  spirituality  first  discerned  Truth, 
and  woman  will  finally  lead  to  spiritual  heights  all  who 
have  hitherto  failed  to  discern  the  immortal  things  of 
Spirit.  The  prophecy  will  be  fulfilled:  The  seed  of 
the  woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head  (Genesis 
iii.,  15)  and  restore  man  to  his  primal  estate,  health, 
holiness,  and  immortality." 

Again  let  me  reassure  you  of  my  keen  sympathy 
with  the  movement  —  Woman  Suffrage — and  my 
cordial  cooperation  with  woman  in  the  exaltation  of 
her  spiritual  individuality,  which  is  emancipating  her 
from  the  fetters  forged  by  so-called  material  laws. 

I  will  conclude  in  the  words  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy: 

One  infinite  God,  good,  unifies  men  and  nations;  constitutes 
the  brotherhood  of  man;  ends  wars;  fulfils  the  Scripture, 
"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself;"  annihilates  pagan  and 
Christian  idolatry, — whatever  is  wrong  in  social,  civil, 
criminal,  political,  and  religious  codes;  equalizes  the 
sexes;  annuls  the  curse  on  man,  and  leaves  nothing  that 
can  sin,  suffer,  be  punished  or  destroyed. 

(Science  and  Health,  p.  340.) 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  22,  1912. 

My  dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  : — 

It  seems  a  difficult  task  for  me  to  write  you  a  con- 
ventional note  of  regret  in  return  for  the  kind  invitation 
to  your  luncheon,  and  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  indulge 
in  a  few  words  of  appreciation  of  your  remembrance 
of  me  in  connection  with  this  social  event,   I   shall 


7 H  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

feel  that  I  have  visited  with  you  through  the  medium 
of  the  pen,  therefore  have  not  entirely  lost  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  you  at  this  social  function,  which  I  am  sure 
will  be  most  delightful. 

For  many  years  I  have  denied  myself  these  oppor- 
tunities of  pleasant  and  profitable  association,  which 
demanded  time  that  I  was  obliged  to  devote  to  my 
church  and  literary  work. 

To-day  I  find  myself  still  in  battle,  arrayed  against 
the  carnal,  so-called  mind,  and  compelled  to  absent 
myself  from  such  genial  and  most  agreeable  events 
which  none  can  possibly  enjoy  more  than  I. 

I  am  glad  to  know  that  my  sisters  are  attending  to 
this  necessary  social  duty,  which  is  one  way  of  calling 
women  together  to  discuss  the  topics  of  the  hour,  and 
for  personal  intercourse,  so  essential  to  brighten, 
quicken  and  unify  purpose  along  the  line  of  reciprocal 
thought. 

The  benefits  derived  from  the  sweet  interchange  of 
the  thoughts  of  noble  women  gathered  at  these  func- 
tions, each  contributing  her  share  of  wisdom,  born 
from  research  and  experience,  must  always  result  in 
incalculable  value  to  humanity. 

The  hour  has  struck  when  thinkers  are  awaking  to 
human  needs  and  are  questioning  the  potency  of 
spiritual  thought-force  to  free  them  from  material 
thinking,  which  results  in  discord,  and  which  finally 
incapacitates  all  who  are  governed  by  false  reasoning. 
Spiritual  power  is  exalting  the  divine  nature  in  woman. 
She  is  constantly  ■  rising  in  the  scale  of  intelligence, 
and   is  uplifting   the  standard  of  true  womanhood. 

Woman  is  emancipating  herself  from  bondage  to 
false  theories,  and  is  finding  her  individual  identity 
as  God's  child  to  whom  He  gave  equal  rights  with  man, 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers  715 

when  He  gave  them  both  "dominion.  .  .  over  all  the 
earth. "     Woman  is  redeeming  her  birthright. 

I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit,  dear  Mrs.  H  .  .  .  ,  and 
some  day,  I  trust  in  the  near  future,  when  my  ceaseless 
vigils  on  the  watch-tower  of  Zion  shall  have  sufficed 
for  me,  and  I  shall  be  free  to  come  and  go  as  I  desire, 
you  will  not  find  me  regretting  my  inability  to  be  with 
you,  but  I  shall  accept  and  be  personally  present 
whenever  you  favor  me  with  an  opportunity  to  do  so. 

The  signs  of  the  times  indicate  that,  "There  re- 
maineth  therefore  a  rest  to  the  people  of  God."     My 
mission  on  earth  seems  to  have  been  in  the  line  of 
spiritual  progression  with  its  accompanying  persecu- 
tions,   consequent   upon   spiritualization    of   thought. 
It  is  evident  that  this  is  woman's  hour  with  all  its 
sweet  amenities. 
/~  Mary  Baker  Eddy  sounded  the  bugle  call  to  Truth's 
/  standard    when    she    emancipated    herself   from    the 
1     traditional  material  interpretation  of  the  Word  of  God, 
I     the  Holy  Bible. 

Down  through  the  line  of  commutual  thought, 
women  have  responded  to  the  divine  interpretation 
and  are  demanding  emancipation  from  man-made 
laws  and  mental  slavery. 

Woman  is  rising  to  claim  her  prerogative  to  repre- 
sent her  creator,  and  execute  the  law  of  God — eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Panoplied  in  divine  love,  as 
she  advances  in  spiritual  power,  with  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit,  the  Word  of  God,  within  her  hand,  and  the  law 
of  Christ's  love  under  her  tongue,  she  is  going  forth 
strong  in  faith  and  understanding  to  reveal  the  new 
heaven  and  the  new  earth,  which  shall  be  governed  by 
the  new  man  and  the  new  woman  controlled  by  the 
law  of  God. 


716  Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow-Workers 

I  must  beg  your  pardon  for  my  self-indulgence,  in 
permitting  my  pen  to  register  my  thoughts  on  the 
subject  so  vital  to  me,  and  which  you  may  not  have  the 
time  nor  the  interest  to  consider. 

Yours  most  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  11,  19 13. 

My  dear  Student: — 

You  ask  me  if  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  ever  made  Mrs.  Eddy  a  Fondateur 
of  the  Association  for  International  Conciliation. 
This  church  had  the  honor  of  tendering  this  appoint- 
ment, which  she  graciously  accepted.  A  statement 
concerning  the  matter,  including  her  letter,  was  given 
in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  volume  ix.,  page  662. 

In  case  the  back  numbers  are  not  convenient  for 
you  to  refer  to  I  will  quote  the  account  in  full. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Letter. 

The  following  is  Mrs.  Eddy's  letter  to  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  New  York,  acknowledging  the  courtesy 
of  that  church  in  subscribing  for  her  a  membership  of 
the  highest  class  in  the  Association  for  International 
Conciliation. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  22,  1907. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 

Mr.  John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk. 
My  Beloved  Brethren: — 

Your  appointment  of  me  as  Fondateur  of  the  Associa- 
tion for  International  Conciliation  is  most  gracious.  To 
aid  in  this  holy  purpose  is  the  leading  impetus  of  my  life. 


Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow- Workers  717 

Many  years  have  I  prayed  and  labored  for  the  consumma- 
tion of  "on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men."  May 
the  fruits  of  said  grand  Association,  pregnant  with  peace, 
find  their  birthright  in  divine  Science. 

Right  thoughts  and  deeds  are  the  sovereign  remedies 
for  all  earth's  woe.  Sin  is  its  own  enemy.  Right  has  its 
recompense,  even  though  it  be  betrayed.  Wrong  may 
be  man's  highest  idea  of  right  until  his  grasp  of  goodness 
grows  stronger.     It  is  always  safe  to  be  just. 

When  pride,  self,  and  human  reason  reign,  injustice 
is  rampant.  Individuals,  as  nations,  unite  harmoniously 
on  the  basis  of  justice,  and  this  is  accomplished  when  self 
is  lost  in  Love — or  God's  own  plan  of  salvation.  "To  do 
justly,  and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly"  is  the 
standard  of  Christian  Science. 

Human  law  is  right  only  as  it  patterns  the  divine.  Con- 
solation and  peace  are  based  on  the  enlightened  sense  of 
God's  government. 

Lured  by  fame,  pride,  or  gold,  success  is  dangerous,  but 
the  choice  of  folly  never  fastens  on  the  good  or  the  great. 
Because  of  my  rediscovery  of  Christian  Science,  and  honest 
efforts  (however  meagre)  to  help  human  purpose  and  peo- 
ples, you  may  have  accorded  me  more  than  is  deserved, — 
but  't  is  sweet  to  be  remembered. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 

I  am  glad  that  you  have  felt  an  interest  in  this 
event  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  association  with  it. 
Faithfully,  affectionately  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


CHAPTER  XV 

LETTERS  OF  INSTRUCTION  AND  COUNSEL 
TO   STUDENTS 

But  continue  thou  in  the  things  which  thou  hast  learned  and  hast 
been  assured  of,  knowing  of  whom  thou  hast  learned  them. 

2  Timothy  iii.,  14. 

The  honest  student  of  Christian  Science  is  purged  through  Christ, 
Truth,  and  thus  is  ready  for  victory  in  the  ennobling  strife.  The 
good  fight  must  be  fought  by  those  who  keep  the  faith  and  finish  their 
course.  Mental  purgation  must  go  on:  it  promotes  spiritual  growth, 
scales  the  mountain  of  human  endeavor,  and  gains  the  summit  in 
Science  that  otherwise  could  not  be  reached, — where  the  struggle  with 
sin  is  forever  done. — Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  41. 

Winter  Hill,  Mass., 
November  25,  1895. 

My  dear  Student-body,  or  Association: — l 

I  need  no  more  convincing  evidence  of  the  allness  and 
substance  of  divine  Mind,  God's  ever-presence,  mani- 
fested in  idea — and  the  nothingness  of  corporeality — 
than  comes  to  me  now,  as  I  turn  my  thoughts  to  these 
"whom  Thou  hast  given  me,"  and  become  conscious 
that  space  is  filled  with  individualities,  who  have 
cheered  me  on  my  wilderness  journey,  and  now  float 
to  me  on  mental  pinions,  as  the  presence  of  each 
loved  one  appears  to  my  spiritualized  sense.  Spirit 
indeed  is  substance.     Ever-present  Mind  is  All,  and, 

1  Letter  addressed  to  the  Student-body  of  the  New  York  City 
Christian  Science  Institute  in  their  respective  fields  of  labor. 

718 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     719 

as  we  dwell  in  the  "secret  place,"  the  ever-immanent 
God  illumines  each,  till  spiritual  sense  disperses  the 
darkness  and  mentally  reveals  His  image,  in  witness 
of  our  individual  oneness  with,  and  relation  to  our 
Father-Mother  God,  and  to  each  other. 

These  glimpses  of  spiritual  substance  dispel  all  fear, 
all  time,  all  space.  Eternity  opens  to  our  thought, 
and  shuts  us  in  an  atmosphere  of  Life  and  Love. 
Then  we  recognize  ourselves  as  spiritual,  not  material, 
and  our  lives  as  "hid  with  Christ  in  God."  We 
behold  each  dear  one  as  a  member  of  the  body  of 
Christ,  spiritual  and  incorporeal,  eternal  in  harmony. 
This  is  a  foretaste  of  the  ultimate  of  spiritual  under- 
standing, when,  through  obedience  and  suffering,  we 
shall  come  out  of  the  shadows  that  throng  the  gloaming 
of  this  dream-existence.  This  spiritual  light  quickens 
hope  and  revives  feeble,  fluttering  aspirations  for  the 
real  and  eternal.  It  strengthens  our  weary  endeavors 
for  the  true  goal  and  spiritual  companionship,  "where 
heart  meets  heart  reciprocally  blest"  (Miscellaneous 
Writings,   p.    207). 

Let  us  lift  the  heart,  and  bend  the  knee  in  prayer 
and  praise,  for  this  faint  apprehension  of  spiritual 
substance  and  divine  revelation  of  the  deep  things  of 
God — not  forgetting  her  who  has  given  to  us,  through 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  the 
guide  to  eternal  Life — whose  tireless  watch  over  a  sin- 
bound  world  is  not  yet  ended,  and  whose  prayers  are 
ever  ascending  on  wings  of  loving  petition  for  her 
children,  as  she  leads  them  through  the  serpent- 
infested  wilderness  of  sin,  to  the  bright  mountain  of 
holiness  and  immortality. 

Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says  "Spirit,  God,  is  heard 
when   the   senses  are   silent "  la  {Science  and  Health, 


720     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

p.  89).  Let  us  tread  softly,  dear  students,  as  we 
approach  our  "house  not  made  with  hands" — our 
spiritual  conscious  oneness  with  God.  As  we  near 
this  silent  sanctuary,  we  feel  the  presence  of  Love 
coming  out  to  meet  us.  Strains  of  melody,  laden 
with  peace  and  joy  are  wafted  to  us,  till  we  lose  the 
memory  of  weary  years  of  struggle  and  sorrow,  doubt, 
toil,  pain,  and  fear,  and  attempt  to  blend  our 
half-attuned  voices  (thoughts)  with  the  harmony  of 
being. 

Ah,  there  are  discordant  notes  which  the  hand  of 
Love  must  attune,  ere  we  can  unite  with  the  heavenly 
harpists,  and  swell  the  angelic  anthem,  "God  is  omni- 
potent." Pause,  beloved,  and  listen.  A  voice  is 
speaking  above  the  human.  Christ  is  calling  from  the 
Mount,  "Follow  me."  You  cannot  sing  the  Lord's 
song  in  a  strange  land,  and  in  the  old  tongue.  Leave 
material  sense,  with  its  delusive  shadows,  its  illusive 
beauty,  fleeting  joys  and  seductive  snares.  Tarry  no 
longer  in  sensuous  pleasures,  which  fan  the  fires  of 
lust  and  hypocrisy,  and  shut  you  in  the  tomb  of 
material  sense,  with  the  dead  in  trespasses  and  sin. 

Hear  the  voice  of  the  Master,  "I  am  the  way," 
"Follow  me."  Rise  to  your  conscious  dominion 
over  all  material  things — thoughts.  Enter,  with 
spiritual  thought,  your  mansion  which  Christ  has 
prepared  for  you,  and  there  unite  with  the  ransomed 
in  the  glad  anthem  of  immortality.  Leave  behind 
you  every  earth- weight.  One  by  one,  lay  down  your 
idols.  Let  no  strange  gods  be  carried  up  the  Mount. 
The  ascent  is  steep,  and  narrow  is  the  path.  Both 
hands  will  be  needed,  one  to  raise  aloft  the  cross, 
before  which  the  adversary  quails,  the  other  to  carry 
the  Word  of  God — the  Holy  Bible — and  Science  and 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     721 

Health — the  Comforter — the  chart  to  the  Horeb  height 
of  Love. 

With  your  eyes  fixed  steadfastly  on  the  crown  of 
immortality  which  gleams  from  its  summit,  you  will 
pass  unharmed  over  hissing  serpents,  walk  calmly 
and  fearlessly  through  the  valley,  hidden  by  the 
shadow  of  the  cross  from  the  beasts  of  prey.  Follow 
your  guide,  Christ,  and  be  not  lured  by  the  voice  of 
the  stranger.  Let  not  the  weight  of  earthly  pride 
induce  you  to  tarry  in  the  valley.  Sensuous  pleasures, 
and  joy  in  the  baubles  of  the  mortal  dream,  must  not 
prevent  you  from  rising  to  higher  altitudes  of  spiritual 
vision. 

Beautiful  evil,  and  the  lust  of  the  eyes  will  blind  you 
to  "the  way,"  and  deceive  and  decoy  you,  if  you  do 
not  resist  the  suggestions  of  mortal  belief,  till,  like 
many,  who  have  enlisted  in  the  battle  for  immortality, 
you  wander  in  the  ways  of  physical  sense,  and  love 
darkness  rather  than  light.  Lulled  by  the  siren 
influence  of  belief,  the  voice  and  demands  of  Love  will 
be  distasteful,  as  Christ  rebukes  carnality — while 
the  desire  and  love  of  contemplating  the  things  of  God 
will  be  irksome.  Thus,  asleep  in  error,  the  mists 
become  dense  and  hide  the  Mount,  and  the  way  is 
lost. 

Dearly  beloved,  my  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing,  I 
am  "persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor 
things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love 
of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus"  (Romans  viii.,  38,  39). 
You  are  awake,  and  will  continue  to  ascend  Spirit-ward 
and  press  toward  the  prize.  You  know  that  material 
sense  is  not  your  goal.  You  perceive,  with  spiritual 
46 


722     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

sight,  your  building  of  God — your  house — eternal 
consciousness. 

You  are  dissolving  with  the  solvent  of  divine  Love 
this  earthly  tabernacle,  and  the  fire  of  purifying  Love 
is  dispelling  the  mists  of  false  sense,  consuming  the 
clouds  which  obstruct  your  view.  With  spiritual 
vision,  perceive  your  heavenly  treasures.  Behold 
celestial  riches,  joys  unspeakable,  life  which  knows 
no  end,  and  peace  which  Spirit  ever  evolves  throughout 
endless  eternity.  Acknowledging  Spirit  as  the  only 
power,  you  will  be  impelled  heaven-ward,  and  will 
rise  above  temporal  concepts,  with  their  substanceless 
phenomena,  till  you  apprehend  the  grandeur  of  the 
eternal  unseen  universe. 

Dear  faithful  soldiers  of  Christian  Science,  you  have 
stood  valiantly  by  my  side,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  in  this 
crusade  against  the  material  world,  the  flesh,  and  evil. 
The  tempter  has  tried  to  lure  us  to  the  pinnacle,  then 
to  hurl  us  down  the  precipice,  where  in  the  surging 
maelstrom  of  sin  and  sorrow  our  voices  would  be  hushed 
by  the  roar  of  many  waters.  But  our  deliverer, 
Christ,  ever  at  our  side  to  fulfil  his  promise,  "Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end,"  in  every  hour  of 
temptation  flashed  the  light  of  Truth  upon  us,  and 
banished  every  illusion. 

As  we  rise  to  grasp  the  reality  of  being,  error  rises 
proportionately,  and  the  war  between  the  Spirit  and 
the  flesh  goes  on  in  each  individual  consciousness. 
The  Christ  struggles  with  the  carnal,  resisting  the 
sensuous  claim  to  life  in  matter,  while  Spirit,  which  is 
our  Father- Mother  Love,  operates,  and  permeates 
thought,  delivering  all  who  turn  to  the  ever-sustaining 
presence,  divine  Love  and  Her  idea.  Thus  we  attain 
Christly  power  over  the  illusion   of  sin  and   death. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     723 

Thus  we  gain  the  pure  spiritual  sense  without  which 
none  can  see  God.  Then  God  pours  into  our  hearts 
the  riches  of  love,  joy,  and  peace,  and  our  heaven  is 
found  to  be  a  condition  of  mind.  This  is  our  birthright. 
Are  we  willing  to  watch  with  Love's  "highest  visible 
idea"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  560),  our  beloved  Leader, 
God's  Messenger  to  this  age,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  until 
our  divine  inheritance  is  redeemed? 

These  are  the  latter  days.  The  morning  dawns  for 
the  watchers.  We  must  not  cease  our  vigils  till  we 
behold  the  sunrise  of  righteousness,  and  welcome  our 
risen  Christ  at  his  reappearing  through  woman,  our 
Leader  and  Guide  to  eternal  Life.  Let  us  not  tarry 
in  sense  testimony,  worshiping  false  phenomena,  nor 
play  with  phantoms  lighted  by  flickering  sunbeams 
which  fade  and  leave  us  in  the  night  of  mortal  mind. 
May  spiritual  thought-force  rend  the  veil  which  con- 
ceals the  beautiful  world  of  God's  creation,  till  we 
behold  the  real  man  in  His  likeness.  Spiritual  com- 
munion must  be  sweeter  to  us  than  converse  with 
error.  If  we  love  one  we  hate  the  other.  "As  the 
hart  panteth  after  the  water  brooks,  so  panteth  my 
soul  after  Thee,  O  God." 

The  conditions  of  spiritual  understanding  and  be- 
lief— heaven  and  hell — are  separated  by  a  wide 
mental  gulf.  As  our  desires  and  purposes  grow 
spiritual,  the  guests  we  entertain  must  speak  the 
"new  tongue,"  and  sing  the  song  of  eternal  Life.  In 
His  habitation  we  find  joy  and  sweet  communion. 
Alas!  for  those  who  desire  spiritual  power  and  im- 
mortality, but  who  cling  to  the  mortal,  and  worship 
the  Father  with  words,  but  are  not  ready  to  come  out 
from  belief  in  error,  who  find  satisfaction  in  the  false 
peace  which  this  material  world  gives — and  climb  to 


724     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

heights  of  the  letter  of  Christian  Science,  but,  unwilling 
to  strive  for  spiritual  sense,  they  linger  with,  and 
enjoy  the  deceptive  phantasmagoria  of  this  dream- 
universe.  " God  is  not  mocked:  for  whatsoever  a  man 
soweth,   that  shall  he  also  reap." 

This  hour  in  our  Christian  Science  experience  is  mak- 
ing great  demands  upon  us  to  watch,  work,  and  pray, 
and  to  reflect  divine  Love.  The  dragon — evil — is  illu- 
sion, and  we  know  cannot  war  successfully  against  the 
Lamb.  There  is  no  power  in  evil,  and  no  evil  to  drag  on 
humanity  in  a  sense  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  Sci- 
ence and  Health  tells  us  that  mortal  mind  is  destroyed. 
Let  us  believe  the  spiritual  fact  and  prove  it.  Our 
armor  is  Truth  and  Love,  before  which  hypnotism, 
mesmerism,  esoteric  magic,  witchcraft,  glamor,  fasci- 
nation, lust,  and  hypocrisy,  tremble  and  fall  powerless. 
There  is  nothing  real  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death,  when 
the  searchlight  of  Truth  reveals  error's  false  claim. 
God  is  All.  We  are  His  children — safe  in  the  arms  of 
our  Father-Mother  God,  resting  on  the  great  heart  of 
Love. 

Watch,  beloved  students,  lest,  coming  suddenly, 
Christ,  at  his  second  coming,  finds  you  sleeping  in 
material  sense,  and  you  lose  the  reward  of  the  faithful. 
My  love  goes  out  to  you  continually,  and  my  prayers 
reach  the  ear  of  the  infinite,  that  you  and  all  seekers 
for  "Home,  Sweet  Home"  in  Soul,  may  conquer 
every  fear  and  enter  the  mansion,  spiritual  conscious- 
ness of  wisdom  and  understanding.  Be  true  to  your 
highest  spiritual  concept  of  eternal  Mind.  Pass 
under  every  rod  with  cheerfulness.  Kiss  the  cross, 
and  wait  for  the  smile  of  God.  You  are  coming  out 
from  the  "foul  senses"  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
P-  399)  >  and  having  been  washed  in  the  blood  of  Christ, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     725 

you  will  see  "a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth, "  for  this 
material  concept  of  heaven  and  earth  will  pass  away. 
It  has  ever  been  only  a  belief.  Let  none  perpetuate 
it  by  indulgence  in  it,  nor  contemplation  of  it,  as  real. 
God  be  very  near  to  each  precious  one,  and  may  we 
continue  to  love  and  labor  till  we  awake  in  immortality 
here  on  earth. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Winter  Hill,  Mass., 
September  9,  1898. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  am  glad  to  learn  that  you  have  a  prospect  of 
renting  the  apartment.  I  had  no  wish  in  regard  to  the 
room  I  occupied  last  season,  and  am  glad  if  the  decora- 
tion enhances  the  attraction  of  the  place — thus 
benefiting  dear  Mrs.  McA  ....  Please  remember  me 
kindly  to  her,  and  to  her  husband  and  father. 

Dear  S  .  .  .  ,  you  know  that  I  have  no  need  to  advise 
you  in  your  selection  of  a  home.  Your  judgment  is 
safe  to  trust.  You  are  individual  and  understand 
Principle.  Lean  on  divine  Love,  and  Love  will  show 
you  the  real  mental,  and  gradually  we  shall  see  that 
beliefs  are  only  shadows,  which  vanish  under  the  pure 
light  of  Spirit. 

We  shall  each  work  out  our  problem  together  in  the 
one  Mind,  and  both  mortal  sense,  with  its  phenomenal 
personalities,  and  our  material  environments  in  the 
Adam-dream,  will  be  seen  as  illusion,  and  will  disap- 
pear. I  am  sure,  dear  heart,  that  you  know  the  way 
and  love  it,  and  will  strive  to  see  God  as  All,  giving  to 
mortality  all  that  is  due  to  it — destruction.  Sin  is 
the  belief  of  pain  and  pleasure  in  matter.     So-called 


726     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

matter  and  mortal  mind  are  one,  and  both  are  sub- 
stanceless  shadows. 

We  shall  gradually  learn  that  they  are  not  sufficient 
to  satisfy  our  immortal  cravings  for  the  real  and 
eternal.  To  gain  the  spiritual  sense  we  must  open  our 
eyes  to  see  how  much  God,  and  His  manifestation — or 
the  unseen  idea — is  to  us.  We  are  thus  never  separated, 
while  Love  feeds  us  with  joy  and  peace,  even  though 
the  false,  finite  images  do  come  into  our  mental  and 
physical  environment,  like  so  many  shadows. 

I  must  rise  to  do  higher  work  this  year  than  ever 
before.  I  must  not  cling  to  physical  personalities, 
if  I  would  be  directed  by  Love  alone.  My  family  give 
me  less  to  meet  because  they  are  discerning  Truth. 
I  see  all  my  dear  ones  through  spiritual  sense,  as  perfect 
and  immortal  ideas  of  God.  Seeing  God's  dear  love 
in  this,  I  shall  be  more  wholly  consecrated,  and  my 
duties  will  enable  me  to  do  much  more  for  others, 
while  personal  self  will  be  put  aside.  Only  in  taking 
up  the  problems  of  the  hour,  as  we  are  prepared  to 
meet  them,  can  we  perfect  and  unself  ourselves. 

I  thank  you,  dear,  for  all  you  did  to  minister  to  my 
temporal  necessities  during  the  months  I  was  with  you. 
You  did  much  which  I  felt  was  hard  for  you,  but  you 
loved  to  do  it,  and  I  appreciate  all,  and,  so  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  be  just  and  generous,  I  have  tried 
to  cancel  all  obligations.  So  we  now  begin  a  new 
season,  and  will  labor  even  more  energetically  to  do 
our  work  for  the  Master.  We  shall  gradually  merge 
out  of  the  human  into  our  divine  selfhood,  and  thus 
grow  together  into  ideal  womanhood.  Love  will  do 
all,  and  we  shall  see  Love's  smiling  face  in  each  other 
and  in  all  mankind.  Now  turn  to  God,  and  banish 
all  carnal  sense  of  personal  attraction  and  mesmeric 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     727 

clinging  to  any  one's  physical  personality,  and  your 
life  will  be  quiet,  and  overflowing  with  peace  and  joy, 
while  you  and  I  will  be  nearer  to  God  and  to  each 
other. 

Faithfully  and  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  24,  1900. 

My  beloved  Student-body: — x 

You  are  ever  with  me  and  I  with  you,  for  we  are 
God's  ideas  and  do  not  dwell  in  matter  nor  in  limita- 
tions imposed  by  material  sense.  This  is  the  rock 
of  spiritual  understanding  upon  which  all  Christian 
Scientists  must  build.  We  are  free  and  blissful  in 
our  spiritual  apprehension  that  divine  Mind  created 
and  controls  each  of  us,  supplying  our  every  need. 
We  rejoice  that  we  are  recipients  of  the  affluence  of 
Spirit.  Regard  yourselves  as  God's  own  children,  and 
claim  your  inheritance  now, — eternal  oneness  with 
Spirit. 

Error  will  try  to  cloud  you  and  deprive  you  of  your 
God-given  faculties  by  attracting  you  to  the  false 
material  senses,  and  to  the  material  body  and  universe. 
Look  away  from  the  illusive  shadows  of  personal  sense, 
and  live  above  the  clouds  and  mists  of  the  Adam-dream, 
as  far  as  you  can  demonstrate.  Be  ever  on  guard 
against  the  claim  of  a  power  opposed  to  Love  and 
Truth, — hypnotism,  spiritualism,  mesmerism,  and  all 
philosophy  based  on  the  belief  of  life,  substance,  and  in- 
telligence in  matter.  These  arguments  and  suggestions 
of  the  so-called  mortal  mind  are  the  seeming  powers 

1  Letter  to  the  Student-body  of  the  New  York  City  Christian  Science 
Institute,    sent   from    Boston. 


728     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

that  would  overthrow  our  Cause  and  destroy  us,  if 
they  could,  but  they  are  powerless  when  met  by  the 
qualities  of  the  Christ-mind.  We  need  love,  divine 
love,  which  never  covers  evil,  but  is  wise  in  uncovering, 
denouncing,  and  destroying  it  with  truth  and  love. 

We  have  a  great  work  to  do  this  season.  We  must 
grapple  with  sin  in  ourselves,  and  for  others  who  appeal 
to  us  for  healing.  We  must  work  to  conquer  personal 
pride,  vanity,  and  self-love.  We  must  and  will  refuse 
to  be  lulled  by  the  false  claim  of  malicious  animal 
magnetism.  We  will  be  meek,  and  this  meekness  and 
unselfed  love  for  God  and  man  will  make  us  mighty 
as  God's  children,  and  will  help  to  conquer  the  evil 
one  and  his  agents,  mortal  thoughts.  I  feel  that  I  am 
rising  in  the  Science  of  being,  and  am  drawing  all,  who 
are  watching  and  praying,  to  see  that  there  is  no 
reality  in  matter,  and  no  mortal  mind  to  declare  that 
there  is  a  power  opposed  to  God.  God  and  His 
creation  are  all.  We  are  spiritual  ideas  of  God  now, 
with  spiritual  embodiments  or  manifestations,  always 
governed  by  our  Principle  and  protected,  clothed, 
and  fed  by  our  Father-Mother  God — Spirit,  the  only 
creator. 

Be  happy  and  strong.  Love  is  the  only  armor. 
Love  for  good  and  for  each  other  will  exalt  you  to  the 
Mind  of  Christ,  in  which  you  will  be  safely  panoplied. 
Watch  whom  you  take  as  patients.  We  must  be 
careful  not  to  take  the  "unprepared  thought"  which 
will  turn  and  rend  us. 

Know  that  the  press  and  the  pulpit  belong  to  God, 
who  governs  all.  Handle  the  claim  of  malicious 
animal  magnetism  with  all  its  suggestions  of  the 
carnal  mind,  so-called,  with  the  Word  of  God — truth — 
and  realize  how  powerless  error  is  to  harm,  when  you 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     729 

are  armed  with  understanding  and  divine  love.      I 
shall  be  with  you  every  day  in  spiritual  unity. 

God  bless  my  beloved  students  and  members  of  my 
dear  church,  and  make  them  one  in  Truth  and  Love. 
Ever  lovingly,  your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
June  2,  1 901. 
My  beloved  Student-body: — 

Know  that  God  governs  your  every  thought.  You 
have  no  will  of  your  own, — God's  will  is  the  only  will. 
You  know  that  divine  Love  governs  every  one,  and 
that  every  one  is  an  idea  or  manifestation  of  God — 
therefore  a  power,  reflecting  Truth — Mind.  The  one 
Mind,  or  Christ,  moves  all  harmoniously.  There  is 
no  inaction,  no  interruption  to  Mind's  activity,  and 
thought  constantly  expresses  its  phenomena.  Every 
man  is  divine,  and  moves  to  the  dictates  of  Spirit. 
By  this  I  do  not  mean  so-called  mortal  man,  but  God's 
man,  the  only  man.  Man  knows  nothing  but  good. 
Man,  is  God,  reflected.  This  is  all.  Belief  of  any 
other  power  or  intelligence  is  not  scientific,  according 
to  divine  metaphysics.  All  that  is  opposed  to  good, 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  is  belief,  and  belief  is  a  lie, 
which  no  one  believes. 

Speak  with  authority  to  all  error  that  obstructs 
and  hinders  the  visible  manifestation  of  God  and  His 
universe,  including  yourselves.  Act,  think,  work, 
watch,  and  pray  without  ceasing,  to  rid  yourselves  of  a 
seeming  false  sense — the  false  self — and  gain  your  true 
selves  in  Principle.  Love  alone  will  conquer  the 
claim  of  evil.  "The  accuser"  is  cast  down.  Evil 
is  lost  in  its  own  darkness,  and  is  sinking  into  the  pit 


73<>    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

of  oblivion.     Rest  in  hope  till  hope  ends  in  fruition. 

I  am  rejoicing  in  you  and  in  my  dear  church.  A 
sigh  would  hush  my  song  if  I  did  not  know  that  those 
who  laid  down  the  sword  just  before  the  battle  was 
won,  will  finally,  after  much  tribulation,  come  back 
into  the  ranks.  I  cannot  make  even  this  real,  or 
I  shall  be  opening  my  mental  door  to  belief,  and  shall 
admit  a  host  of  conspirators  against  health,  peace,  and 
spiritual  power.  Our  beloved  Leader  says  she  cannot 
go  out  of  her  spiritual  thought  long  enough  to  look 
at  the  newspapers,  but  must  keep  in  the  secret  place, 
where  there  is  no  "arrow"  to  "wound  the  dove" 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  387). 

As  I  rise  to  more  spiritual  altitudes,  I  send  to  each 
of   you   love   inexpressible    and    ever-increasing,    and 
labor  to  draw  you  and  all  men  unto  Christ,  while  our 
lives  flow  onward  and  upward  to  God. 
Ever  fondly  thine, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

96  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
October  n,  1902. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

No  mother  ever  had  child  given  back  from  death's 
cold  clasp  who  rejoiced  more  than  I  did  when  I  read 
your  letter.  God  is  indeed  good  to  me  and  I  reflect 
enough  of  His  love  to  hold  my  dear  ones  to  Principle 
where  they  can  never  be  lost,  so,  sweet  nursling,  rest 
from  this  ceaseless  anxiety,  and  let  me  go  with  you  into 
the  "secret  place  of  the  most  High"  where  you  and  I 
together  may  bow  the  knee  and  clasp  more  closely  the 
hand  of  .our  Father-Mother  God.  Had  you  fainted 
in  the  day  of  adversity,  your  strength  had  indeed 
been   small.      The   test   has   come,   you    have   been 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     731 

weighed  and  not  found  wanting.  Now  let  the  dove 
of  peace  sing  in  your  heart  and  in  mine. 

All  that  this  finite  sense  cognizes  is  illusion.  Why 
do  we  require  it?  Why  cry  for  that  which  is  nothing 
at  its  best?  You  must  put  off  all  desire  for  the  transi- 
tory and  unreal,  as  fast  as  you  can,  and  be  strong  and 
brave,  and  honest  and  energetic,  and  forget  self  and 
personal  comfort.  This  will  break  the  lethargy  of  ease 
in  the  material  senses,  and  will  inspire  your  husband 
with  courage  and  ambition.  You  know,  dear,  you 
must  set  an  example  to  him.  I  am  sure  you  will  meet 
this  bravely.  I  dare  not  advise,  lest  God  may  be 
holding  you  to  this  experience  for  a  purpose,  for  "  Love 
is  not  hasty  to  deliver  us.  .  .  .  Love  means  that  we  shall 
be  tried  and  purified,"  says  our  Leader  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  22).  I  wish  it  were  in  divine  order  that 
you  had  a  little  apartment  and  could  be  in  the  city, 
then  you  would  take  an  interest  in  your  home,  and 
would  demonstrate  over  much  that  now  seems  in- 
surmountable. 

I  was  working  a  week  ago,  for  a  day,  over  a  sense 
of  depression.  I  became  desperate  and  went  home 
about  five  o'clock.  When  I  looked  about  my  room 
it  was  very  dusty.  I  took  off  my  dress,  ignored  my 
careless  maid,  and  went  to  sweeping.  I  worked  for 
an  hour,  and  I  never  have  had  such  a  lovely  effect. 
I  forgot  the  depression,  and,  in  sweeping  the  floor  and 
in  putting  my  room  in  perfect  order,  I  swept  my 
consciousness.  Everything  is  thought,  and  every- 
thing we  do  in  the  material  is  symbolic.  So  you  see, 
dear,  we  are  demonstrating  when  we  are  keeping  house, 
for  our  material  house  is  our  thought  and  you  must 
transform  yours  and  make  a  happy  resting-place  for 
your  dear  husband. 


732     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Do  not  be  afraid;  God  is  your  loving  Father.  All 
who  are  followers  of  Christ  are  to-day  drinking,  in 
some  degree,  Christ  Jesus'  cup.  They  are  homesick 
for  heaven,  and  neither  luxury,  nor  friends,  in  the 
mortal  dream  satisfies  them.  God  alone  fills  the  void. 
Love  will  feed  and  clothe  Her  ideas.  I  am  looking 
for  you  and  dear  S  .  .  .  soon.  All  here  seem  to  be 
progressing  in  Truth.  The  students  are  overcoming 
self,  and  personal  sense,  and  each  dear  one  is  bearing 
a  cross,  eagerly  looking  for  the  crown  which  he  and 
she  are  sure  to  win  if  they  faint  not.  Some  day  it 
will  be  unnecessary  to  write.  We  shall  communicate 
with  each  other  without  the  aid  of  telephone  or  tele- 
graph, or  the  slow  medium  of  pen. 

Give  my  love  to  my  dear  ones  all.  Tell  S  .  .  .  her 
father  was  in  Saturday  and  I  introduced  him  to  three 
ladies  with  whom  he  talked  most  intelligently  on  the 
subject  of  Christian  Science.  He  was  here  from  eleven 
till  half-past  one,  and  I  hope  he  will  come  in  every 
day.  He  is  simply  grand,  original,  and  spiritual. 
Love,  dear,  forever  to  you  and  yours. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  10,  1904. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  good  work,  and  evident 

unfoldment  in  the  understanding  of  Truth.     Love  is 

leading  you  to  behold  the  things  of  Spirit,  and,  if  you 

are  meekly  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  and  learning, 

from  the  invisible  presence,  the  lesson  of  divine  Love, 

you  will  gain  in  the  wisdom  which  will  enable  you  to 

redeem  your  birthright — your  dominion  over  all  false 

sense  testimony,  and  your  oneness  with  good — God. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     733 

I  do  not  see  why  you  should  question  me,  dear, 
after  you  have  promised  the  book.  You  must  not 
make  me  responsible  for  giving  or  withholding  my 
approval  of  it. 

In  regard  to  the  question  of  the  price  of  Science  and 
Health,  I  would  say,  you  also  need  no  instruction  there, 
since  you  have  accepted  our  Leader  as  God's  chosen 
Messenger  to  the  world  in  this  twentieth  century. 
What  she  says  and  does  is  always  right.  I  am  able 
to  say  that  no  matter  what  she  may  do — however 
human  reason  may  try  to  argue  against  her  moves — 
I  would  regard  these  arguments  as  the  "evil  one" 
trying  to  darken  me  as  to  her  wisdom  and  leading,  and 
would  instantly  accept  and  follow,  without  a  question, 
wherever  she  leads.  If  she  thought  the  price  of 
Science  and  Health  were  too  much,  she  would  put  it 
at  a  lower  price. 

The  four  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  (Mr. 
Armstrong,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Knapp,  and  Mr.  Chase) 
are  her  faithful  students,  and  I  believe  they  are  true 
to  her  teaching  as  far  as  they  comprehend  it.  I  never 
question  those  old  battle-axes,  nor  do  I  question 
Christian  Science.  These  men  are  those  of  whom 
she  spoke  so  lovingly  during  the  building  of  The 
Mother  Church.  They  are  her  Old  Guard,  the  pioneers 
of  Christian  Science,  and  I  love  all  who  have  stood  for 
our  holy  Leader  and  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science 
so  long  and  steadfastly.  I  always  obey  constituted 
authorities,  even  though  I  may  know  they  are  wrong. 
I  belong  to  a  loyal  family,  and,  to  me,  anarchy  and 
lawlessness  are  attributes  of  the  dragon.  I  believe 
in  discipline,  and  enforce  it  whenever  I  see  any  one  in 
danger  of  deflecting  from  Principle,  but  I  never  permit 
personal  homage.     I   care  nothing  for  my  false  self, 


734    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

but  I  bare  my  face  to  the  blast  for  Christian  Science, 
for  my  blessed  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  for  my  real  self,  as  God's  idea. 

Science  and  Health  is  worth  everything  you  possess. 
Millions  of  dollars  would  not  buy  it  from  me  if  I  could 
not  secure  another  copy  of  it.  It  has  taught  me  to 
give  my  money  to  God,  to  give  myself  to  Him,  and  to 
love  good,  and  to  hate  (repel)  the  claim  of  evil.  In 
fact,  it  has  given  me  eternal  life,  peace,  and  joy — the 
kingdom  of  heaven  here  and  now,  and  has  enabled  me 
to  open  the  doors  of  heaven  to  others. 

God  bless  you,  my  dear  student,  and  give  you 
wisdom  to  speak  for  God,  and  not  to  use  the  old 
vernacular  of  Adamology."  Speak  the  "new  tongue." 
Love  your  neighbor  as  yourself.  Rebuke  error  under 
every  mask  (in  love),  and  obey  every  word  of  our 
Mother  Church  Manual.  Love  will  guard  your  tongue, 
your  eyes,  your  ears,  and  you  will  not  lend  them  to 
error.     They  can  only  witness  for  Truth  and  Love. 

Please  give  my  love  to  your  dear  daughters.  In  time, 
they  will  be  Christian  Science  soldiers.  They  have 
the  true  mental,  and  mentality  is  spiritual,  since  we 
know  there  is  but  one  Mind.  Come  home  soon  if  it 
is  God's  hand  that  leads  you  here.  We  have  a  large 
audience  at  every  service. 

Love  untold  to  you, 

Ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  1 6,  1904. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Our  meeting  yesterday  was  uplifting  and,  as  always, 
there  were  unity  and  love.     It  was  not  necessary  for 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     735 

you  to  come  back,  and  you  were  right  in  not  taking 
the  long  trip.  You  are  always  at  your  post,  and  you 
are  always  faithful  to  your  Christ-consciousness,  so 
far  as  you  can  demonstrate. 

I  think  we  all  realize,  more  and  more,  that  our 
problems  are  individual,  and  that  we  are  working  out 
our  own  salvation — therefore  the  necessity  of  watch- 
fulness and  continual  prayer.  I  have  never  known 
such  a  summer  in  my  Christian  Science  experience. 
I  am  strong  and  happy  and  free,  and  while  I  work 
harder  than  I  ever  did,  I  do  it  so  easily.  Strength  to 
do  all  that  is  necessary  comes  to  me.  I  used  to  have 
to  meet  physical  chemicalization  as  well  as  mental. 
I  am  sure  that  I  have  suffered  out  of  much  belief  of 
life  in  matter,  and  that  I  shall  some  day  get  my  spiritual 
dominion  over  all  things — certainly  over  the  physical 
body.  Then  life  will  be  one  continual  song  of  praise 
to  the  Father  for  the  blessing  of  immortality. 

You  are  not  going  to  assent  to  the  suggestions  of 
mortal  mind,  that  you  are  not  now  immortal  and  now 
reflect  divine  Mind.  If  you  are  there,  you  cannot 
find  weariness  nor  nervousness,  and  you  are  there, 
because  God  is  your  creator,  and  you  have  only  what 
you  derive  from  God.  You  are  His  image  and  like- 
ness, perfect  man.  You  must  not  admit  that  there 
is  another  power.  You  must,  with  the  Mind  of 
Christ,  control  your  belief  of  nerves.  Your  divine 
consciousness  reflects  the  only  Mind,  which  produces 
and  governs  all  phenomena.  It  is  our  false  sense  that 
inverts  everything. 

Reverse  sense  testimony,  and  you  will  gain  the  true 
sense.  You  are  only  rising  higher  into  more  oneness 
with  Christ,  and  this  chemicalization  is  always  attended 
with  more  or  less  doubt  and  fear.     You  know  the 


736     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Principle  of  all  life,  and  that  you  are  immortal  now. 
Mortal  mind  and  its  matter  body  is  nothing — illusion. 
Belief  is  all  you  must  leave  or  lose.  Understanding 
will  quicken  you  into  strength  and  joy.  Error  has 
no  argument  to  utter. 

God  is  All,  and  you  know  the  voice  of  God,  the 
omnipresent  Father,  who  is  always  saying  to  you, 
"Son,  thou  art  ever  with  Me,  and  all  that  I  have  is 
thine."  Eternal  Life  is  yours,  now  and  forever. 
His  strength  is  yours;  His  power  is  yours.  You  are 
not  governed  by  mortal  mind,  for  there  is  no  mortal 
mind  if  God  is  All,  and  He  is  All.  You  can  rise  and 
resist  all  claims  of  error.  You  must  handle  the  claim 
of  malicious  animal  magnetism.  You  know  how,  and 
you  should  never  forget  to  do  this.  The  enemy  is 
always  close  on  the  heel  of  the  Christian  to  turn  him 
and  to  urge  him  to  yield  to  fear,  and  doubt,  and  dis- 
couragement. 

I  hope  you  will  not  tarry  away  too  long,  but  will 
get  back  into  your  lovely,  restful,  quiet  home,  and 
conquer  the  belief  of  fear  and  nervousness.  I  am  sure 
you  must  know  that  all  are  having  experiences  which 
destroy  the  false  senses  and  reveal  the  true  and  spiritual. 
Paul  said,  "I  die  daily."  His  strength  was  made 
perfect  in  weakness.  So  are  yours  and  mine.  Be 
brave  and  stand  like  an  anvil  when  beaten  upon.  I 
have  to  work  so  hard  for  my  patients,  my  students,  and 
my  church,  that  thus  I  gain  my  own  spiritual  strength. 
I  have  not  a  moment  to  myself,  and  I  think  it  is 
far  better  for  me.     Self  is  lost  in  serving  others. 

Do  not  give  a  thought  to  the  Concord  trip.  I  wish 
you  had  remained,  but  you  were  there  in  spirit.  You 
will  work  out  of  this  growth,  and  be  stronger  than  ever. 
We  all  know  your  fidelity  to  Principle  and  to  our 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     737 

blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  we  all  love  you  and 
dear  Mrs.  H.  .  .  .  I  wish  I  could  run  in  and  see  you 
both  to-night. 

I  hope  you  can  decipher  this  letter — I  am  so  hurried 
to  get  it  off.     Yesterday,  Sunday,  we  sang  "I  'm  a 
Pilgrim."     Our  services  are  largely  attended. 
Sincerely  and  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
January  20,  1905. 

My  beloved  Student-body: — x 

You  are  rising  every  day  Spirit- ward.  I  feel  that 
the  impersonal  work  is  going  on  to  free  us  all  from 
human  fetters,  and  give  us  the  bliss  of  unselfed  love 
which  is  heaven.  Watch  your  thoughts.  Error  never 
was  more  subtle  than  when  Love  is  drawing  us  away 
from  the  false,  and  just  about  to  show  us  the  reward 
for  faithful  work. 

The  false  arguments,  mental,  and  audible,  which 
are  voiced  through  physical  personalities,  must  be  met 
and  mastered.  You  cannot  watch  too  carefully,  or 
you  will  be  lured  to  criticise  some  one,  in  words  which 
you  would  not  repeat  to  his  face,  or  praise  of  some  one 
who  may  not  merit  it.  "Let  your  communication 
be,  Yea,  yea;  Nay,  nay." 

Test  yourselves  thoroughly  before  you  voice  a  senti- 
ment, and  if  you  have  any  hesitancy  about  expressing 
it  to  any  one,  consider  what  the  reaping  will  be,  when 
the  seed  of  that  thought  brings  you  its  flower.  We 
have  to  know  that  every  thought  quickly  springs  up 
and  blesses  or  curses  us.     Unrighteous  judgment  and 

•  Letter  to  the  Student-body  of  the  New  York  City  Christian  Science 
Institute. 

47 


738     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

unjust  criticism  will  clog  our  chariot  wheels.  We  must 
have  moral  courage,  either  to  tell  a  brother  what,  to  us, 
seems  to  be  a  fault,  or  we  must  conquer,  in  ourselves, 
the  belief  in  that  fault  and  use  our  rule — that  God  is 
All  and  man  is  perfect — God  manifest.  This  will  aid 
the  brother  and  help  to  destroy  the  error  for  us  all. 

I  am  working  to  keep  my  reflection  of  Truth  and 
Love  clear,  and  to  move  my  student-body  by  the  reali- 
zation of  the  great  pulsating  heart  of  ever-present  Love. 
My  love  is  ever  increasing  for  you,  and  I  find  some 
of  my  dear  lambkins  are  awaking  to  the  necessity  of 
taking  the  "beam  out  of  thine  [their]  own  eye,"  before 
they  attempt  to  remove  "the  mote  out  of  thy  [their] 
brother's  eye."  More  divine  love  is  necessary.  Let 
us  each  try  to  feel  towards  the  other  as  we  would 
towards  a  parent,  husband,  wife,  or  child. 

You  will  soon  see  that  spiritual  love  covers  the 
fault  from  others'  eyes,  while  it  faithfully  works  and 
prays  to  save  the  loved  one.  If  you  love  me,  love 
each  other  as  I  have  loved  you.  The  lesson  this  week 
voices  me  in  this  hour. 

Endless  love  to  you  all, 

Faithfully,  your  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  11,  1905. 

My  beloved  Students  U.  .  .  and  W.  .  .  : — 

This  glorious  morning  finds  me  rejoicing  in  the 
strength  and  freedom  of  spiritual  sense.  I  will  not 
delay  writing  you  a  moment  longer,  even  though  error 
argues  that  I  should  wait  until  I  have  time  to  write 
without  interruption.  I  shall  wing  my  loving  thoughts 
to  you,  by  wireless  telegraphy,  nor  question  whether 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     739 

Marconi  has  perfected  his  system.  I  am  sure  that 
you  are  always  connected  with  Mind — the  one  power, 
Spirit — and  that  the  mental  wires  cannot  cross,  nor  can 
any  belief  cut  -me  off  while  I  convey  my  message  of 
Love  and  Truth  to  you. 

I  am  so  happy  to  report  good  tidings  in  regard  to 
our  church  and  our  faithful  body  of  students  and 
church  members.  Your  children  are  perfectly  happy 
and  harmonious.  I  treated  W.  .  .  a  few  days  ago 
for  a  little  chemicalization  of  self-will,  which  manifested 
itself  in  roughness  with  the  children  in  school.  The 
teacher  is  very  careful,  and  told  me,  after  I  treated 
and  talked  with  him,  that  he  was  angelic.  I  see 
more  and  more  that  "the  Son  of  man  [the  Christ] 
hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  [destroy]  sins."  We 
are  the  sons  and  daughters  of  God,  and  understand, 
and  should  exercise  our  divine  authority  over  all  sin, 
whether  expressed  physically  or  mentally. 

There  is  health,  peace,  and  joy,  and  the  affluence 
of  wisdom,  power,  and  love  for  us  all.  We  gain  it  in 
proportion  to  our  overcoming  the  belief  of  a  carnal 
mind.  Unselfed  love  is  a  mighty  power.  It  heals  and 
blesses  all  whom  it  touches.  It  opens  the  very  win- 
dows of  heaven — harmony.  Self-righteousness  is  fast 
giving  place  to  humility,  and  we  are  learning  that  God, 
good,  governs  in  the  material  realm  (so-called),  as  in 
the  spiritual,  since  heaven  is  but  a  state  of  spiritual 
consciousness.  For  this  consciousness  we  are  striving, 
and  we  shall  gain  it  when  we  cease  to  believe  in  the 
testimony  of  the  deceitful  material  senses — the  pheno- 
mena of  mortal  mind.  We  are  struggling  to  look 
through  the  mist  of  matter,  and  find  the  spiritual 
idea — the  true,  individual  mental  Christ-idea.  Idola- 
try is  the  sin  of  witchcraft. 


740    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

I  rejoice  in  your  demonstration  over  the  physical 
sense  of  your  children.  Flee  idolatry  of  the  fleshly 
mind.  This  will  enable  you  to  find  them  in  Mind, 
and  thus  free  them  to  gravitate  God- ward,  and  come 
more  fully  under  the  law  of  Spirit.  The  earth-ward 
gravitation  of  those  who  are  held  in  the  bonds  of 
fleshly  love,  human  and  carnal,  is  pitiful  to  behold, 
and  many  a  soaring  wing  is  clipped,  and  many  a 
bird  falls  to  the  ground,  wounded  by  the  arrow  of 
human  idolatry,  shot  from  the  hand  of  parent  or 
friend. 

We  are  striving  to  gain  our  spiritual  concept,  and 
to  behold  the  image  of  God  in  our  dear  ones.  Some 
glimpse  of  the  Christ  will  soon  appear  on  the  face, 
as  it  appears  even  now  in  word  and  deed.  The  form 
and  face  of  the  ideal  man  will  be  revealed  when  we 
have  dissolved  the  mask  of  matter — belief. 

I  am  happy  to  learn  of  dear  M.  .  .'s  growth  in 
Christ.  You  can  see  the  wisdom  of  allowing  her  to 
go  away  for  a  while  that  you  might  find  her  in  Mind. 
She  will  be  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  her  mind, 
and  will  be  a  blessing  to  you. 

I  wish  every  parent  would  see  that  human  will  and 
human  love  harm  their  little  ones.  Discipline  of  the 
human  will,  and  the  overcoming  of  the  human  self, 
and  obedience  to  spiritual  law  make  the  true  man,  and 
the  true  woman. 

I  could  write  on  and  on,  but  I  must  stop.     My  love 
is  ever  with  you.     God  bless  and  keep  you,  and  bring 
you  back  to  us  richer  than  ever  in  love  and  gratitude 
to  God  and  to  our  holy  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
My  love  to  dear  M  ...  and  I  ...  . 

Ever  faithfully,  your  devoted  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     741 

Hotel  Touraine,  Boston,  Mass., 
July  11,  1905. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  am  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  that  your  father  is 
improving. 

I  have  been  much  troubled  to-day  about  a  report 
which  has  come  to  me,  that  some  of  my  students  are 
saying  that  they  cannot  get  to  Principle  except  through 
me.  I  cannot  think  it  possible  that  any  one  ever 
taught  by  me,  or  by  Science  and  Health,  could  believe 
in  vicarious  atonement.  An  expression  in  your  letter 
has  startled  me.  It  is  this:  "We  are  rejoicing  in 
God's  goodness  to  us  and  in  His  protecting  care  which 
flows  to  us  only  through  you." 

My  dear  student,  I  never  taught  you  this.  It  is 
most  dangerous  to  you  and  to  me,  and  is  sure  to  shut 
you  out  from  the  light.  You  must  go  directly  to  God, 
and  receive  from  Him  the  power  of  life,  and  love. 
I  trust  I  may  be  an  avenue  to  you  sent  by  divine 
Mind.  You  reflect  God  as  I  do.  I  should  soon  lose 
my  light  if  I  thought  God  could  only  be  reached 
through  my  Teacher.  I  could  not  find  God  if  I  ignored 
my  Leader  and  Teacher,  His  Messenger,  or  the  message 
she  brings,  but  she  teaches  me  how  to  find  God,  and 
how  to  reflect  and  love  Him,  and  that  she  is  His 
reflection  to  all,  as  each  of  us  should  be,  as  idea.  She 
has  to  work  out  her  salvation  by  the  rules  which  God 
has  revealed  to  her,  and  you  and  I  have  to  do  the  same — 
work  out  our  problem  by  rules  and  advice  which  she 
has  laid  down,  and  by  obeying  Christ — Truth — as 
Jesus  taught,  and  as  Mrs.  Eddy  teaches. 

To  deny  me  the  right  to  advise  you  as  a  teacher  or 
to  say  that  I  am  not  able  to  reflect  Truth  and  Love  to 
you,  or  to  show  you  an  error  would  not  be  right.  But 
to  hold  that  you  cannot  find  God  except  through  me, 


742     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

or  through  the  light  which  I  reflect  to  you,  is  vicarious 
atonement,  and  will  injure  you  if  you  do  not  abandon 
this  unscientific  reasoning.  Go  to  God,  dear,  not  to 
me,  for  your  life  and  love,  and  He  will  reflect  His  life 
and  love  through  some  spiritual  reflection  or  channel 
to  you.  It  may  be  I  shall  be  the  avenue — some  one 
will,  for  God  and  His  ideas  cooperate. 

This  is  the  first  time  I  have  had  to  speak  of  such  a 
claim  to  a  loyal  student.  I  pray  that  you  will  see  if 
any  others  hold  such  a  thought,  and  awaken  them. 
I  am  sending  you  the  Lesson  Sermon. 

Love  untold  to  you  both,  but  please  correct  this 
thought  at  once  if  you  would  help  me. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

I 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  March  3,  1906. 

My  beloved  Student:— 

I  am  sure  that  you  are  having  a  lovely  vacation. 
I  am  very  glad  that  you  can  go  away  for  a  change, 
which  is  always  refreshing,  but  we  miss  you  and  your 
dear  mother,  and  shall  be  glad  when  you  return  to  us. 

I  note  what  you  say  in  your  letter.  I  am,  and 
always  have  been  very  careful  not  to  interfere,  with 
any  advice,  where  the  future  happiness  of  two  wedded 
persons  is  concerned.  I  am  confident  that  divine 
wisdom,  which  you  serve,  and  the  Christ  love  which 
you  reflect,  will  guide  you  safely  in  every  path  you 
tread. 

As  I  told  you  at  first,  my  student  is  a  splendid 
young  man,  of  a  superior  family,  and  is  a  most  faithful, 
devoted,   loyal  follower  of  our  Leader,   Mrs.   Eddy, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     743 

and  is  my  dear  student.  I  must  not  advise  nor  influence 
you  lest  I  counsel  erroneously.  You  know  that  celi- 
bacy is  more  scientific  than  marriage,  but  if  one  has  not 
grown  out  of  material  sense  sufficiently  to  walk  with 
Christ,  and  prove  that  divine  Love  feeds  "the  famished 
affections"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  17),  he  must  not  be 
condemned  if  he  desires  a  companion.  But  that  com- 
panion should  be  chosen  wisely,  and  I  feel  that  you  are 
safe  in  your  choice. 

Experience  will  exalt  all  to  see  that  divine  Love  alone 
satisfies  the  immortal  cravings.  Read  our  beloved  Lead- 
er's chapter  on  "  Marriage, "  and  strive  to  live  as  far  as 
possible  a  true  Chris tly  life,  loving  unselfishly,  and  for- 
bearing one  another,  thus  rising  daily  to  an  ideal  union. 
If  called  upon  in  your  experience  to  demonstrate 
divine  love  towards  each  other  remember  the  couplet — 

"There  is  something  every  day  we  live, 
To  pity  and  perhaps  forgive." 

You  must  work  to  rise  above  sense  testimony.  You 
are  strong,  because  God  is  your  strength.  You  are 
immortal  because  spiritual  consciousness  is  your  life, 
and  you  cannot  cease  to  express  God.  You  have 
existed  always  and  will  continue  to  exist  forever,  since 
you  reflect  Life  eternal.  There  is  no  mortal  mind — 
no  substance  matter. 

I  am  writing  this  in  the  "wee  sma*  hours,"  as  I  can 
get  no  time  to  write  during  the  day. 

God  bless  and  keep  my  dear  A  .  .  .  ,  and  finally, 
through  seeing  the  nothingness  of  belief,  bring  her 
the  only  happiness,  the  joy  of  spiritual  love.  My 
love  to  your  dear  mother. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


744     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  May  4,  1906. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  know  that  God  will  give  you  wisdom,  strength, 
and  divine  love  to  minister  to  our  beloved  Leader  in 
this  and  every  hour  that  she  may  need  you.  Every 
moment  you  can  claim  of  your  time  declare  for  God's 
allness,  presence,  and  power,  and  the  nothingness  of 
a  so-called  claim  to  another  power.  Read  your  Bible 
and  Science  and  Health  every  spare  moment  and  this 
will  keep  your  thought  clear  to  reflect  God. 

You  know  that  God  is  with  you,  and  that  every 
member  of  the  dear  household  is  reflecting  Love  divine 
to  our  darling  Leader.  God  is  her  life,  and  you  know 
that  He  will  manifest,  through  her,  His  mighty  power 
to  mankind.  Christ  Jesus  is  her  example.  She  will 
have  "twelve  legions  of  angels"  to  watch  with  her, 
and  the  dear  loving  ones  who  do  all  they  can  to  go  as 
far  as  possible  with  her.  God  will  "feed"  her  "fam- 
ished affections"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  17).  I  am 
obeying  her,  and  keeping  my  mind  fixed  on  Christ. 
I  pray  to  God  without  ceasing  that  I  may  dwell  in 
the  secret  of  His  presence  every  moment. 

I  have  suffered  out  of  the  flesh  far  enough  to  know, 
that  the  will  of  the  flesh  has  no  power  but  to  destroy 
itself.  God's  will  is  my  will.  There  is  no  other,  and 
I  live  in  Him.  There  is  a  great  distance  between  us 
and  our  precious  Leader.  She  is  rising  Christ-ward, 
and  we  are  trying  to  help  her  as  a  child  who  has  just 
learned  to  stand  alone  tries  to  follow  the  mother. 
But  if  we  obey  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  her 
teachings  in  Science  and  Health,  and  cling  to  God, 
knowing  that  all  evil  is  unreal,  when  we  meet  it  with 
truth  and  love,  we  shall  be  saved. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     745 

Sin,  sickness,  and  death  will  yield  to  Life,  Love,  and 
Truth.  Be  obedient  to  God's  law,  and  do  not  fail  to 
pray  that  you  may  serve  our  beloved  acceptably.  I 
am  writing  this  to  you,  dear,  because  she  told  me  to 
help  you,  and  I  know  of  no  better  way  than  to  write 
you  and  let  you  know  that  I  am  unable  to  go  further 
with  you  personally,  as  she  wants  me  to  rise  with  her, 
and  leave  all  work  in  the  home  to  those  who  are  there. 
She  told  me  yesterday  that  she  had  risen,  and  that  if 
I  held  only  to  God  and  His  idea,  not  thinking  of  her 
corporeality,  that  I  would  always  be  spiritually  with 
her  as  idea.  And  so  I  look  to  God,  and  to  His  spiritual 
idea,  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  and  I  find  her  in  Mind. 

I  believe  we  have  both  come  to  the  hour  when,  as 
she  has  said,  "Where  God  is  we  can  meet,  and  where 
God  is  we  can  never  part"  {Christian  Science  Jour- 
nal, vol.  xvii.,  p.  239).  I  am  peaceful  and  strong. 
I  have  declared  the  Truth  in  love  as  I  read  it  in 
Science  and  Health.  My  love  for  her  is  deathless, 
because  I  do  not  look  for  her  in  matter.  My  Father 
will  not  disregard  His  promises  to  me — to  guide,  and 
guard,  and  save  me,  if  I  endure  to  the  end  of  all  belief 
of  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance  in  matter. 

God  will  move  you  to  do  what  is  right.  Do  not 
fear;  fear  is  the  absence  of  love — a  lie,  for  Love  is 
God,  and  God  is  never  absent.  Fear  incapacitates 
you,  and  would  prevent  you  from  helping  her  as  you 
would.  Handle  the  lie  of  aggressive  mental  suggestion 
with  the  Word  of  God.  Know  the  voice  of  Truth  and 
obey  our  Leader.  Do  as  far  as  you  can  just  what  she 
asks  you  to  do.  God  will  supply  you  with  strength. 
Give  my  love  to  dear  Mrs.  L  .  .  .  and  tell  her  to  work 
faithfully  for  our  beloved  Leader.  Give  my  endless 
love  to  Laura,  and  Mr.  Frye  and  Mrs.  Leonard. 


746     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Thank  Mr.  Louis  C.  Strang  for  his  kind  letter  just 
received,  commending  me  for  the  work  I  did  for  the 
Leader  while  in  her  home.  He  says  that  every  member 
of  the  household  is  grateful  to  me  for  what  I  did  for 
her  while  there.  Thank  God  the  flesh- veiled  eyes  are 
all  opening,  and  we  are  not  looking  into  the  grave — 
the  matter  body — to  find  each  other  in  God's  image. 
We  are  now,  ever  were,  and  ever  will  be  Life,  Love,  and 
Truth  reflected. 

Always  your  loving,  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  January  24,  1908. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  tried  to  get  a  moment  in  which  to  answer 
your  letter,  which  greatly  cheers  me,  as  I  see  in  it  a 
tender  loving  spirit.  You  have  nothing  to  do,  dear 
one,  but  to  make  your  heart  a  fit  temple  for  Christ. 

If  our  garden  is  filled  with  weeds,  and  our  neighbor's 
garden  also  has  weeds,  should  we  not,  in  kindness  to 
ourselves,  go  to  work  to  weed  our  own  garden  patch? 
We  may  tell  our  neighbor  that  his  garden  needs  atten- 
tion, but  we  have  nothing  to  do  towards  clearing  it, 
unless  he  needs  and  asks  our  aid.  We  may  have 
to  tear  up  our  own  "devastating  witch-grass"  {Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  p.  343),  but  how  can  we  do  our 
own  work  and  prepare  the  soil  for  the  seed  of  Truth 
if  we  are  worrying  about  another's  badly  cared  for 
mental  garden?  Our  garden  is  our  consciousness. 
We  must  not  allow  one  mortal  weed  to  remain  in  it,  or 
it  will  soon  be  overgrown,  and  spiritual  thoughts  will 
be  driven  out. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     747 

Be  a  Christian  Scientist.  If  you  have  love,  divine 
love,  you  will  always  point  out  error  in  every  one,  in 
the  right  time  and  way,  and  then  you  will  make  it 
unreal  to  yourself,  and  do  everything  you  can  for  his 
and  her  good.  Thus  you  conquer  with  love.  If  they 
are  stubborn,  and  will  not  reform,  you  have  done  your 
duty,  and  Love  will  separate  you  sooner  or  later  from 
the  false  and  rebellious. 

I  have  loved  all  those  who,  through  envy  and  jeal- 
ousy, have  done  all  they  could  to  harm  me,  until  they 
could  no  longer  bear  the  white  light  of  Truth  and  Love, 
and  left  me.  Others  who  were  really  willing  to  conquer 
sin  and  self  were  brought  in  and  walked  in  loving 
communion  with  me.  God  governs  us,  if  we  follow 
the  teachings  and  holy  example  of  our  blessed  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  pray  that  you  may  avoid  so-called  Christian 
Scientists  whose  envy  of  the  good  is  manifest  in  con- 
demning others  falsely.  Beware  of,  and  count  as 
false  brethren,  all  who  gossip  and  slander,  who  make 
error  personal  and  real.  No  one  who  sees  his  brother 
as  evil,  possesses  the  Mind  of  Christ,  with  the  power 
which  comes  to  Christ's  followers.  His  first  work 
must  be  to  understand  that  evil  is  impersonal,  and  then 
to  free  his  brother,  if  possible,  from  permitting  evil 
to  use  him.  Loving  admonition  and  tender,  faithful 
watch-care  awaken  and  reform  many  a  sinner.  This 
will  help  to  break  the  spell  of  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism with  which  the  brother  is  bound.  Then  when  he 
has  broken  it  for  another  he  has  broken  so  much  for 
himself,  and  has  destroyed  the  sin  which  bound  his 
brother.  If  we  cannot  reform  one  whom  we  have 
tried  to  awaken,  we  must  heal  ourselves  of  the  belief 
that  another  was  ever  under  the  spell  of  impersonal 


748     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

evil,  since  there  is  no  power  but  God,  and  spiritual 
man,  who  is  the  manifestation  of  good,  God.  Do 
not  believe  in  a  belief.  You  understand.  No  one 
believes.  All  understand.  There  is  no  belief  in  God, 
and  God  and  His  idea  is  all. 

I  pray,  my  dear  student,  that  you  will  never  lend 
your  eyes,  your  ears,  your  tongue,  your  hands,  nor 
your  feet  to  evil.  Never  let  the  "poison  of  asps"  be 
found  under  your  tongue.  Use  your  tongue  for  God, 
and  with  it  condemn  the  claim  of  sin. 

Christian  Scientists  should  let  God  guide  them,  and 
bring  them  patients  and  students.  Trusting  God  to 
send  us  work,  we  are  sure  that  there  is  no  human 
will-power,  and  no  one  is  personally  controlled.  This 
is  the  only  way  in  Christian  Science.  It  is  heaven 
when  we  love  divinely — love  our  neighbor  as  our- 
selves. Give  no  heed  to  anything  but  to  be  a  true, 
meek,  loving,  humble  child  of  God,  and  let  Love  give 
you  your  place. 

Give  my  love  to  your  dear  husband,  mother,  father 
and  Mrs.  R.  .  .  .  I  have  not  heard  from  her.  I  trust 
she  is  doing  well. 

Your  loving  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  April  27,  1908. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

You  are  not  "alone,  lonely,  nor  isolated."  You  are 
one  with  God,  and  we  are  close  together  in  the  one 
Mind.  There  is  only  a  belief  that  we  are  separated,  a 
belief  that  you  are  limited,  and  this  lie  must  yield  to 
Truth.     Love  never  faileth.     Good  is  always  present. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     749 

You  are  meeting  error  in  this  form,  while  some  others 
are  meeting  it  in  another  phase.  Do  not  consent  to 
be  deceived.  Do  not  admit  one  word  of  this  claim. 
I  never  was  nearer  to  you,  my  dear  student,  because 
I  never  was  so  near  to  divine  Love,  and  there  I  find  you. 
Belief  cannot  prevent  me  from  rising  to  my  dominion 
over  all  illusion  of  limitations  of  love,  of  truth,  of 
life,  of  substance.  Infinite  Mind  supplies  each  of  us 
with  all  that  we  need.  It  is  belief  in  false  sugges- 
tions, and  fear  of  some  other  power,  that  holds  us 
"in  durance  vile."  Rise,  dear,  to  resist  all  that  keeps 
you  from  what  is  best  for  you.  It  may  be  that  you  are 
learning  a  salutary  lesson  in  obedience  to  God.  In 
any  case,  do  not  fear.  Trust  more.  Lean  more 
confidingly  on  God,  and  He  will  lead  you  safely.  God 
loves  you.  Our  Leader  loves  you.  I  love  you.  We  all 
see  you  as  Love's  child,  perfect,  pure,  and  free.  Error 
cannot  hide  us  from  you.  Read  your  Bible  Lessons. 
Study  your  Science  and  Health,  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  all  with  whom  you  associate. 
This  will  do  the  work.  "Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the 
law." 

Lovingly  ever  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  22,  1908. 
My  beloved  Students: — 

I  am  writing  you  in  regard  to  the  chemicalization 
through  which  Mr.  C  .  .  .  has  just  passed.  It  was 
the  effect  of  malpractice  and  he  had  not  realized 
sufficient  divine  love  to  annul  its  influence.  Love 
has  opened  his  eyes,  and  my  efforts  to  save  him  have 
been  successful.     I  am  quite  sure  that  he  has  come 


75°    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

out  of  the  fire,  and  has  healed  his  self-inflicted  wounds. 
He  has  taken  another  step  on  the  ladder  of  Christian 
Science,  and  he  will  do  better  work,  and  will  be  able  to 
meet  the  next  test  with  more  spiritual  resistance  to 
the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism. 

God  will  give  you  wisdom  to  help  him  to  stand, 
and  if  he  can  rise  above  self,  he  will  be  a  great  help  to 
you.  I  do  not  know  if  he  intends  to  leave  for  S  .  .  .  , 
or  if  he  feels  that  he  has  worked  out  the  problem  there. 
I  leave  him  to  do  as  Principle  may  guide  him,  or  as 
error  may  give  him  an  experience.  I  only  advise  when 
I  see  that  malicious  animal  magnetism  is  handling  a 
student,  and  that  I,  as  a  teacher,  should  help  to  awaken 
the  victim.  Mr.  C  .  .  .  will,  some  day,  be  willing  to 
listen  to  Truth  by  whomsoever  voiced,  and  I  trust 
you  all  will  help  him.  Please  ask  Mr.  P.  .  .  to  do 
all  he  can  to  protect  him  from  the  malpractice  which 
a  First  Reader  has  to  meet.  I  send  you  much  love 
and  thank  God  for  your  loyalty  to  Principle. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

. 

i  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  21,  1908. 
My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter.  It  is  very  late  in  the 
evening,  nearing  "the  wee  sma'  hours,"  and  I  have  not 
time  to  reply  at  length  to  your  questions  to-night, 
but  hope  to  see  you  to-morrow  evening  at  dinner,  at 
half  after  six  o'clock,  when  we  can  talk  on  the  subject. 
I  will  make  myself  clear  to  you  on  the  vital  points. 

I  have  often  felt  that  my  responsibility  as  a  teacher 
of  Christian  Science  was  heavy,  as  I  must  appear  to 
young  students  to  be  a  dictator,  and  arbitrary,  but, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     751 

like  a  teacher  of  music  or  mathematics,  I  know  when 
a  false  note  is  struck,  or  a  false  conclusion  reached. 
Then  I  must  be  true  to  Principle,  and  to  my  Leader's 
injunction  to  see  that  my  students  "prove  sound  in 
sentiment  and  practical  in  Christian  Science"  (Manual 
of  The  Mother  Church,  Art.  xxvi.,  Sect.  2).  I  must 
insist  upon  obedience  to  the  rules,  and  try  to  have  the 
students  make  their  demonstrations.  Your  obedience 
was  evidence  of  your  Christly  intuition. 

I  can  never  forget  it.  I  do  not  cease  to  watch  for 
your  spiritual  unfoldment  and  development  in  divine 
metaphysics,  which  will  destroy  the  darkness  or  claim 
called  mortal  man.  This  false  claimant  never  was. 
There  never  were  two  mental  beings  in  one,  the  mortal 
man  and  the  immortal  man.  God  and  His  idea,  the 
ideal  Christ-man  is,  was,  and  ever  will  be  the  only  man, 
manifesting  God.  We  are  co-existent  and  co-eternal 
with  Spirit,  and  we  continue  the  unfolding  of  spiritual 
man,  since  there  is  no  beginning,  and  no  ending  of 
God  and  His  creation.  There  never  was  any  other 
existence.     Mythical  Adam  never  was  man. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  Dr.  M  .  .  .  was  so  considerate 
of  my  position.  He  is  doubtless  one  of  the  most 
intellectual  men  of  this  hour,  and  has  written  a  history 
of  mortal  man,  and  the  states  and  stages  of  human 
consciousness — the  dream  existence.  He  is  most 
learned,  and  brilliant  as  a  philosopher  from  a  material 
basis,  but  it  is  not  Christian  Science,  and  will  not  be 
an  aid  to  apprehend  Deity. 

Adam  was  never  born  of  Spirit.  He  never  came 
from  God,  therefore  can  never  return  to  God,  as  the 
Doctor  states.  The  ideal  real  man  was  never  separated 
from  God,  so  there  never  was  a  "flight"  and  never 
will  be  a  "return."     Adam  must  disappear.     To  give 


752    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

error  a  history  is  the  old  scholastic  teaching,  and 
perpetuates  the  illusion.  We  never  discuss  error 
except  to  deny  it — make  it  unreal.  There  never  was 
a  claim  to  a  death-man  (mortal)  if  God  is  All,  and  God 
is  All. 

To  all  in  Christian  Science,  who  have  gained  the 
true  sense  of  God  and  the  ideal  man,  there  are  no 
longer  mental  admissions  of  the  reality  of  the  pheno- 
mena, the  unreal  carnal,  so-called  man,  "the  material 
pigment "  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  79)  which 
has  called  itself  man,  and  has  deceived  the  whole  world. 
Let  us  have  one  God,  and  refuse  to  continue  to  dwell 
on  the  false  claim,  a  so-called  material  universe  and 
mortal  man,  composed  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Mrs.  Eddy  has  given  us  the  interpretation  of  Life  in 
Science  and  Health,  and  spiritual  man  is  God's  inter- 
preter. God  and  His  idea  reveal  existence  and  eternal 
Life  as  all.  God  leads  humanity  by  one  witness  in 
every  age.  You  have  seen  and  know  your  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  as  God's  way-shower  to  this 
generation.  I  know  that  you  are  willing  to  follow  in 
the  footsteps  of  Truth  which  she  has  marked  out.  I 
told  you  that  I  had  not  read  Dr.  M  .  .  .'s  book.  I  had 
not  had  time  to  do  so,  but  I  was  informed  of  certain 
statements  in  it,  and  I  saw  at  once  his  philosophy. 
I  have  no  right  to  dictate  what  Dr.  M  .  .  .  should 
write.  I  was  only  carefully  protecting  you,  my  dear 
student,  from  confusion  of  thought  and  the  vain 
philosophy  of  which  his  book  is  composed,  and  which 
is  the  antithesis  of  pure  Christian  Science. 

I  am  anticipating  your  visit  to-morrow,  and  may  I 
hope  to  see  you  occasionally,  that  I  may  give  you  the 
benefit  of  my  long  experience  and  demonstration  of 
Christian  Science? 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     753 

With  deepest  gratitude  and  Christly  affection  as 
your  teacher,  I  remain, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  7,  1908. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  just  read  your  letter.  It  gives  me  much 
pleasure.  You  are  ascending  the  hill  of  Christian 
Science,  scaling  its  steep  ascent,  and  are  comprehend- 
ing the  deep  things  of  God.  Love  is  God,  and  Love 
is  All,  ever-present  and  omnipotent.  You  know  this, 
my  dear  student,  and  when  you  feel  that  you  are 
alone,  you  know  that  this  is  aggressive  mental  sug- 
gestion, that  would  separate  you  from  Love, — if  truth 
had  not  taught  you  the  nothingness  of  evil,  and  the 
allness  of  Love. 

Defend  your  individuality,  your  place  in  the  body 
of  Christ.  Love  created  you,  and  Love  holds  Her 
ideas  (children)  in  Her  loving  embrace.  There  is  no 
separation  in  Mind,  and  there  is  but  one  Mind.  Mind 
is  eternal  consciousness,  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  Recog- 
nize your  spiritual  selfhood,  and  manifest  Life  and 
Love.  Honor  your  Father-Mother  God  by  expressing 
Life  and  Love.  Stand  for  God  and  His  spiritual 
universe,  as  the  unseen  verities  of  being,  which  spiritual 
sense  alone  will  reveal. 

You  do  not  seem  to  grasp  the  great  point  in  Christian 
Science,  namely,  that  Christ  is  the  head  of  the  body. 
Christ  Jesus,  in  his  day,  manifested  the  fatherhood  of 
God.  To-day,  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
expresses  the  motherhood  of  God.  God  has  had 
a  witness  of  Himself,  of  His  power  and  presence, 
48 


754    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

in  every  age.  Christ  Jesus  lived  and  demonstrated 
Love  in  healing  sickness  and  destroying  sin,  the  cause 
of  all  disease.  Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  lived  and 
demonstrated  the  power  of  eternal,  unquenchable 
Love,  verifying  the  Scripture,  "  Our  God  is  a  consuming 
fire, "  destroying  all  that  is  unlike  Love.  Her  immortal 
selfhood  is  the  life-link  to  this  generation,  as  was  the 
immortal  selfhood  of  Christ  Jesus  in  his  age.  I  feel 
that  you  should  recognize  her  as  the  Messiah,  "Im- 
manuel,  or  God  with  us,"  to-day  {Science  and  Health, 

P.  34)- 

Do  not  associate  her  physical  personality  with  her 

spiritual  personality,  her  ideal  self,  the  divine  nature 
or  the  Christ-idea.  Physical  personality  and  finite 
forms,  which  comprise  the  material  universe,  are  only 
the  phenomena  of  mortal  mind,  so-called.  Our  beloved 
Leader,  through  her  teachings  and  writings,  is  dis- 
pelling the  cloud  of  personal  sense  with  the  light  of 
Truth  and  Love.  Certainly  we  owe  her  as  much 
homage,  in  this  age,  as  was  and  is  paid  to  Christ  Jesus 
for  his  unselfed  labors  for  humanity.  He  reflected 
God.  She  reflects  God.  Love  was  his  God,  and  Love 
is  her  God.  She  will  demonstrate  ever-present  eternal 
Life. 

"When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear  [to  us], 
then  shall  ye  [we]  also  appear  with  him  in  glory." 
Mrs.  Eddy  will  surely  appear  to  the  spiritually  awak- 
ened, clothed  in  immortal  substance.  Who  will  recog- 
nize the  ideal  generic  man  of  God's  creating?  Only 
those  who  are  followers  of  Christ,  and  demonstrators 
of  divine  Love.  The  flesh-veil  must  be  rent.  Love 
and  Truth  are  now  operating  in  so-called  mortal  mind, 
and  the  dragon,  personified  in  mortals,  is  biting  the 
heel  of  truth,  which  is  crushing  its  head.    So-called  evil 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     755 

is  a  false  claim.  Our  Leader  says  it  "has  no  reality. 
It  is  neither  person,  place,  nor  thing"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  71).  There  is  no  belief  to  express  itself 
in  sick,  sinning,  dying  mortals. 

This  seeming  material  world  is  the  expression  of 
false  finite  sense,  to  which  Jesus  referred  when  he 
said,  "Love  not  the  [material]  world,  neither  the 
things  that  are  in  the  [material]  world.  If  any  man 
love  the  [material]  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is 
not  in  him. "  In  the  place  of  every  finite  form  is  man, 
in  various  manifestations  of  Spirit,  the  only  creator. 
No  other  power,  no  other  presence  exists.  When  we 
possess  the  Mind  of  Christ,  we  shall  see  and  hear 
through  spiritual  sense;  we  shall  feel  the  substance  of 
Mind,  and  see  in  all  form,  color,  beauty,  and  harmony, 
creative  Love  and  the  infinite  manifestations  of  Her 
universe. 

I  hope  you  are  not  clinging  to  a  material  sense  of 
your  gold  mines,  for  this  would  separate  you  from  the 
real  mines  in  Mind,  the  true  spiritual  sense  of  sub- 
stance, which  is  causation.  If  you  realize  that  your 
source  and  supply  are  in  God,  Mind,  this  spiritual 
consciousness  will  produce  its  phenomena  in  things 
necessary  to  supply  your  every  need.  I  do  not  mean 
that  you  should  lose  your  interest  in  your  seeming 
material  possessions,  but  you  should  hold  them  in 
Mind,  and  let  Love  find  Her  channels  for  working 
them.  I  feel  that  you  are  still  tilling  the  ground 
with  Adam,  who  brought  forth  only  "thorns  .  .  .  and 
thistles. "  You  are  striving  to  follow  Christ.  Let  some 
one  who  is  tarrying  in  more  material  sense  do  your 
material  work  while  you  reflect  your  spiritual  sense. 

I  left  all  to  follow  Christ  with  my  Leader.  I  have 
never  been  engaged  in  any  material  vocation  since, 


756     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

but  have  given  my  entire  time  to  practising  and  teaching 
Christian  Science.  Every  human  need  has  been 
supplied  by  divine  Love,  and  all  that  I  require  is  more 
love,  to  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ.  This  I  am  gaining 
through  subordination  of  the  human  to  the  divine 
will,  by  obeying  the  commands,  "Thou  shalt  have 
no  other  gods  before  Me,"  and,  "Love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself. " 

Our  Leader  says:  "Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit 
is  all"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 
Dear  heart,  I  plead  for  you  to  know  her  as  God's 
voice  to  this  age,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  the  highest 
manifestation  of  God,  good,  to  this  generation.  She 
is  Love  expressed,  and  she  will  put  all  enemies  of 
Christ  under  her  feet  (understanding).  We  must 
follow  the  example  of  Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Each,  in  his  and  her  time,  must  work  out  of  the 
mortal  into  the  immortal  consciousness.  "This  is 
life  eternal,  that  they  might  know  Thee  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ  [and  Mary  Baker  Eddy],  whom 
Thou  hast  sent."  These  are  the  two  witnesses  who 
manifest  to  humanity  the  fatherhood  and  motherhood 
of  God.  I  am  sure  that  you  are  clear  on  all  other 
points  in  the  letter  of  Christian  Science,  and  that  you 
are  imbibing  much  of  the  spirit. 

You  say  that  you  do  not  find  response  to  the  love 
that  you  give  to  others.  Your  environment,  I  admit, 
seems  very  material.  Rise  to  a  higher  sense  of  divine 
Love  yourself,  and  your  thought  will  externalize 
itself  in  a  better  environment.  Those  with  whom 
you  associate  do  not  reflect  love,  you  say.  To  belief, 
they  are  yet  opaque  bodies,  dense  material  thoughts, 
through  which  the  light  of  Love  does  not  shine.  In 
their  present  state  of  belief,  you  should  not  expect  a 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     757 

response  to  your  higher  spiritual  sense,  but  should 
love  more  to  help  them.  Hearts  of  stone  never  respond 
to  any  but  their  own  qualities.  Hate  evolves  hate. 
Love  is  the  solvent;  reflect  it,  and  let  Love,  through 
you,  do  Her  work.  She  will  dissolve  all  stony  beliefs 
in  their  and  in  our  undestroyed  material  selfhood. 

The  Chrift-mind  will  lead  us  out  of  belief  into 
understanding  of  the  real  and  eternal.  Thus  we  shall 
leave  behind  us  old  Adam,  who  never  was  a  man, 
never  was  substance,  and  who,  under  the  fervent 
heat  of  divine  Love,  will  be  dissolved  into  nothingness, 
"unknelled,  uncoffined,  and  unknown."  You  must  re- 
flect and  radiate  the  light  and  warmth  of  divine  Love 
into  human  consciousness,  looking  to  ever-present  Mind 
for  a  response.  "  Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the  perfect 
man,  who  appeared  to  him  where  sinning  mortal  man 
appears  to  mortals"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  476). 
When  we  destroy  our -mortal  concept  of  man  and  the 
universe,  we  shall  find  response  in  every  idea  of  Love, 
for  Love  and  Her  ideas  are  one — one  God,  one  uni- 
verse, including  man.  This  is  the  body  of  Christ,  and 
we  are  all  members  of  that  body — spiritual,  perfect, 
immortal. 

Give  all  the  time  you  can,  aside  from  your  necessary 
home  duties,  to  the  study  of  the  Holy  Bible,  and 
Science  and  Health,  by  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church.  Through 
the  illumination  of  the  Word  of  God  in  these  books,  we 
behold  that  God  is  behind  the  shadows,  "keeping  watch 
above  His  own."  Be  strong  in  faith.  Add  to  your 
faith  understanding,  and  you  will  win  the  victory  over 
the  material  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  claim  of  evil. 
Yours  faithfully,  lovingly, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


758    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
i  West  96TH  Street,  November  30,  1908. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  writing  in  haste  to  get  this  letter  to  you  this 
morning,  before  any  one  comes  in.  I  am  indeed  glad 
to  learn  of  your  awakening  to  Truth — that  you  never 
were  in  an  auto  accident,  because  you  were  and  al- 
ways have  been  in  Mind.  Also,  that  since  there 
is  no  matter,  you  never  have  believed  mortal  mind's 
falsehood  about  its  embodiment. 

It  is  time  we  separated  "the  unclean  and  the  clean" 
(Ezek.  xliv.,  23) — the  mortal  so-called  belief,  from  the 
immortal  spiritual  sense.  I  am  sure  that  you  have 
seen  your  real  self,  and  are  fighting  the  claim  that  you 
have  two  bodies — a  mortal,  and  an  immortal  body. 
You  have  but  one,  your  immortal,  substance  body. 
I  love  to  think  of  you  as  rising  above  the  claim  of 
malicious  animal  magnetism,  and  as  standing  for  God, 
and  for  your  divine  self  as  His  reflection. 

We  shall  all  win  out  if  we  cling  to  Christ,  and  follow 
our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  I  feel  so  safe  with 
you  since  Mrs.  B  .  .  .  has  taken  the  same  stand  that 
I  have  taken.  You  see  that  our  students  can  work 
together  for  the  goal  of  immortality.  Be  sure  that  you 
say  not  a  word  against  Mr.  P  .  .  .  ,  but  see  him  in 
his  real,  divine  selfhood.  Error  must  be  seen  by  him 
as  illusion,  ere  he  can  rise  to  make  it  unreal  to  himself, 
and  find  his  oneness  with  God,  who  is  Love.  Defend 
the  church,  and  protect  yourselves  against  the  sug- 
gestions of  malicious  animal  magnetism. 

Do  not  attach  "the  lust  of  the  flesh"  nor  "the  lust 
of  the  eyes"  to  the  person,  but  treat  it  as  impersonal 
evil,  and  know  that  it  cannot  enter  your  church  and 
pollute  the  members.     Neither  can  any  other  form  of 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     759 

sin  express  itself  in  schism.  It  may  be  that  suffering 
will  awaken  them  from  this  hallucination,  but  I  think 
error  will  disappear  if  you  all  reflect  enough  of  Christ. 
Be  meek  and  merciful,  just  and  true  to  Principle,  and 
God  will  bless,  guide,  and  lead  you  into  the  land  of 
spiritual  consciousness. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

1  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  14,  1909. 

My  dear  Student: — 

The  day  is  nearly  over — the  time  for  the  Sunday 
evening  service  is  at  hand,  and  I  am  ready  to  hear 
once  more  the  exquisite  solo,  "Hear  Ye,  Israel!" 
Everything  is  so  quiet.  There  seems  to  be  something 
strange  impending,  but  I  do  not  fear.  I  know  that 
God  is  doing  His  work  for  me  and  for  mine.  We  will 
fulfil  the  law  of  God,  and  have  the  protection  of  omni- 
potent Love. 

You  will  be  held  in  the  bonds  of  Spirit  if  you  keep 
your  mind  steadfastly  stayed  on  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love.  You  are  always  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Almighty,  and  underneath  you  are  the  everlasting 
arms.  No  weapon  can  be  formed  against  me  or  mine, 
for  all  is  good.  We  are  God's  own  children,  safe  in  the 
spiritual  atmosphere — away  from  the  claim  of  evil  or 
of  any  power  opposed  to  Life  and  Love.  I  send  you 
helpful  thoughts  every  day.  I  know  that  God  hears  me 
as  I  pray  for  you  and  dear  N  .  .  .  and  the  little  ones. 
Dear  M  .  .  .  must  feel  the  pressure  of  our  prayers  and 
rise  with  us. 

I  am  ready  for  any  experience  which  I  may  be  called 
to  meet  in  my  radical  defense  of  Truth.     I  am  perfectly 


760     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

fearless,  but  this  suspense  seems  like  the  calm  before 
an  earthquake.  Be  strong  and  fear  no  evil.  You 
must  perceive  and  understand  your  divine  birthright; 
you  must  know  that  you  have  power  with  God  and 
with  man,  and  must  wisely  command  all  your  work. 
You  must  demonstrate  God,  His  power,  His  love, 
His  affluence.  Then  you  can  say,  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one."  Thus,  by  your  demonstration  of  God,  you 
glorify  Him.  This  is  what  is  meant  by  giving  God  the 
glory.  Man  is  God's  glory, — His  mouthpiece,  His 
manifestation.  Without  man,  God  would  not  be 
man-i-fest.  So  let  us  give  glory  to  God,  and  to  His 
man.  Mortal,  so-called  mind  and  its  manifestation 
do  not  enter  into  the  statement.  Our  Leader  says 
in  Science  and  Health,  page  332,  "Into  the  real  and 
ideal  man  the  fleshly  element  cannot  enter." 
Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 

September  25,  1909. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  letter  has  been  a  rift  in  the  cloud  which  has 
concealed  you  from  your  teacher,  whose  only  sorrow 
for  your  position,  in  this  hour,  was  that  you  had  not 
sufficient  oil  in  your  lamp  to  read  the  signs  of  the 
coming  of  the  bridegroom.  Peter  wept  when  he  lost  the 
hand-clasp  of  the  Master.  Had  he  delayed  his  repen- 
tance too  long,  the  evil  one  (who  was  attempting  to 
separate  him  from  the  deathless,  steadfast  love  of  his 
"best  earthly  friend,"  Jesus  of  Nazareth)  would  have 
won. 

I  am  watching  and  praying  with  my  Leader,  and 
there  is  no  claim  of  a  power  which  can  separate  us. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     761 

Our  names  are  beneath  the  corner-stone  of  our  church, 
and,  with  her  own  dear  hand,  she  declared  our  "unity 
and  love."1  She  will  never  find  me  far  from  her 
Gethsemane,  nor  from  her  Calvary,  in  both  of  which 
I  joyfully  participate.  There  are  few  who  know  the 
meaning  of  this  hour.  God  pity  and  have  mercy 
upon  any  who  deny  their  Christ,  or  turn,  awhile,  to 
gain  the  smile  of  Pharisee,  or  who  tarry  too  long  in 
doubt,  or  sleep,  in  order  to  gain  strength  to  arise  before 
the  door  is  closed. 

The  letter  to  which  you  refer  was  advice  to  me  for 
my  future  staff  and  rod.  A  personal  hand  could  no 
longer  aid  me;  an  invisible  spiritual  one  was  needed. 
Flood-tides  of  Love  alone  have  met  and  mastered 
mortal  mind,  hypnotism,  and  the  highest  form  of 
mental  drug,  which  has  been  directed  to  me  by  the 
"enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol. 
xi.,  p.  910),  who,  from  the  first  year  I  came  into 
Christian  Science,  has  hotly  pursued  me. 

I  trust  that  you  will  cling  to  Principle  and  idea, 
and  will  regain  your  place  in  your  mental  home. 
Meekness  and  humility,  a  willingness  to  lose  the  human 
will,  that  God's  will  may  rule  us,  a  broken  and  a 
contrite  spirit  or  heart,  alone  can  make  us  invulner- 
able to  the  fiery  darts  of  impersonal  evil,  or  to  its  per- 
sonification in  so-called  mortal  man.  Love  will  deliver 
us  when  suffering  exalts  us. 

Child  of  my  prayers,  and  hopes,  and  tears,  my  love 
never  jails.  There  is  no  love  but  the  divine,  and  no 
power  but  Love  and  Love's  idea.  I  write  you  to-night 
lest  error  suggest  that  you  remain  away  from  church 
to-morrow — thus  delaying  the  consummation  of  your 
present   desire   to  return  to  your  home  in   spiritual 

1  See  letter,  page  34;  page  529. 


762     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

consciousness.  I  send  the  enclosed  letter,  hoping 
that  it  may  help  you.  You  may  find  it  helpful  to  others 
also,  so  you  may  keep  the  copy.  Continue  to  study 
the  Bible,  Science  and  Health,  and  the  Manual  of  The 
Mother  Church. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  7,  1909. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  have  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  tell 
you  of  my  appreciation  of  your  dear  letter,  and  of  your 
valiant  defense  of  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science, 
which  you  have  received  from  me.  But  I  have  been 
interrupted  by  many  demands  upon  my  time,  until 
I  feel  that  you  will  think  I  am  unmindful  of  my  obliga- 
tions to  you,  and  inconsiderate  of  your  priceless  value 
to  our  Cause,  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and 
to  myself  as  your  teacher.  During  many  years  I  have 
witnessed  your  steadfast  allegiance  to  Principle,  your 
devoted,  unselfed,  loving  service  to  our  church,  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 

I  know  that  you  are  ever  to  continue  that  service 
in  the  mental  and  impersonal.  Finite  forms,  and 
physical  corporeal  images,  the  manifestation  of 
mortal  mind,  do  not  express  the  image  and  likeness 
of  God,  the  real  man.  Individuality  is  ever  active, 
and  will  be  revealed  when  the  false  consciousness  and 
its  embodiment  in  the  flesh  disappear. 

We  were  told  by  our  Leader  that  if  we  would  build 
higher  we  must  begin  "  to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spirit- 
ual foundation"    (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi., 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     763 

p.  390).  This  we  are  doing,  for  "progress  is  the  law 
of  God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  233).  Material 
organization  has  been  demonstrated  perfectly  by  me, 
and  I  have  been  compelled  to  rise  and  build  wholly 
spiritually.  Let  us  come  out  from  under  the  law  of 
sin  and  death,  and  come  under  the  law  of  Spirit,  which 
sets  us  free  from  the  belief  of  a  power  antagonistic 
to  God.  With  this  spiritual  consciousness,  reflecting 
the  qualities  of  Life  and  Love,  we  are  invulnerable 
to  the  seeming  attacks  of  malicious  animal  magnetism 
in  all  its  forms  and  phases.  They  "pass  us  by  as  the 
idle  wind  which  we  regard  not." 

I  can  never  be  separated  from  you  and  your  dear 
family,  for  we  all  dwell  in  the  one  and  only  Mind,  and 
our  conscious  being  abides  in  Love.  So  we  live,  and 
love,  and  bless  all  who  "Abide  in  Truth"  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  270).  Our  immortal  self- 
hood, our  Christ-mind,  is  man  governed  by  God,  and 
this  is  all  that  we  ever  were  or  ever  will  be.  There 
is  no  other  presence,  no  other  power. 

The  windows  of  heaven  are  opening  to  us.  They 
cannot  be  shut  day  or  night,  for,  to  spiritual  sense, 
there  is  no  night,  no  pain,  no  parting.  Love  is  en- 
throned. Love  has  triumphed.  Our  Cause  is  estab- 
lished. We,  as  a  church,  are  a  city  set  on  a  hill.  We 
have  been  demonstrating  for  the  Field  the  true  teaching, 
and  the  enemy  has  failed  to  overthrow  us.  Hence- 
forth we  shall  be  known  to  the  world  as  having  been 
able  to  handle  the  false  claim,  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism, and  to  prove  that  our  church  has  been  built  on 
the  rock,  Christ,  and  that  "the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it. " 

I  send  you  and  your  dear  ones  each,  my  age-abiding 
love,  and  deep  gratitude  for  all   you   have  been  to 


764     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

me  in  the  past,  and  for  all  we  shall  be  to  each  other 
in  the  future  unfolding  of  our  spiritual  identities. 
Faithfully  yours  in  Christian  Science, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

■ 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  31,  1910. 

My  beloved  Student:— 

I  am  writing  you  but  a  few  lines  to  tell  you  how 
I  rejoice  to  see  that  the  arrow,  truth  and  love,  is 
striking  in  the  camp  of  the  King's  enemies.  You  can 
at  once  detect  the  venom  of  the  foe  which  is  aroused 
because  it  cannot  move  us,  nor  destroy  us.  Error 
never  had  a  place  in  God's  universe,  and  there  is  no 
other  universe.  It  is  a  grand  warfare,  and  flesh  and 
Spirit  cannot  be  at  war  when  once  we  know  that  there 
is  no  flesh  since  "Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is 
all'1  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

I  am  stronger  than  ever  in  faith  and  understanding 
and  I  feel  that  the  "heel,"  which  I  used  to  crush  the 
head  of  lust  and  hypocrisy,  has  been  healed  of  the 
"bite,"  by  knowing  that  there  is  no  vulnerable  spot 
in  the  heel  and  no  "serpent"  to  bite.  Truth  and  Love 
can  be  demonstrated,  and  the  dear  "persecuted 
followers  of  Truth"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  33)  are 
making  evil  so  unreal,  that  error  and  hate  will  dissolve 
in  the  alchemy  of  Truth  and  Love.  Our  beloved 
Leader  says,  "As  vapor  melts  before  the  sun,  so  evil 
would  vanish  before  the  reality  of  good"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  480). 

I  am  glad  to  know  that  you  are  impregnable  in  your 
panoply  of  Love.  In  this  consciousness  we  are  safe. 
To  believe  in  a  power  opposed  to  God  is  all  that  can 
harm  us.     To  listen  to  suggestions  of  life  in  matter, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     765 

or  to  doubt  our  creative  Principle  as  able  to  provide 
perfect  health  and  all  that  is  necessary  for  us  in  our 
journey  out  of  the  flesh,  is  all  that  will  impede  our 
progress.  Rejoice  and  be  glad,  for  our  "redemption 
draweth  nigh." 

I  am  strong  and  free,  and  I  know  that  the  time  is 
not  distant  when  I  shall  come  out  of  the  seeming  den 
of  lions.  The  God  whom  I  serve  continually,  He  will 
deliver  me.  The  King,  as  aforetime,  will  take  care 
of  the  "accusers. "  I  do  not  believe  that  I  ever  was  in 
the  power  of  the  "enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science 
Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910),  or  that  any  one  believes  that 
I  was,  nor  do  I  believe  that  any  one  has  to  come  under 
the  influence  of  a  false  belief  and  take  its  penalty 
which  is  the  Adam-dream.  But  there  is  a  belief  of 
a  claim  which,  if  any  one  accepts,  will  fulfil  the  condi- 
tions of  a  lie.  I  see  so  plainly  that  those  who  are  in 
belief,  and  those  who  are  in  understanding  will  have 
to  separate.  God  will  do  His  work.  I  cannot  lose 
God  nor  be  separated  from  my  beloved  Teacher, 
Mrs.  Eddy. 

Come  home  when  you  get  ready.     Home  is  always 
ready  for  you,  and  loving  hearts  await  you. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  3,  1910. 

My  dearly  beloved  Students: — 

It  may  be  too  late  to  reach  you  in  a  letter  with  a 
word  of  love,  but  I  will  send  it  along  the  mental  wires 
to  give  you  an  impetus  upward,  God-ward.  Never 
as  to-day  have  I  felt  the  divine  impulsion  to  leave  all 
belief  in  matter  as  substance  and  take  hold  of  spiritual 


766     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

realities  which  are  unseen  to  finite  sense.  Error  is 
screaming  so  loudly  for  its  prey,  and  the  Christ  is  so 
forcefully  driving  error  to  foam  out  its  fury,  that  the 
question  arises,  shall  we  cease  to  reflect  the  power  of 
divine  Love,  and  avoid  the  consequences, — chemicaliza- 
tion, or  shall  we  continue  to  radiate  the  spiritual 
thought-force  and  take  the  consequences — the  antagon- 
ism of  the  so-called  carnal  mind?  I  am  not  going  to 
retreat  before  the  belief  of  an  enemy,  so  I  gird  on  my 
mental  armor,  truth  and  love,  and  think  God's  thoughts 
after  Him,  trusting  Truth,  the  strong  deliverer,  to  do 
Her  own  work  in  destroying  all  error. 

I  am  not  without  evidence  that  error  is  conscious  of 
an  active  spiritual  power  which  pursues  it,  for  mortals 
are  much  disturbed.  They  are  seeking  those  whom 
they  find  are  vacillating,  and  are  arguing  most  persist- 
ently against  Truth's  standard-bearers  as  they  defend 
Christian  Science  for  our  beloved  Leader.  Evil  cannot 
rest,  and  has  continually  to  strengthen  its  position. 

God  governs  when  man  reflects  Him.  I  pray  that 
my  students  may  be  reflectors  of  His  justice.  I  shall 
see  you  soon  in  person.  I  am  always  with  you  in 
spirit.  Love  untold  to  you  both.  You  are  strong 
in  the  Truth  that  frees  you  from  false  belief.  I  know 
that  you  are  governed  by  Principle — Love — and  that 
Love  duly  feeds  and  clothes  every  idea  in  Her  uni- 
verse. There  is  but  one  universe — Love's  spiritual 
idea,  man.  You  are  members  of  the  body  of  Christ, 
generic  man.  God  and  His  Christ  fill  all  space.  How 
glorious  is  our  birthright ! 

Our  care  seems  less  as  we  realize  that  there  is  no 
room  for  care.     All  space  is  filled  with  Love's  love. 
Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     767 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  15,  1910. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

If  I  could  only  express  the  joy  and  peace  that  fill 
my  life  in  these  days  of  personal  retirement,  you 
would  know  that  only  God  could  bestow  it.  I  am 
working  every  moment  in  my  Bible,  in  Science  and 
Health,  and  in  gaining  the  spiritual  interpretation  of 
the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church  and  the  other  works 
of  our  beloved  Leader.  This  calm  strength  and  joy 
can  be  no  other  than  the  peace  of  God,  for  it  passeth 
understanding.  I  wish  I  had  time  to  write  to  you, 
and  dear  M.  .  .  and  my  dear  Mrs.  F.  .  .  .  I  am 
more  and  more  convinced  of  the  position  we  have 
taken,  and  how,  little  by  little,  it  is  being  revealed  to 
me  that  "the  enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Senti- 
nel, vol.  xi.,  p.  910)  is  powerless  to  harm  us.  What 
proofs  we  have  of  the  wrath  of  man  which  praises  God, 
and  the  calm  peace  and  assurance  of  those  who  are 
handling  the  foe  with  truth  and  love ! 

I  am  never  moved  for  myself.  I  am  only  occasion- 
ally disturbed  for  a  moment  in  regard  to  the  heavy 
tests  which  my  students  are  meeting.  I  want  them  to 
be  strong,  but  I  must  leave  them  with  God,  and  wait 
on  Him  to  deliver  them,  here  or  hereafter.  It  is  only 
a  matter  of  time,  for  all  will  finally  see  the  allness  of 
Love,  and  the  nothingness  of  fear,  sin,  and  death. 
I  am  sure  that  you  will  be  very  quiet  and  scientific. 
God  will  be  with  you,  and  you  will  stand  for  your 
interpretation  of  Science  and  Health. 

This  is  the  question  at  issue.  We  declare  that  we 
are  immortal.  They,  that  they  are  mortal.  I  insist 
upon  scientific  mental  self-defense,  and  I  send  out 
love  to  antidote  the  false  belief  of  malicious  animal 
magnetism  which  is  working  through  physical  person- 


768     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

alities.  I  declare  for  the  powerlessness  of  sensuous 
mentality  to  separate  brethren.  Love  will  do  Her 
perfect  work,  and  I  shall  come  forth  triumphant  when 
this  lesson  of  perfect  spiritual  love  has  been  learned. 
I  could  weep  for  very  gratitude  as  I  see  your  sweet, 
loving  thought  in  the  pretty  pink  cushion. 

Dear  heart,  you  are  so  good  to  me.  How  you  and 
dear  M  .  .  .  have  stood  for  Christian  Science  in  the 
years  of  the  past,  and  how  I  pray  that  you  may  con- 
tinue to  defend  your  Christ,  to  follow,  love,  and  obey 
your  blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  be  a  light  of 
true  Christian  Science  teaching  and  living  to  the 
world.  I  do  not  know  what  your  test  will  be,  but 
I  know  that  you  interpret  Science  and  Health  in  demon- 
stration of  "signs  following."  Your  lives  are  "hid 
with  Christ  in  God."  I  see  the  divine  idea  through 
the  flesh- veil,  and  I  long  to  have  the  power  of  the 
Master  to  say,  to  you,  the  ideal  woman,  "  Come  forth ! " 

I  am  strong,  and  my  faith  and  understanding  are 
unfolding  continually  in  the  quiet  of  spiritual  con- 
templation. I  find  that  I  must  put  my  "Trust  in 
Truth,  and  have  no  other  trusts"  {Christian  Science 
Journal,  vol.  xxi.,  p.  32 1 ) ,  as  our  beloved  Leader  advises ; 
so  I  work  for  the  true  consciousness,  that  I  may  see  it 
evolve  daily  strength  for  daily  needs,  and  all  things 
which  we  are  promised  "shall  be  added."  I  am  with 
you  often  when  you  do  not  see  my  material  mani- 
festation. How  often  I  go  to  you  on  the  wings  of 
love  and  abide  with  you  in  spiritual,  loving  companion- 
ship. How  I  love  you  and  all  whom  God  has  given 
me.  But,  ah  me!  some  whom  I  loved,  and  thought 
He  had  given  me,  never  were  really  awakened,  and 
fell  back  in  the  race  for  immortality.  Our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  "Let  them  alone;  they  must 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     769 

learn  from  the  things  they  suffer"  {Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, p.  328). 

Will  you  give  my  endless  love  to  dear  M  .  .  .  and 
let  this  letter  be  for  her  also?  She  is  closely  associated 
in  my  heart  with  you.  Please  give  my  love  to  my 
young  student,  Mrs.  F  .  .  .  .  Though  she  was  only 
in  my  last  class,  she  took  in  so  much  spiritually  that 
I  place  her  among  my  strong  students.  She  is  a 
soldier  in  Christian  Science  and  will  win  her  crown  of 
spiritual  understanding  if  she  continues  in  Truth. 

Give  my  love  to  your  dear  children,  and  with  great 
love  to  you,  I  am, 

Always  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  16,  1910. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

"Behold,  there  ariseth  a  little  cloud  out  of  the  sea, 
like  a  man's  hand."  I  am  seeing  so  clearly,  through 
spiritual  perception,  that  the  claim  of  aggressive  mental 
suggestion  is  working  on  a  new  line  of  argument,  and 
some  of  the  dear  ones  are  listening  to  it.  I  beg  that 
you  will  keep  your  spiritual  vision  clear,  and  see  that 
you  are  not  moved  from  your  firm  foundation  on  the 
rock,  Christ. 

Our  beloved  Leader  tells  us  in  all  her  writings  that 
the  enemy  is  vigilant,  always  in  ambush  and  ready  to 
destroy  Truth's  idea.  God  is  good,  but  we  shall  all 
be  tempted  on  every  point.  Watch  and  pray,  and 
help  my  beloved  students  who  are  babes  in  Christian 
Science  demonstration,  but  are  adults  in  love  and 
truth.  How  my  love  goes  out  to  them  and  to  you, 
dear  M  .  .  .  .     Let  "no  man  take  thy  crown." 


77°     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

I  am  so  peaceful  and  strong  in  Truth  and  Love. 
It  does  not  seem  possible  that  I  have  now  so  secure  a 
hold  upon  eternal  Life,  but  I  am  surer  than  ever  each 
day  that  my  teaching  and  interpretation  of  Science 
and  Health,  as  Mrs.  Eddy  gave  it  to  me,  are  correct, 
and  that  my  scientific  handling  of  malicious  animal 
magnetism  with  the  Word  of  God  saved  my  life,  when 
attacked  by  mental  malpractitioners.  I  speak  to  the 
claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  which  uses 
persons  who  allow  themselves  to  be  made  avenues 
for  evil;  then  I  help  the  person  by  declaring  for  him 
the  truth  that  destroys  m.  a.  m.  Our  strong  defense 
is  that  we  can  reflect  Love  and  Truth  and  declare  that 
evil — sensuous  mortal  belief — cannot  act  through  us 
to  harm  any  one  nor  through  any  one  to  harm  us,  for 
we  are  all  God's  perfect  ideas,  and  are  not  channels 
for  evil.  This  is  safe  and  right,  and  in  doing  this  I  am 
blessing  myself  and  all.  I  love,  and  am  not  the  victim 
of  hate  and  fear. 

I  am  clearer  and  more  divinely  metaphysical  than 
ever  in  my  interpretation  of  the  Holy  Bible  and  Science 
and  Health,  and  in  my  love  for  God,  for  my  blessed 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  for  the  true  brethren.  I 
resist  self-love,  self-will,  and  self -justification  in  myself; 
but  I  stand  for  my  convictions,  and  I  cannot  be  moved 
from  my  loyal,  unswerving  allegiance  to  the  Christ- 
mind,  which  I  have,  in  ever-increasing  degree,  demon- 
strated for  years. 

Our  Leader,  speaking  of  the  great  Teacher,  Jesus 
the  Christ,  said,  "he  swerved  not,  well  knowing  that 
to  obey  the  divine  order  and  trust  God,  saves  retracing 
and  traversing  anew  the  path  from  sin  to  holiness" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  20).  All  my  students  are 
strong  in  reflecting  Love  and  Truth  to  the  world.     We 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     771 

do  not  concern  ourselves  about  those  who  oppose  us. 
We  have  our  own  salvation  to  work  out,  and  we  are 
safe  in  the  "secret  place  of  the  most  High." 

Give  my  dearest  love  to  J  .  .  .  and  Mrs.  H .  .  .  , 
and  with  endless  love,  I  am, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  21,  19 10. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

It  is  becoming  so  natural  for  me  to  think  of  you  as 
spiritual,  not  dwelling  in  matter  nor  in  mortal  thought, 
that  I  sometimes  feel  it  unnecessary  to  use  the  medium 
of  pen  and  ink  to  convey  to  you  my  deep  love  and 
appreciation  of  you,  as  a  true  Christian  Science  student. 

I  have  been  compelled  to  rise  to  the  zenith  of  demon- 
stration up  to  my  present  test  of  faith  and  under- 
standing, and  this  continual  contemplation  of  God's 
allness  and  ever-presence  gives  me  a  certain  sweet 
sense  of  your  presence  as  a  member  of  the  body  of  the 
ever-present  Christ.  I  feel  the  import  of  Jesus '  words 
during  these  days, — "Holy  Father,  keep  through 
Thine  own  name  those  whom  Thou  hast  given  me." 
"Many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen."  I  would 
paraphrase  this — Many  were  called,  and  some  have 
chosen  to  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
and  are  walking  side  by  side  in  the  narrow  way  that 
leads  to  eternal  Life. 

Many  of  my  true  students  have  heard  the  voice  of 
God  through  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  have  clung  steadfastly  to  Truth.  The  price  of 
rising  higher  in  the  demonstration  of  spiritual  love 
and  truth  must  be  paid  by  all  who  enter  the  race  for 


772     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

immortality.  "The  evil  in  human  nature  foams  at 
the  touch  of  good,"  says  our  Leader  {Message  for 
1 901,  p.  45),  and  until  spiritual  understanding  reveals 
the  powerlessness  of  so-called  evil,  there  will  be  "with- 
out .  .  .  fightings,  within  .  .  .  fears." 

The  claims  of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  priest- 
craft, witchcraft,  and  all  the  etceteras  of  the  belief  of 
the  so-called  carnal  mind,  rise  and  demand  why  "art 
thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  before  the  time?" 
The  consciousness  of  God's  allness,  and  our  oneness 
with  Spirit,  gives  us  dominion  over  the  illusions  of 
material  sense,  and  the  qualities  of  the  Christ-mind 
deliver  us  from  false  concepts  until  they  pass  from  our 
consciousness  into  nothingness. 

To-day  we  should  be  rejoicing  in  the  apprehension 
of  Truth  and  Love  in  its  manifestation  of  goodness, 
peace,  power,  harmony,  and  joy,  as  they  appear 
through  humanity.  The  spirit  of  Truth  and  Love  is 
manifested  in  the  flesh,  in  compassion,  tenderness, 
childlike  trust  in  Principle,  divine  Mind,  and  in  the 
peace  which  comes  from  "an  all-absorbing  spiritual 
love"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  264).  Indeed,  we  may 
say  with  our  blessed  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  "life  is  worth 
living  and  God  takes  care  of  it"  {Christian  Science 
Journal,  vol.  xxii.,  p.  320). 

A  Christian  Scientist  at  this  late  hour  does  not 
stand  appalled  at  error's  false  pretension  to  power.  A 
Christian  Scientist  has  accepted  and  is  constantly 
demonstrating  the  scientific  statement  of  being — 
"There  is  no  life,  truth,  intelligence,  nor  substance 
in  matter"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468).  A  Christian 
Scientist  knows  that  he  was,  and  is,  and  ever  will  be 
God's  idea, — one  with  Spirit,  having  dominion  over 
all  things.     He  knows  that  he  has  forever  existed  with 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     773 

God  as  the  source  and  supply  of  his  being.  A  Christian 
Scientist  makes  great  demands  upon  his  Father-Mother 
God — limitless  Love,  eternal  Life,  omnipotent  Truth. 

The  false  claims  of  personal  sense  dissolve  under 
the  solvent  of  Spirit.  Our  beloved  Leader  says: 
"Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all"  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  The  operation  of 
Spirit,  quickening,  uplifting,  unfolding,  leavens  human 
consciousness  until  the  errors  of  belief  of  finite  sense 
gradually  fade,  leaving  us  conscious  of  the  substance 
of  eternal  Mind,  our  immortal  substance  or  creator, 
who  governs  and  controls  our  every  thought  and  act. 

This  spiritual  understanding  of  Principle,  and  the 
guidance  of  the  impersonal  Christ,  interprets  the  spir- 
itual universe,  of  which  the  material  senses  take  no 
cognizance.  Mortal  mind  is  wholly  apart  from  this 
spiritual  discernment.  So-called  mortal  mind  evolves 
its  own  conditions  and  universe  from  the  Adam-dream 
of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter,  whose 
premise  is  a  lie  and  whose  conclusions  are  false  ob- 
jects, including  the  false  universe  and  false  so-called 
man.  Its  beginning  is  sin, — a  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
and  its  end  is  death  or  nothingness.  It  starts  from 
dust, — nothingness, — and  it  returns  to  dust, — nothing- 
ness. It  never  was  substance,  and  God  knows  nothing 
of  it. 

Oh,  the  riches  and  the  wisdom  of  the  knowledge 
of  God!  How  can  we  ever  express  our  gratitude  to 
Him  for  Jesus  the  Christ  and  for  our  precious  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  for  teaching  us  how  to  find  God — our 
life — how  to  love  God  and  His  spiritual  idea — spiritual 
man,  how  to  apply  the  law  of  Spirit  to  the  so-called 
law  of  sin  and  death;  how  to  love  divinely,  and  with 
the  reflection  of  Truth  and  Love — the  power  of  God, 


774     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

to  destroy  the  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir,  and  lead 
humanity  out  of  sickness,  sorrow,  and  death?  Only 
a  life  of  consecration  to  Soul  can  express  my  gratitude. 

In  contemplation  of  the  glory  of  God  which  this 
understanding  bestows,  we  forget  the  pathway  of 
thorns,  which  in  the  past  we  trod  with  bleeding  foot- 
steps, and  we  rejoice  that  we  are  able  to  say  with  our 
Leader : 

0  make  me  glad  for  every  scalding  tear, 
For  hope  deferred,  ingratitude,  disdain! 

Wait,  and  love  more  for  every  hate,  and  fear 
No  ill, — since  God  is  good,  and  loss  is  gain. 

Beneath  the  shadow  of  His  mighty  wing; 

In  that  sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way, 
Seeking  and  finding,  with  the  angels  sing: 

"Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway," — watch  and  pray.1 

To  attain  this  freedom  of  the  sons  of  God,  and  this 
assurance  of  our  oneness  with  Truth  and  Love,  how 
alert  we  have  had  to  be  to  fulfil  the  injunction  of  our 
Leader,  "not  be  made  to  forget  nor  to  neglect  his  duty 
to  God,  to  his  Leader,  and  to  mankind"  (Manual 
of  The  Mother  Church,  Art.  viii.,  Sect.  6).  We  have 
fearlessly  obeyed  her  teachings  in  regard  to  the  handling 
of  hypnotism — mesmerism — in  its  various  manifesta- 
tions. I  have  been  faithful  to  her  injunctions  to  teach 
my  students  to  protect  themselves  against  the  claims  of 
so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism.  To-day  there 
is  even  a  greater  necessity  for  watching  and  praying 
that  we  enter  not  into  the  temptation  that  too  many 
have  fallen  under- — a  mental  laziness,  indifference  to 
the  necessity  of  destroying  the  claims  of  error.  Our 
Leader  says,  in  Science  and  Health,  page  102 : 

1  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     775 

The  mild  forms  of  animal  magnetism  are  disappearing, 
and  its  aggressive  features  are  coming  to  the  front.  The 
looms  of  crime,  hidden  in  the  dark  recesses  of  mortal 
thought,  are  every  hour  weaving  webs  more  complicated 
and  subtle.  So  secret  are  the  present  methods  of  animal 
magnetism  that  they  ensnare  the  age  into  indolence,  and 
produce  the  very  apathy  on  the  subject  which  the  criminal 
desires. 

Do  not  allow  this  apathy  to  touch  your  thought, 
but  rise  in  rebellion  against  aggressive  mental  sug- 
gestion— the  claim  to  a  power  opposed  to  God.  Deny 
the  claims  of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  hypnotism 
and  mesmerism,  as  able  to  deceive  you,  or  to  hold 
you  in  the  bonds  of  material  belief.  Bring  every 
thought  into  obedience  to  Truth  and  Love,  until  you 
catch  the  chord  of  Christ, — until,  through  spiritual 
sense,  you  perceive  man  in  God's  image  and  likeness. 
Let  us  be  brave  in  this  battle  of  Truth  against  error. 
Let  us : 

"  Dare  to  be  a  Daniel ; 
Dare  to  stand  alone; 
Dare  to  have  a  purpose  firm  and 
Dare  to  make  it  known. 

Let  us  "Go,  ...  to  the  dungeon  or  the  scaffold" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  99),  as  our  Leader  says, 
but  let  us  not  deny  our  Christ,  nor  be  intimidated  by 
the  threats  and  suggestions  of  so-called  mortal  mind. 
Divine  Love  will  fill  our  hearts  with  peace  and  power, 
and  eternal  Truth  will  demonstrate  Her  presence  and 
omnipotence  and  will  deliver  us  from  the  so-called  law 
of  sin  and  death. 

We  have  walked  together  mentally  towards  the  city 
of  our  God.     If  we  are  faithful  to  the  teachings  of  our 


776     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

beloved  Leader,  we  shall  pass  through  its  gates,  enter 
the  mansion  prepared  for  us  by  our  Father-Mother 
God — Life,  Truth,  and  Love — where  we  shall  dwell 
forever  in  unity  and  harmony  with  the  children  of 
God.  Oh!  the  bliss  of  anticipating  this  spiritual 
environment — this  heavenly  home  and  association  with 
the  perfect  children  of  God's  creating,  where  heart 
meets  heart  in  reflection  of  Love,  and  where  nothing 
enters  which  "worketh  abomination,  or  maketh  a  lie!" 

Man  shall  not  ask  his  brother  any  more, 
"Believest  thou?"  but  "Lovest  thou?" 

For  Hope  may  anchor,  Faith  may  steer,  but  Love, 
Great  Love  alone,  is  captain  of  the  soul. ' 

Spirit,  with  all   Her  teeming  universe  of  spiritual 
ideas,  is  here  and  is  All. 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  21,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  have  delayed  answering  your  letter  because  of 
lack  of  time. 

You  understand  as  well  as  I  do  the  letter  of  Christian 
Science,  but  you  contradict  it  by  making  error  real 
and  declaring  that  you  suffer  and  are  wretched.  While 
you  say  that  you  know  that  divine  Mind  is  all,  and 
that  you  are  a  reflector  of  divine  consciousness,  you 
declare  in  the  same  breath  that  error  is  real,  that  you 
"feel  it,  see  it,  and  hear  it,  and  that  there  is  no  way 
out  of  it. "     Why  do  you  not  take  a  positive  stand  and 

1 H.  Bernard  Carpenter. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     777 

declare  that  you  are  one  with  God, — spiritual  and  not 
material,  mental  and  not  physical,  and  argue  from  the 
side  of  Truth?  If  you  know  that  you  possess  the 
Mind  of  Christ,  a  divine  mentality,  you  must  prove 
this  by  applying  it  to  the  false  mentality,  which  argues 
for  life  in  matter,  and  for  the  reality  of  material 
phenomena.  This  admission  of  two  powers,  good  and 
evil,  is  why  so  many  fail  in  Christian  Science. 

I  admit  the  belief  (but  only  as  a  belief),  that  you 
have  had  to  look  out  for  your  gold  mines,  but  your 
mines  are  the  phenomena  of  thought,  and  you  reason 
from  a  false  mentality.  You  treat  your  work  from  a 
material  concept;  therefore,  you  bring  out  the  effect 
of  that  concept  which  has  beginning  and  end, — limita- 
tion. At  some  time,  you  have  allowed  the  mortal 
sense  of  things  to  gain  power  over  your  divine  sense. 
You  must  now  struggle  out  of  this,  and  reflect  God, 
the  source  of  your  being.  You  must  stand  firm  for 
the  spiritual  concept — that  God  is  All.  You  must 
think,  and  talk,  and  act  as  possessing  the  Mind  of 
Christ.  You  must  not  believe  in  material  sense  tes- 
timony, but  declare  for  the  spiritual  facts  of  being — 
that  "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  manifes- 
tation, for  God  is  All-in-all"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  468). 

As  there  is  but  one  Mind — God,  Spirit — and  as  you 
reflect  that  one  and  only  Mind,  you  should  know  that 
your  thoughts  proceed  from  that  divine  source.  You 
should  honor  your  Father-Mother  God  by  thinking 
His  thoughts  after  Him,  by  voicing  His  will,  by  com- 
pelling recognition  of  your  divine  selfhood  and  of  its 
power  to  dispel  and  destroy  all  false  arguments  of  life 
in  matter,  of  pain  or  of  pleasure  in  matter.  You  must 
find  "that  sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way"  {Miscellan- 


778     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

eous  Writings,  p.  389),  and  walk  in  it.  No  matter  what 
it  costs,  you  must  cease  voicing  belief,  and  protect 
your  Christ-mind,  your  spiritual  individuality.  Do 
not  aid  error  in  overthrowing  you  by  such  statements 
as  you  voiced  in  your  last  letter. 

You  understand  the  letter  of  the  teachings  of  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  Science  and  Health 
and  in  her  other  writings.  She  tells  you  to  abide  in 
Love,  and  /  tell  you  to  abide  in  Love,  and  to  remain 
there,  and  understand  why  you  are  there, — because 
there  is  no  other  place  of  safety;  there  is  no  other 
real  home  for  you  or  for  me  but  the  consciousness  of 
eternal  Life — ever-present  Love.  When  the  lie  of 
belief  of  life  in  matter  calls  to  you,  do  not  respond, 
deny  the  suggestion,  and  do  not  go  out  from  your 
refuge.  If  you  do,  you  will  have  to  wrestle  in  the  open 
with  the  foe. 

Do  you  realize  that  real  being  is  a  state  of  spiritual 
consciousness?  Strive  to  apprehend  this  and  retain 
this  spiritual  consciousness  of  God's  allness  and  ever- 
presence,  and  of  your  relation  to  Him,  and  your  oneness 
with  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  Unless  you  detect  error 
in  its  different  phases,  and  destroy  it  with  the  opposite 
influence — the  power  of  your  spiritual  thought,  or  the 
qualities  of  the  Christ-mind,  which  alone  antidote 
sin  and  its  claims — you  will  yield  to  the  false  suggestion 
of  the  reality  of  material  thoughts  and  things  and  be 
overcome  by  them.  Know  that  there  is  no  power 
apart  from  good,  God,  and  His  spiritual  universe, 
including  all  His  ideas.  Give  no  power  to  mortal 
mind,  with  its  aggressive  mental  suggestion  of  a 
material  man  and  a  material  universe.  There  is  no 
such  thing  in  Truth. 

As  you  continue  to  work  for  God  and  to  realize  His 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     779 

allness, — to  labor  for  Love  and  Her  ever-presence  and 
protecting  power,  you  will  increase  your  spiritual  sense, 
and  will  lose  the  material  sense  with  its  false  arguments. 

You  say  that  you  think  sometimes  you  will  "lose 
your  mind,"  and  yet  at  the  same  time  you  admit 
there  is  but  one  Mind.  You  also  freely  concede  that 
God  is  the  only  creator,  and  that  you  were  made  in 
His  image  and  likeness  and  have  dominion  over  all 
things.  Having  accepted  this  spiritual  fact,  you  must 
demonstrate  it.  You  can  never  prove  this  while  you 
voice  the  opposite  of  Truth,  and  declare  that  you  can 
lose  your  mind,  be  separated  from  Mind — God. 

Now  be  strong  and  brave,  and  have  but  one  God, 
whose  power  and  presence  are  omnipotent.  You  must 
be  the  witness  for  God;  for  good,  and  not  for  evil;  for 
eternal  Life,  not  for  death;  for  divine  Love,  not  for  fear; 
for  Mind,  not  for  matter;  for  the  spiritual  man  and  the 
spiritual  universe,  never  for  the  material,  false,  so-called 
man  and  the  material,  so-called  universe.  You  cannot 
lose  your  mind,  for  it  proceeds  from  God,  and  belongs 
to  Him;  He  governs  it.  You  have  no  other  mind. 
"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is 
stayed  on  Thee. " 

With  all  that  I  have  passed  through — and  there 
was  never  any  greater  test  given  to  any  one  on  earth 
except  the  Master  and  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy — 
I  have  retained  my  peace,  strength,  and  harmony, 
because  I  would  not  be  tempted  to  leave  "the  secret 
place  of  the  most  High,"  but  have  kept  close  to  God, 
"Beneath  the  shadow  of  His  mighty  wing"  {Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  389). 

I  admit  that,  to  belief,  you  have  a  very  hard  place, 
and  that  you  have  to  meet  a  great  deal  of  opposition 
from  those  about  you  who  possess  the  qualities  of  the 


780    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

carnal  mind.  While  I  have  been  telling  you  that 
there  is  but  one  Mind,  I  have  also  told  you  that  there 
is  a  claim  to  another  mind,  and  another  man,  which 
must  be  met  and  mastered.  In  the  place  of  all  false, 
finite  personality  is  the  spiritual  man.  Christian 
Scientists  have  to  meet  all  the  qualities  of  the  carnal 
mind  and  make  them  unreal,  by  possessing  the  Mind  of 
Christ  and  reflecting  Truth  and  Love.  It  is  a  warfare 
with  the  fleshly  mind.  If,  instead  of  admitting  the 
reality  of  the  evil  which  you  think  you  see,  and  which 
to  material  sense  seems  true,  or  the  truth  of  a  lie, 
you  will  deny  it,  and  apply  the  power  of  Truth  and 
Love,  you  will  protect  yourself  and  aid  others,  when 
they  are  responsive  to  good ;  thus  Christian  Scientists 
are  transforming  the  world  and  the  people.  They  are 
revealing  the  reign  of  Spirit,  and  are  reflecting  the 
spiritual  universe,  including  man. 

Now  rest  in  divine  Love.  The  everlasting  arms  are 
around  you.  Keep  under  the  shadow  of  the  great 
Rock,  and  know  that  there  is  your  abiding  place. 
Erase  from  the  tablet  of  your  memory  all  beliefs  of 
a  past  material  existence  or  experience.  They  were 
only  dreams  in  which  you,  as  spiritual  idea,  never 
participated.  God  loves  you;  our  blessed  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  loves  you;  I  love  you,  and  every  one  loves 
you;  for  Love  is  all,  and  fills  all  space. 
Your  faithful  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  10,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  letter,  with  enclosure,  is  before  me.     I  do  not 
think  that  you  can  be  excused  from  judging  in  cases 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     781 

where  you  must  prove  your  understanding,  or  spiritual 
discernment,  between  right  and  wrong  motives  and 
acts.  "The  Father  .  .  .  hath  committed  all  judgment 
unto  the  Son"  (John  v.,  22).  Christian  Scientists 
who  are  beginning  to  build  wholly  spiritually  are 
discerning  between  the  mortal  and  the  immortal 
consciousness.  They  are  denouncing  and  denying 
false  suggestions  and  erroneous  beliefs,  and  are  affirm- 
ing and  maintaining  their  position  in  Christian  Sci- 
ence as  defenders  of  Truth  and  Her  representatives. 
Thus  "the  saints  shall  judge  the  world"  (1  Cor. 
vi.,  2). 

Truth  and  Truth's  representatives,  error  and  error's 
representatives  separate,  for  they  are  contrary  the  one 
to  the  other.  In  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  371, 
I  read  of  the  Good  Shepherd  who  separated  the  sheep 
from  the  goats  in  his  flock.  This  is  judging  righteous 
judgment.  Truth  must  have  Her  representatives 
who  act  and  do  Her  work.  God  works  when  man 
acts  in  response  to  divine  Principle.  We  have  much 
to  do  to  work  for  God.  Error  is  always  active  until 
Truth  silences  the  lie  of  a  power  or  a  presence  apart 
from  God.  /  must  choose.  I  must  be  able  to  detect 
the  true  Christian  Scientist  from  the  false,  and  "I,  if 
I  be  lifted  up"  to  spiritual  alertness  and  divine  love, 
will  come  out  and  be  separate,  and  draw  all  to  me 
whom  the  Father  giveth  me. 

Jesus  loved  righteousness  and  hated  iniquity.  Love 
always  attracts  Her  own,  and  expels  the  false  claim  of 
evil  and  hate.  To  sympathize  in  any  way  with  error 
or  belief  is  dangerous.  I  have  to  build  wholly  on 
Love  and  Truth.  I  cannot  dwell  in  the  mortal  con- 
sciousness— or  rather  dream-sense — longer  than  to 
detect,  deny,  and  refuse  to  fellowship  with  it.     I  have 


782     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

only  love  for  the  good.  My  brother  and  sister  are 
they  who  do  the  will  of  the  Father. 

It  requires  courage  and  spiritual  understanding  to 
contend  against  error,  and  free  one's  self  from  the 
illusions  of  the  matter-dream,  but  in  no  other  way  can 
we  rise  and  wear  the  crown  of  immortality.  I  am 
confident  that  you  know  how  to  handle  evil  with  Truth, 
and  to  make  all  its  forms  unreal.  Evil  is  impersonal, 
but  you  know  it  manifests,  embodies  itself  in  physical 
personality.  The  sin  and  the  sinner  are  one.  Our  be- 
loved Leader  says:  "Jesus  defined  devil  as  a  mortal  who 
is  full  of  evil"  (No  and  Yes,  p.  22).  The  human  who 
begins  to  reflect  God  is  an  improved  belief.  Let  us 
continue  to  reflect  Love  until  we  become  sinless  humans 
[Unity  of  Good,  p.  49).  Then,  in  God's  own  time,  the 
light  of  Love  will  dissolve  the  "material  pigment"  (Re- 
trospection and  Introspection,  p.  79)  called  mortal  mind 
and  its  embodiment,  and  we  shall  be  free  from  belief, 
and  awake  in  spiritual  consciousness — our  divine  self- 
hood. I  long  to  behold  God  and  His  universe,  and 
I  shall  not  be  satisfied  until  I  awake  in  His  likeness. 

You  must  make  your  own  demonstration,  my  dear 
student.  I  do  not  see  any  need  for  explanation,  and 
my  dear  students  do  not  need  to  give  a  reason  for 
standing  for  me,  since  they  are  standing  for  Principle. 
I  am  demonstrating  my  understanding  of  Christian 
Science  as  I  have  been  taught  by  my  beloved  Teacher, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy.  In  this  hour  each  must  stand 
the  test  for  himself.  "God  is  on  the  field  when  He 
is  most  invisible,"  and  Truth  is  behind  the  shadows, 
"keeping  watch  above  His  [Her]  own." 

Let  us  begin  to  build  wholly  spiritually  on  the  rock, 
Christ,  as  fast  as  possible ;  but  let  us  be  sure  that 
mortal  thought  does  not  get  into  our  work,  and  mar 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     783 

the  structure  of  Truth  and  Love.  Nothing  that  is 
mortal  can  enter  and  remain  in  a  consciousness  which 
is  building  on  spiritual  understanding, — namely  that 
Spirit  is  our  creator  or  source  of  being,  and  that  Spirit 
is  all.  Mortal  thought  and  its  matter  embodiment 
is  a  belief,  a  dream  which  must  finally  vanish  before 
Truth  and  Love — Spirit. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96th  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  8,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

You  call  my  attention  to  the  article  in  The  Christian 
Science  Monitor  of  August  5th,  entitled  "  Right  Influ- 
ences," and  ask  my  opinion  in  regard  to  it.  I  find 
some  statements  therein  which  are  most  misleading. 
They  indicate  no  warfare  between  the  flesh  and  Spirit, 
the  human  and  the  divine,  which  is  contrary  to  my 
interpretation  of  Science  and  Health,  our  text-book, 
and  our  beloved  Leader's  other  writings.  The  lives  of 
prophets  and  apostles  record  mighty  wrestlings  with 
belief  of  life  in  matter  ere  spiritual  strength  prevailed. 
There  is  no  greater  danger  to  the  student  of  Christian 
Science  to-day,  than  the  argument  of  the  "enemy  of 
good"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910), 
namely, — that  there  is  no  need  to  struggle  for  recourse 
to  the  divine.  In  Science  and  Health,  page  329,  Mrs. 
Eddy  says,  "  If  men  understood  their  real  spiritual 
source  to  be  all  blessedness,  they  would  struggle  for 
recourse  to  the  spiritual  and  be  at  peace." 

I  will  quote  from  the  article  in  question  the  following 
lines : 


784     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

If  we  are  persistent  in  denying  evil  any  place  or  power 
in  our  lives  we  are  growing  gradually  toward  the  time  when 
we  will  know  only  good  as  God  knows.  This  habit  of 
denying  evil  and  turning  constantly  to  the  divine  Mind  for 
guidance  gives  strength  and  firmness  to  character  .  .  . 
We  do  not  have  to  be  barometers  registering  the  changing 
atmosphere  of  mortal  mind.  We  can  dwell  in  the  atmos- 
phere of  Soul  where  God  reigns  supreme. 

On  this  point  Mrs.  Eddy  has  written,  in  Science  and 
Health  (page  254):  "God  requires  perfection,  but 
not  until  the  battle  between  Spirit  and  flesh  is  fought 
and  the  victory  won. " 

Continuing  the  quotation  from   the   Monitor: 

We  do  not  have  to  fight  and  struggle  and  exercise  our  will  to 
conquer  the  seeming  forces  of  evil ;  we  can  see  their  nothing- 
ness by  rising  above  them.  The  higher  we  get  above  our 
material  earth  the  smaller  objects  look  to  us,  so  the  higher 
we  can  rise  in  spiritual  apprehension  the  less  evil  appears 
to  us. 

I  agree  with  the  writer  of  this  article  that  "if  we  are 
persistent  in  denying  evil  any  place  or  power  in  our 
lives,"  we  are  spiritualizing  thought,  and  are  growing 
God- ward.  But  to  rise  in  the  scale  of  being  towards 
Spirit,  we  must  do  vastly  more  than  "deny"  the  claim 
of  evil.  We  must  meet  and  master  the  claim  of  life 
in  matter.  To  deny  the  claim  of  evil,  or  a  power 
opposed  to  God,  while  possessing  and  indulging  the 
qualities  of  evil,  will  not  destroy  the  claim  of  sin  nor 
its  effects,  disease,  and  death,  and  we  will  make  slow 
progress  toward  our  oneness  with  God,  in  whom  there 
is  no  evil.  To  deny  the  claim  of  evil,  or  so-called 
carnal  mind,  with  the  understanding  gained  from 
having  met  the  claim,  wrestled  with  it,  and  proved  its 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     785 

powerlessness,  would  indeed  be  to  rise  to  spiritual 
apprehension  and  realization  of  God  and  of  our  rela- 
tion to  Him.  My  criticism  of  the  statement  is  not  that 
denial  of  evil  is  not  necessary,  but  that  the  article 
implies  no  necessity  for  effort,  or  struggle  on  the  part 
of  the  individual. 

The  history  of  Christ  Jesus  records  the  overcoming 
of  the  claim  of  evil,  and  his  final  victory  over  the  last 
enemy — the  belief  in  physical  personality,  and  a 
physical  universe,  or  a  power  opposed  to  God.  The 
Christian  Scientist  who  enlists  to  destroy  the  belief 
in  evil,  with  all  its  claims,  should  be  willing  to  follow 
the  Master,  enter  his  Gethsemane,  drink  his  cup,  and 
patiently  wait,  work,  watch,  and  pray  for  the  crown  of 
immortality.  The  evil  one,  or  the  false  claim  to 
finite  personality,  to-day  uses  the  argument,— "  If 
God  is  all,  and  there  is  no  other  power,  then  why  admit 
evil  as  power,  and  oppose  it ;  it  is  sufficient  to  deny  it, — 
more  than  that  makes  it  real." 

Again  I  say,  evil  is  real  to  human  belief  until  Truth 
deprives  it  of  its  claim  to  power.  "Non-resistance  to 
evil,  because  there  can  be  no  evil  if  God  is  All,"  is  the 
whispering  of  anti-Christ.  Mrs.  Eddy  emphatically 
teaches  that,  "So  secret  are  the  present  methods  of 
animal  magnetism  that  they  ensnare  the  age  into 
indolence,  and  produce  the  very  apathy  on  the  sub- 
ject which  the  criminal  desires"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  102).  The  lying,  talking  serpent,  or  the  so-called 
sensuous  mortal  mind,  is  a  false  claim  to  mankind 
only  when  "Through  toil,  struggle,  and  sorrow,  .  .  . 
They  give  up  their  belief  in  perishable  life  and  happi- 
ness; .  .  .  and  the  immortal  is  reached"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  536). 

Why  should  we  wish  to  escape  this  ordeal,  since  the 
50 


786     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Master,  by  obedience  to  spiritual  law,  gained  spiritual 
dominion,  and  power  with  God  to  cast  out  evil,  heal 
the  sick,  raise  the  dead  (in  belief),  feed  the  multitude, 
produce  silver  from  the  fish's  mouth,  and  to  demonstrate 
the  omnipotence  and  omnipresence  of  the  Principle 
of  being,  Love  and  Truth?  Our  Leader  has  gone 
before  us  by  the  same  rugged  road.  She  has  climbed 
the  hill  of  Christian  Science,  has  trod  upon  mental 
serpents  and  scorpions,  and  has  demonstrated  the 
omnipotence  of  Love.  She  calls  to  every  one  to  leave 
the  valley  of  sin,  physical  personality;  to  put  off  the 
beliefs  of  the  fleshly  mind;  to  overcome  the  magnetism 
or  material  sense  which  attracts  and  holds  mortals  to 
matter  forms,  and  images.  This  is  "the  way"  to 
immortality  and  eternal  bliss.  This  is  following  Christ, 
and  is  the  path  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  trod  with 
an  Amen. 

Ease  in  sin  will  not  give  strength  to  character.  The 
"old  man"  (so-called  mortal  mind)  with  his  sensuous 
appetites,  the  lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  lust  of  the  eyes, 
must  be  destroyed  by  the  Mind  of  Christ.  John  said, 
"If  any  man  love  the  [material]  world,  the  love  of  the 
Father  is  not  in  him."  "When  the  human  element  in 
him  struggled  with  the  divine,  our  great  Teacher 
said:  'Not  my  will,  but  Thine,  be  done!' — that  is,  Let 
not  the  flesh,  but  the  Spirit,  be  represented  in  me" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  33).  In  my  struggles  out  of 
material  sense,  so  far  as  I  have  overcome,  I  am  reminded 
often  of  our  beloved  Leader's  words,  "It  is  easier  to 
desire  Truth  than  to  rid  one's  self  of  error"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  322). 

If  we  sometimes  hear  the  argument  of  the  enemy  of 
good, — "There  is  not  so  much  need  in  this  hour  of 
handling  the  claims  of    M.  A.  M.,  because  evil  is  less 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     787 

real''' — it  would  be  well  to  read  our  Leader's  words 
in  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  177: 

The  hour  is  come.  The  great  battle  of  Armageddon  is 
upon  us.  The  powers  of  evil  are  leagued  together  in  secret 
conspiracy  against  the  Lord  and  against  His  Christ,  as 
expressed  and  operative  in  Christian  Science.  Large 
numbers,  in  desperate  malice,  are  engaged  day  and  night 
in  organizing  action  against  us.  Their  feeling  and  purpose 
are  deadly,  and  they  have  sworn  enmity  against  the  lives 
of  our  standard-bearers. 

What  will  you  do  about  it?  Will  you  be  equally 
in  earnest  for  the  truth?  Will  you  doff  your  lavender- 
kid  zeal,  and  become  real  and  consecrated  warriors?  Will 
you  give  yourselves  wholly  and  irrevocably  to  the  great 
work  of  establishing  the  truth,  the  gospel,  and  the  Science 
which  are  necessary  to  the  salvation  of  the  world  from 
error,  sin,  disease,  and  death?  Answer  at  once  and  practi- 
cally, and  answer  aright ! 

Again  I  contend  with  the  writer  in  his  statement, — 
!•  We  do  not  have  to  be  barometers."  We  do  have  to 
be  barometers.  The  definition  of  barometer  is,  "An 
instrument  for  indicating  the  atmospheric  pressure" 
(Standard  Dictionary).  When  the  mental  atmosphere 
is  surcharged  with  the  claim  of  fear,  doubt,  anxiety, 
hate,  jealousy,  envy,  resentment,  revenge,  etc.,  qualities 
of  the  carnal  mind,  spiritual  intuition  indicates  the 
conditions,  and  warns  us  to  awake,  and  resist,  with 
Truth,  and  Love,  the  claim  of  evil.  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
on  page  122,  of  Science  and  Health, — "The  barometer, — 
that  little  prophet  of  storm  and  sunshine,  denying  the 
testimony  of  the  senses, — points  to  fair  weather  in  the 
midst  of  murky  clouds  and  drenching  rain."  So 
spiritual  intuition  protects  from  the  clouds  and  drench- 
ing rain  of  mortal  mind,  and  rising  to  our  source  of 


788     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

strength,  the  ever-present  Christ,  we  find  ourselves 
in  the  sunshine  of  Love's  presence. 

We  should  be  faithful  watchmen,  or  barometers, 
or  prophets  and  seers,  quick  to  detect  the  approaching 
storm  of  error,  and,  with  armor  always  on,  instant 
to  meet  this  false  claim  with  Truth  and  Love.  We 
should  remember  our  dear  Leader's  injunction,  "work — 
watch  and  pray"  (Message  for  ipoo,  p.  20)  that  we  be 
not  lulled  into  apathy.  "If  the  goodman  of  the  house 
had  known  what  hour  the  thief  would  come,  he  would 
have  watched,  and  not  have  suffered  his  house  to  be 
broken  through"  (Luke  xii.,  39).  So  the  Christian 
Scientist  must  be  spiritually  alert  to  the  presence  of  the 
opponent  of  light  (darkness),  which,  under  the  power 
of  Truth  and  Love,  disappears. 

I  will  again  quote  from  this  writer: — "We  do  not 
have  to  fight  and  struggle  and  exercise  our  will  to 
conquer  the  seeming  forces  of  evil;  we  can  see  their 
nothingness  by  rising  above  them."  Ti*ue,  we  can 
see  their  nothingness  by  rising  above  them,  but  the 
rising  above  them  necessitates  toil  and  struggle,  and 
the  prayer  of  the  Master,  "Not  my  will,  but  Thine, 
be  done."  Some  intense  natures  do  indeed  make 
this  struggle  too  real  and  are  victims  of  self -mesmerism. 
This  is  not  the  fault  of  the  teaching,  but  is  a  weakness 
in  human  character,  resulting  in  discouragement  and 
the  laying  down  of  the  sword  just  before  the  battle 
is  won.  But,  sooner  or  later,  here  or  hereafter,  all 
must  overcome  the  suggestions  and  arguments  of 
the  carnal  mind  if  they  would  gain  their  immortal 
consciousness. 

Referring  to  the  writer's  expression,  "Exercise  our 
will,"  let  me  quote  what  our  Leader  says  on  this  point: 
"The  power  of  the  human  will  should  be  exercised 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     789 

only  in  subordination  to  Truth;  else  it  will  misguide 
the  judgment  and  free  the  lower  propensities" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  206).  Truth  alone  conquers 
the  seeming  forces  of  evil.  I  also  take  exception  to  the 
statement — "The  higher  we  can  rise  in  spiritual 
apprehension  the  less  evil  appears  to  us."  The 
writer  doubtless  meant,  the  less  real  evil  appears 
to  us. 

A  Christian  Scientist  is  a  divine  metaphysician, 
or  mathematician.  The  mathematician  begins  with 
the  four  fundamental  rules  of  arithmetic,  which  require 
all  his  ability,  at  that  time,  to  demonstrate.  The 
next  rule  calls  forth  more  effort,  thus  unfolding  his 
latent  capacities.  Each  succeeding  rule  is  more 
difficult  to  demonstrate,  and  makes  greater  demands 
upon  his  intelligence  and  willingness  to  labor  to  develop 
his  mathematical  possibilities.  Each  advancing  rule 
proves  to  be  a  higher  test  of  his  understanding  of  the 
principle  of  mathematics,  enlarging  his  capacities  to 
comprehend  and  demonstrate  divine  Mind,  the  source 
of  his  intelligence. 

This  student  will  not  use  algebraic  terms,  nor  those  of 
geometry  or  trigonometry,  to  the  boy  in  fractions. 
While  the  writer  of  this  article  may  have  been  a  be- 
ginner in  Christian  Science,  for  he  says  "the  less  evil 
appears,"  you,  an  advanced  student  of  divine  meta- 
physics, have  carried  the  demonstration  of  Christian 
Science  beyond  the  standpoint  of  a  beginner.  You 
know  what  our  great  Leader  says:  "the  higher  Truth 
lifts  her  voice,  the  louder  will  error  scream,  until  its 
inarticulate  sound  is  forever  silenced  in  oblivion" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  97).  You  give  milk  to  babes, 
but  that  milk  must  not  be  adulterated  with  error; 
you  require  strong  meat  and  must  make  great  demands 


790     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

upon  Principle,  divine  Mind,  for  your  own  advance- 
ment and  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  beginning  to 
build  with  you  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation" 
(Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  Christian 
Scientists  find  that  as  they  rise  higher  in  spiritual 
apprehension  of  the  Principle  which  governs  man  and 
the  universe,  the  claim  of  evil  rises  correspondingly. 

Throughout  the  teachings  of  Jesus,  and  those  of  our 
revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  we  are  enjoined  to  resist 
the  claim  of  suppositional  evil  (the  belief  of  life  in 
matter)  and  we  are  taught  that  mere  denial  of  this 
claim  is  not  sufficient  to  free  us  from  its  discords.  The 
Standard  Dictionary  gives  the  definition  of  "Resist:" 
"To  strive  against,"  and  the  definition  of  "Strive:" 
"To  make  earnest  effort.  To  tend  to  counteract  by 
reason  of  opposing  qualities. " 

The  Christian  Scientist  struggles  to  counteract  the 
evil  qualities  of  the  human  mind,  by  acquiring  and 
reflecting  the  qualities  of  the  Mind  of  Christ.  This 
is  done  in  proportion  to  his  willingness  to  grapple  with, 
and  overcome  evil.  If  through  mental  laziness,  or  love 
of  sin,  he  becomes  weary  of  the  conflict  and  ceases 
to  struggle  till  he  wins  the  victory  over  belief,  he  sinks 
back  into  the  material  senses  and  lets  go  the  hand  of 
Love.  "Alas  for  those  who  break  faith  with  divine 
Science  and  fail  to  strangle  the  serpent  of  sin  as  well 
as  of  sickness"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  569).  Defini- 
tion of  "Strangle"  {Standard  Dictionary) :  "To  throttle, 
to  suffocate,  to  stifle." 

Sin  is  a  belief  in  a  mortal  mind  and  its  manifestation, 
a  mortal  body.  This  so-called  mortal  mind,  claiming 
to  be  a  creator,  is  a  lie  from  the  beginning.  Let  us 
obey  our  Leader,  and  strive  to  strangle  this  lying, 
talking  serpent,  personal  sense.     Let  us  throttle  and 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     791 

stifle  it,  that  its  voice  be  no  more  heard  declaring  for 
life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance  in  matter.  Let 
us  declare  the  omnipotence  of  Love,  until  Love  reveals 
Her  universe,  Christ,  the  embodiment  of  Spirit, — man 
in  God's  image  and  likeness,  including  each  individual 
member  of  the  body  of  Christ. 

Let  us  continue  to  claim  our  spiritual  divine  origin, 
our  individuality.  We  shall  dwell  (consciously  and 
eternally)  in  the  atmosphere  of  Soul,  when  we  have 
endured  to  the  end  of  all  error.  Flesh  and  blood  cannot 
inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  Love  will  fulfil  Her  law. 
Christian  Scientists  rejoice  always  in  Love's  ever- 
presence,  guidance,  and  protection.  They  demonstrate 
the  fruits  of  the  Spirit, — love,  peace,  and  joy.  They 
patiently  await  the  coming  of  Christ  and  their  crown 
of  immortality.  I  am  always  watching  and  praying 
for  you,  for  all  my  beloved  students  and  for  all 
mankind. 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 

XT  L 

November  2,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  questions  in  regard  to  Mr.  C  .  .  .  P  .  .  .  S  .  .  .'s 
article  in  the  Sentinel  of  October  29th,  in  which  he 
treats  of  "  Democratic  Government "  in  branches  of  The 
Mother  Church,  and  of  the  position  which  teachers 
occupy  in  relation  to  students,  require  an  immediate 
reply. 

First,  I  will  consider  democratic  government,  as 
I  understand  it.  Article  xxiii,  Section  10,  of  the  Manual 
of  The  Mother  Church,  says:  "In  Christian  Science 
each   branch    church    shall   be   distinctly    democratic 


792     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

in  its  government,  and  no  individual,  and  no  other 
church  shall  interfere  with  its  affairs." 

The  word  "Democracy"  as  applied  to  civil  govern- 
ment, in  which  all  men  (all  mortals)  are  regarded  as 
possessing  equal  rights  and  privileges  of  franchise, 
expresses  the  physical  operation  of  so-called  civil  law 
through  mortal  man.  "Democracy,"  as  applied  to 
the  branches  of  The  Mother  Church,  is  the  meta- 
physical operation  of  the  divine  law  through  spiritual 
man,  or  the  power  of  omnipotent  Mind  expressed 
through  the  divine  idea  and  manifested  on  the  human. 
"The  divinity  of  the  Christ  was  made  manifest  in  the 
humanity  of  Jesus"  {Science  and  Health,  page  25). 
The  Christian  Science  Church  is  founded  on  Christ. 
Christian  Scientists  admit  but  one  power,  omnipotent, 
omniscient,  and  omnipresent  Mind.  Christ  Jesus  was 
the  great  divine  Metaphysician.  He  acknowledged 
no  material  law,  but  declared  and  demonstrated  the 
law  of  Spirit,  the  one  and  only  law.  Isaiah  prophesied 
the  coming  of  this  mighty  representative  of  God  in 
these  words:  "The  government  shall  be  upon  his 
shoulder." 

The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  is  composed  of  those 
who  acknowledge  God  as  the  divine  Law,  and  Christ 
as  the  executor  of  the  law  of  Spirit. 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  discovered 
and  founded  Christian  Science.  "Christian  Science 
is  the  law  of  Truth"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  482). 
Paul  recognized  this  law  or  the  operation  of  spiritual 
mental  force,  when  he  said,  "The  law  of  the  Spirit  of 
life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of 
sin  and  death"  (Rom.  viii.,  2).  Christian  Scientists, 
who  enlist  under  the  law  of  divine  metaphysics,  know 
that  the  success  of  our  Cause  depends  upon  absolute, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     793 

intelligent  obedience  to  the  law  of  God  as  voiced 
through  our  great  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in 
her  writings,  including  the  By-Laws  which  she  has 
given  us  in  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church. 

The  daily  and  ultimate  success  of  Christian 
Science  depends  upon  individual  effort  to  establish 
divine  democracy  in  the  body.  Whoever  reflects  most 
of  Spirit,  or  the  Mind  of  Christ,  yields  to  the  law  of 
omnipotent  Life  and  Love  and  is  placed  in  his  proper 
position  in  the  body  by  this  unerring  law  of  wisdom. 
Christ  is  understood  by  the  Christian  Scientists  as 
the  Head  of  the  Church,  visible  and  invisible,  militant 
and  triumphant. 

There  is  but  one  Christ,  and  but  one  Body,  or  Church, 
which  is  composed  of  individual  members.  "And  .  .  . 
the  Head,  from  which  all  the  body  by  joints  and  bands 
having  nourishment  [spiritual  love  and  understanding] 
ministered,  and  knit  together,  increaseth  with  the 
increase  of  God"  (Col.  ii.,  19),  "...  for  Christ,  God's 
idea,  will  eventually  rule  all  nations  and  peoples — 
imperatively,  absolutely,  finally — with  divine  Science" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  565).  The  definition  of  the 
word  "People,"  as  given  by  the  Standard  Dictionary, 
is,  "All  the  human  beings  under  the  same  government, 
speaking  the  same  language,  or  being  of  the  same 
blood." 

Webster1  defines  "  Democracy  "  as  "  A  form  of  govern- 
ment in  which  the  supreme  power  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  people  and  directly  exercised  by  them."  The 
people  who  comprise  a  Christian  Science  Church,  who 
discern  that  man  is  spiritual  and  is  governed  by  his 
creator,  God  and  His  Christ,  are  God's  people,  and 
voluntarily  place  themselves  in  an  attitude  of  obedience 

1  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary,  1889  edition. 


794     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

to  Christ  and  his  government.  Christ,  being  the 
"supreme  power,"  works  through  every  member  of 
his  body,  "from  the  infinitesimal  to  infinity"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  503).  "For  it  is  God  which  worketh 
in  you"  (Phil,  ii.,  13).  Continuing  Webster's  defini- 
tion,— "hence,  more  usually,  a  form  of  government  in 
which  the  power  resides  ultimately  in  the  whole  people." 
For,  "Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God?" 
(1  Cor.  iii.,  16.)  Thus,  every  member  of  the  Christian 
Science  Church,  or  body  of  Christ,  must  eventually 
move  in  accord  with  the  "supreme"  power  which  re- 
sides in  the  whole,  each  reflecting  spiritual  individuality 
and  governed  by  Christ,  the  Head  of  the  Church,  for 
Christ  and  his  Church  are  one. 

There  is  one  language  for  every  one  calling  himself 
a  Christian  Scientist,  the  language  of  Spirit,  the  "new 
tongue"  in  which  Mrs.  Eddy  declares  "Spirit  is  infi- 
nite; therefore  Spirit  is  alV  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  Man  is  immortal,  the  image  and 
likeness  of  divine  Mind.  In  Acts  xvii.,  26,  we  read 
that  He  "hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men 
for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth. "  Created  by 
the  one  Mind,  every  member  of  the  body  of  Truth  and 
Love  is  of  one  blood  (spiritual  consciousness).  They 
speak  the  same  language,  and  manifest  the  unity  of 
the  Spirit,  the  glory  of  God. 

The  following  Scripture  passage  confirms  this: 
"For  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members, 
and  all  the  members  of  that  one  body,  being  many, 
are  one  body:  so  also  is  Christ.  For  by  one  Spirit  are 
we  all  baptized  into  one  body"  (1  Cor.  xii.,  12,  13). 
Also  Science  and  Health,  page  125:  "Reflecting  God's 
government,  man  is  self -governed. "  Thus  we  see  that 
divine    "democracy"    implies    one    Head,    Christ,    to 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     795 

whom  every  member  spontaneously  yields  loving 
obedience. 

This  is  the  democracy  which  all  true  Christian 
Scientists  understand  to  be  the  rule  and  reign  of 
Spirit,  the  invisible  presence  of  omnipotent  Life  and 
Love,  working  through  and  governing  every  member 
of  Christ's  body,  or  Church,  "The  structure  of  Truth 
and  Love"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  583). 

Our  beloved  Leader  confirms  this  in  these  words 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  444),  "Immortals,  or  God's 
children  in  divine  Science,  are  one  harmonious  family; 
but  mortals,  or  the  'children  of  men'  in  material  sense, 
are  discordant  and  ofttimes  false  brethren."  Under 
the  spiritual  divine  democratic  government,  which 
Mrs.  Eddy  has  established  by  her  teachings,  the 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  must  naturally  increase 
in  spiritual  power  and  "never-ending  success"  {Chris- 
tian Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

Of  the  increase  of  his  government  and  peace  there  shall 
be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  upon  his  kingdom, 
to  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with  judgment  and  with 
justice  from  henceforth  even  for  ever.  The  zeal  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts  will  perform  this  (Isa.  ix.,  7). 

The  adversary  cannot  prevail  against  this  advanced 
spiritual  understanding,  which  has  been  attained 
through  leaving  all  material  earth-weights  for  the 
Mind  of  Christ.  These  are  the  people  of  God,  who 
have  come  up  out  of  great  tribulation,  through  per- 
secution and  suffering,  and  have  washed  their  robes 
in  the  love  of  Truth.  These  compose  the  members 
of  the  body  of  Christ.  Nothing  that  worketh  or 
maketh  a  lie  can  enter  this  spiritualized  consciousness. 
In  the  light  of  this  understanding  of  divine  democracy, 


796     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

the  path  "will  grow  brighter  'unto  the  perfect  day"' 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  496).  The  divine  right  by 
which  Mrs.  Eddy  exercises  spiritual  autocracy,  the 
wisdom  and  power  of  God,  enables  us,  her  followers, 
to  exemplify  the  divine  democracy,  wherein  all  men 
(spiritual  ideas)  are  equal  in  the  sight  of  God,  because 
all  men  are  reflectors  of  God. 

"Man  is,  not  shall  be,  perfect  and  immortal" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  428).  But  mortals  are  not 
reflectors  of  God,  "They  never  had  a  perfect  state  of 
being.  .  .  .  They  were,  from  the  beginning  of  mortal 
history, '  conceived  in  sin  and  brought  forth  in  iniquity ' " 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  476).  They  (those  living  in 
material  sense)  are  governed  by  belief;  they  speak  the 
language  of  their  father,  the  devil.  "  He  was  a  murder- 
er from  the  beginning,  .  .  .  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father 
of  it"  (John  viii.,  44).  "There  is  no  such  thing  as 
mortality,  nor  are  there  properly  any  mortal  beings" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  554). 

Just  so  far  as  members  of  a  branch  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ  they  are  placed 
by  Principle, — occupy  positions  in  the  body  of  Christ, 
the  wholly  spiritual  Church,  and  exemplify  divine 
democracy.  Christ  governs  each  member  of  his  own 
body  imperatively,  absolutely,  and  there  is  no  power 
opposed  to  his  government;  therefore,  finally,  nothing 
can  interfere  to  prevent  the  fulfilment  of  the  law  of 
divine  democracy  in  every  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist. 

All  the  combined  efforts  of  suppositional  evil, 
malicious  animal  magnetism,  expressed  in  envy, 
jealousy,  hatred,  resentment,  revenge,  greed,  avarice, 
lust,  and  hypocrisy,  incident  to  a  material  organization, 
can  never  separate  one  member  of  the  divine  body 
from  another,  and  there  is  no  other  body  than  the 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     797 

body  of  Christ.  As  Christian  Scientists  rise  to  the 
demands  of  Truth,  there  will  be  contention  between 
those  who  demonstrate  Spirit,  and  those  who  fail  to 
discern  the  spiritual  facts  of  being  and  continue  in 
material  organization.  Warring  elements  in  the  human 
mind  will  contend  for  democracy  on  a  material  basis, 
and  arguments  will  be  used,  by  "the  accuser  of  our 
brethren,"  for  equal  rights  and  privileges  after  the 
method  which  is  exercised  by  the  body  politic. 

Personal  ambition  will  rise,  demanding  place  and 
power.  The  wise,  who  have  oil  in  their  lamps,  will 
patiently  wait  on  God,  knowing  that  Christ  will 
ultimately  command  recognition  and  obedience  and 
will  rule  every  member  of  his  body,  Church,  with 
equity.  Wait  patiently  on  God,  and,  "When  Christ, 
who  is  our  life,  shall  appear,  then  shall  ye  also  ap- 
pear with  him  in  glory"  (Col.  iii.,  4).  Our  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says:  "The  Christian  Scientist 
should  understand  and  adhere  strictly  to  the  rules  of 
divine  metaphysics  as  laid  down  in  this  work,  and 
rest  his  demonstration  on  this  sure  basis"  {Science 
and  Health,  pp.  459,  460).  Divine  metaphysics  demon- 
strates divine  democracy;  metaphysics,  on  a  physical 
basis,  demonstrates  chaos,  schism,  separation,  and 
the  so-called  law  of  sin  and  death.  But  remember 
that  there  is  really  but  one  law — the  law  of  Spirit, 
which  sets  us  free  from  the  claim  of  a  law  of  sin  and 
death. 

I  quote  from  Mr.  S  .  .  .  's  article  in  regard  to  the 
relation  of  teacher  and  student: 

In  his  church  relations  the  pupil  is  independent  of  his 
teacher  and  his  teacher's  association.  Both  teacher  and 
pupil   should    observe   the   by-law    against    pupils   being 


798     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

guided  by  their  teachers'  personal  views  (Art.  xxvi.,  Sect. 
6). 

As  an  individual,  a  Christian  Science  teacher,  of 
course,  has  but  one  vote  at  a  church  meeting,  and  looks 
to  divine  guidance  for  wisdom.  A  faithful  Christian 
Science  teacher  turns  the  attention  of  his  students  to 
Principle,  and  to  the  unerring  law  of  Truth  and  Love. 

If  the  words,  work,  and  life  of  the  Christian  Science 
teacher  demonstrate  the  power  of  Christ  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  sin  and  the  healing  of  disease,  will  not  the  pupil 
be  influenced,  guided,  consciously  and  unconsciously 
by  the  teacher's  reflection  of  divine  Mind?  These  are 
not  "personal  views"  but  spiritual  influences  which 
emanate  from  a  teacher  of  Christian  Science  who 
reflects  Truth  and  Love. 

Good  thoughts  are  an  impervious  armor;  clad  therewith 
you  are  completely  shielded  from  the  attacks  of  error  of 
every  sort.  ...  all  whom  your  thoughts  rest  upon  are 
thereby  benefited  (Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxii., 
p.  588). 

In  this  simplicity,  and  with  such  fidelity,  we  see  Jesus 
ministering  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  all  who  place  them- 
selves under  his  care,  always  leading  them  into  the  divine 
order,  under  the  sway  of  his  own  perfect  understanding. 
His  power  over  others  was  spiritual,  not  corporeal  (Retro- 
spection and  Introspection,  p.  91). 

So  should  the  Christian  Science  teacher  emulate  the 
life  of  Christ,  and  strive  to  lift  his  students'  thoughts 
above  material  sense  testimony,  for  "The  superiority 
of  spiritual  power  over  sensuous  is  the  central  point  of 
Christian  Science"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  454). 
Jesus  said,  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     799 

will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  Jesus  watched  with  his 
students  to  the  last.  When  leaving  them,  he  com- 
forted them  with,  "I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 
And  if  I  go  ...  I  will  come  again,"  etc.,  "Lo, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world" 
(the  end  of  all  belief  of  error). 

Jesus  and  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  are  our 
ensamples.  We  follow  Christ,  and  obey  the  teachings 
of  our  Leader,  in  demonstration  of  our  spiritual  under- 
standing or  individuality.  Both  teacher  and  student 
should  beware  of  erroneous  personal  influence;  they 
should  strictly  adhere  to  the  rules  laid  down  by  our 
Leader  in  Science  and  Health,  and  in  her  other  writings, 
including  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  and 
should  not  receive  from  any  person  any  counsel  or 
instruction  which  contradicts  her  teachings.  Let  me 
quote  excerpts  from  her  different  writings  in  regard  to 
the  duties  of  teachers  of  Christian  Science: 

A  teacher  shall  not  assume  personal  control  of,  or 
attempt  to  dominate  his  pupils,  but  he  shall  hold  himself 
morally  obligated  to  promote  their  progress  in  the  under- 
standing of  divine  Principle,  not  only  during  the  class  term 
but  after  it,  and  to  watch  well  that  they  prove  sound  in 
sentiment  and  practical  in  Christian  Science.  He  shall 
persistently  and  patiently  counsel  his  pupils  in  conformity 
with  the  unerring  laws  of  God,  and  shall  enjoin  them  habit- 
ually to  study  the  Scriptures  and  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  a  help  thereto. 

{Manual  of  The  Mother  Church.     Art.  xxvi,  Sect.  2.) 

Do  not  dismiss  students  at  the  close  of  a  class  term, 
feeling  that  you  have  no  more  to  do  for  them.  Let  your 
loving  care  and  counsel  support  all  their  feeble  footsteps, 
until  your  students  tread  firmly  in  the  straight  and  narrow 
way  (Science  and  Health,  p.  454). 


800     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

The  need  of  their  teacher's  counsel,  felt  by  students, 
especially  by  those  at  a  distance,  working  assiduously  for 
our  common  Cause, — and  their  constant  petitions  for  the 
same,  should  be  met  in  the  most  effectual  way. 

(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  263.) 

That  teacher  does  most  for  his  students  who  divests 
himself  most  of  pride  and  self,  and  by  reason  thereof  is 
able  to  empty  his  students '  minds  of  error,  that  they  may 
be  filled  with  Truth. 

A  teacher  should  take  charge  only  of  his  own  pupils 
and  patients,  and  of  those  who  voluntarily  place  themselves 
under  his  direction  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  84). 

Christian  students  should  have  their  own  institutes 
and,  unmolested,  be  governed  by  divine  Love  alone  in 
teaching  and  guiding  their  students  (Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, p.  303). 

In  conclusion  permit  me  again  to  quote  our  Leader: 

If  Christian  Science  reiterates  St.  Paul's  teaching,  we, 
as  Christian  Scientists,  should  give  to  the  world  convincing 
proof  of  the  validity  of  this  scientific  statement  of  being. 
Having  perceived,  in  advance  of  others,  this  scientific 
fact,  we  owe  to  ourselves  and  to  the  world  a  struggle  for 
its  demonstration. 

As  dross  is  separated  from  gold,  so  Christ's  baptism 
of  fire,  his  purification  through  suffering,  consumes  whatso- 
ever is  of  sin.  Therefore  this  purgation  of  divine  mercy, 
destroying  all  error,  leaves  no  flesh,  no  matter,  to  the 
mental   consciousness. 

(Retrospection  and  Introspection,  pp.  93,  94.) 

Faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     801 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
December  18,  1910. 

My  dear  Student: — 

Your  questions  in  regard  to  the  experience  through 
which  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  is 
passing,  in  her  final  demonstration  over  the  claim  of 
death  and  the  tomb,  grieve  me. 

That  a  student  whom  I  have  taught,  according  to 
Science  and  Health  and  the  Holy  Bible,  and  have 
labored  with  for  several  years,  should  have  so  signally 
failed  to  grasp  the  metaphysics  of  Christian  Science, 
as  found  in  our  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,  seems  anomalous.  Had  you 
listened  to  the  voice  of  God,  instead  of  obeying  the 
suggestions  of  personal  sense,  you  would  have  under- 
stood the  events  of  the  present  hour,  and  would  now 
be  rejoicing  in  happy  anticipation  of  the  second  coming 
of  Christ,  to  claim  his  own,  and  to  gather  the  faithful 
ones  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth. 

Jesus  rebuked  the  Pharisees  with,  "  Ye  can  discern  the 
face  of  the  sky ;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the 
times?"  (Matt,  xvi.,  3.)  Well  may  our  beloved  Leader 
question  to-day,  "Have  I  been  so  long  time  with  you, 
and  yet  hast  thou  not  known  me,  Philip?"  Have 
you,  my  dear  student,  been  so  long  repeating,  "There 
is  no  life,  truth,  intelligence,  nor  substance  in  matter" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  468),  and  yet  believe  that  your 
great  Leader  is  in  the  bonds  of  material  sense — a  grave? 

While  she  seemed  to  tarry  in  the  flesh,  did  not  her 
spiritual  individuality,  apart  from  the  so-called  mortal 
mind's  embodiment,  appeal  to  you  as  the  divine  idea? 
Truly  the  letter  of  Christian  Science  killeth;  only  the 
spirit  giveth  life  and  understanding.  We  must  prove 
the  words  of  our  text-book  if  we  world  gain  the 
power  of  God,  or  our  royal  birthright,  "dominion  .  .  . 


802     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

over  all  the  earth"  (Gen.  i.,  26).  We  must  reverse 
the  testimony  of  the  material  senses,  and  gain  the 
spiritual  facts  of  creation,  God  and  the  spiritual 
universe,  including  man,  if  we  would  destroy  the 
belief  that  there  is  a  mortal  man  opposed  to  the  im- 
mortal man.  There  is  but  one  God,  therefore  but  one 
universe,  the  spiritual,  and  man  is  immortal,  the  image 
and  likeness  of  his  Maker. 

The  belief  of  a  so-called  mortal  mind  expressed  in 
the  material  world,  the  flesh  and  evil,  is  a  myth,  which 
the  light  of  spiritual  understanding  dispels,  revealing 
spiritual  man  as  the  representative  of  God,  his  perfect 
Principle.  If  there  is  no  mortal  mind,  as  our  text- 
book declares,  there  is  no  embodiment  of  mortal  mind 
called  a  matter  body.  If  there  is  no  power  and  no 
presence  but  God  and  His  idea,  spiritual  man,  and 
Christian  Scientists  accept  this  metaphysical  postulate 
as  the  basis  of  spiritual  building,  then  there  is  no  death 
and  no  one  has  died. 

Our  great  Leader  knew,  for  over  forty  years,  that 
God  is  the  only  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  of 
the  universe,  and  her  life,  and  she  walked  after  the 
Spirit  and  not  after  the  flesh,  following  and  obeying 
the  impersonal  idea,  Christ,  thus  partaking  of  the 
Mind  of  Christ  who  .is  Life.  Could  her  consciousness 
result  in  death?  Jesus,  nearly  two  thousand  years  ago, 
demonstrated  over  death  and  the  tomb,  thus  proving 
his  understanding  of  God. 

He  declared  that  he  was  one  with  the  Father,  ignoring 
any  material  origin.  Through  the  understanding  of 
his  divine  selfhood,  or  spiritual  consciousness,  as  the 
reflector  of  eternal  Life,  he  raised  Lazarus  from  the 
belief  of  death,  even  though  he  had  been  in  the  grave 
four  days.     "Had  Jesus  believed  that  Lazarus  had 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     803 

lived  or  died  in  his  body,  the  Master  would  have  stood 
on  the  same  plane  of  belief  as  those  who  buried  the 
body,  and  he  could  not  have  resuscitated  it"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  75).  He  annulled  the  claim  of  a  material 
law  with  the  law  of  Spirit,  and  declared,  "Whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  me  [Spirit]  shall  never  die" 
(John  xi.,  26).  Yet,  to  human  sense,  Jesus  seemed 
for  awhile  to  fail  in  his  demonstration  over  death. 

He  was  crucified,  and,  according  to  sense  testimony, 
was  overpowered  by  the  carnal  mind.  "The  brutal 
barbarity  of  his  foes  could  emanate  from  no  source 
except  the  highest  degree  of  human  depravity" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  564).  Joseph  of  Arimathea 
placed  his  body  in  a  tomb,  and  a  great  stone  was 
rolled  to  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  and  he  departed. 

The  next  day,  .  .  .  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  came 
together  unto  Pilate,  saying,  Sir,  we  remember  that  that 
deceiver  said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  After  three  days  I 
will  rise  again.  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre  be 
made  sure.  .  .  .  Pilate  said  unto  them,  Ye  have  a  watch: 
go  your  way,  make  it  as  sure  as  ye  can.  So  they  went, 
and  made  the  sepulchre  sure,  sealing  the  stone,  and  set- 
ting a  watch  (Matt,  xxvii.,  62-66). 

Jesus  could  not  have  convinced  the  people  that  man 
is  immortal,  and  lives  beyond  the  grave,  had  he  not 
permitted  his  enemies  to  test  his  understanding  of  his 
teaching  of  eternal  Life.  Therefore  he  must  pass 
through  all  the  conditions  of  the  belief  of  life  in  matter. 
He  met,  within  the  confines  of  the  tomb,  the  claim  or 
curse  pronounced  upon  Adam,  the  lie  and  the  liar, 
and  conquered  the  belief  of  death. 

"Our  Master  reappeared  to  his  students, — to  their 
apprehension  he  rose  from  the  grave, — on  the  third 


804    Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

day  of  his  ascending  thought,  and  so  presented  to 
them  the  certain  sense  of  eternal  Life"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  509).  This  is  no  argument  for  spiritualism, 
which  is  the  antipode  of  Christian  Science.  At  the 
time  of  his  reappearance,  he  had  not  emerged  entirely 
from  the  belief  of  the  flesh,  or  he  would  not  have  been 
appreciable  to  his  students,  nor  would  he  have  given 
the  proof  that  he  was  the  same  Teacher  who  had  walked 
with  them;  it  was  a  probationary  state  before  his  final 
emancipation  from  the  fleshly  concept,  when  he  rose 
out  of  their  material  sight.  Had  the  students  attained 
a  higher  spiritual  apprehension,  they  would  have 
longer  retained  his  companionship,  for  he  never  left 
them.  He  said,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world  "  (or  of  your  belief  of  life  in  matter 
— Matt,  xxviii.,  20). 

Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  asks: 

"Who  shall  roll  away  the  stone?" 

The  stone  has  been  rolled  away  by  human  suffering. 


What  is  it  that  seems  a  stone  .  .  .  ? 
It  is  the  belief  of  mind  in  matter  (Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, p.  179). 

Could  it  be  called  supernatural  for  the  God  of  nature 
to  sustain  Jesus  in  his  proof  of  man's  truly  derived 
power?  .  .  . 

His  disciples  believed  Jesus  to  be  dead  while  he  was 
hidden  in  the  sepulchre,  whereas  he  was  alive,  demon- 
strating within  the  narrow  tomb  the  power  of  Spirit  to 
overrule  mortal,  material  sense.  There  were  rock-ribbed 
walls  in  the  way,  and  a  great  stone  must  be  rolled  from 
the  cave's  mouth;  but  Jesus  vanquished  every  material 
obstacle,  overcame  every  law  of  matter,  and  stepped  forth 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     805 

from  his  gloomy  resting-place,  crowned  with  the  glory  of  a 
sublime  success,  an  everlasting  victory. 

(Science  and  Health,  pp.  44,  45.) 

From  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  54,  we  quote: 

Has  Mrs.  Eddy  lost  her  power  to  heal? 

Has  the  sun  forgotten  to  shine,  and  the  planets  to  re- 
volve around  it?  Who  is  it  that  discovered,  demonstrated, 
and  teaches  Christian  Science?  That  one,  whoever  it  be, 
does  understand  something  of  what  cannot  be  lost.  .  .  . 
Instead  of  losing  her  power  to  heal,  she  is  demonstrating 
the  power  of  Christian  Science  over  all  obstacles. 

Jesus  was  our  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life ;  he  came 
forth  from  a  literal  sealed  tomb,  and  proved  the 
omnipotence  of  spiritual  consciousness.  The  law  of 
Spirit  was  demonstrated  by  Jesus  as  supreme  over 
the  claim  of  so-called  material  law.  Christ  Jesus  was 
the  master  Metaphysician  nearly  two  thousand  years 
ago.     In  Miscellaneous   Writings,  page  74,  we  read: 

His  demonstration  of  Spirit  virtually  vanquished  matter 
and  its  supposed  laws.  .  .  .  His  triumph  over  the  grave  was 
an  everlasting  victory  for  Life;  it  demonstrated  the  life- 
lessness  of  matter,  and  the  power  and  permanence  of 
Spirit.     He  met  and  conquered  the  resistance  of  the  world. 

Had  Jesus'  disciples  understood  the  possibilities 
of  man  governed  by  God,  they  would  have  waited 
and  watched  for  his  appearing.  Instead,  they  left 
him  and  went  back  to  their  material  work.  In  Jesus' 
walk  to  Emmaus,  he  found  h's  disciples  discussing 
what  they  considered  his  death, — "We  trusted  that 
it  had  been  he  which  should  have  redeemed  Israel" 
(Luke  xxiv.,  21). 


806     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

The  human  mind  has  always  been  impatient  of 
demonstration.  This  was  manifest  in  the  history  of 
Moses: 

And  Moses  rose  up,  and  his  minister  Joshua.  .  .  . 
And  Moses  went  up  into  the  mount,  and  a  cloud  covered 
the  mount. 

And  when  the  people  saw  that  Moses  delayed  to 
come  down  out  of  the  mount,  the  people  gathered  them- 
selves together  unto  Aaron,  and  said  unto  him,  Up,  make 
us  gods,  .  .  .  for  as  for  this  Moses,  ...  we  wot  not  what 
is  become  of  him  (Exodus  xxiv.,  13,  15;  xxxii.,  1). 

Their  materiality  carried  them  back  into  the  worship 
of  other  gods,  the  indulgence  of  sensuous  pleasures, 
the  gratification  of  the  carnal  appetites,  in  fact,  they 
returned  to  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt.  "And  Moses 
turned,  and  went  down  from  the  mount,  and  the  two 
tables  of  the  testimony  were  in  his  hands  ....  And 
the  tables  were  the  work  of  God,  and  the  writing  was 
the  writing  of  God"  (Exodus  xxxii.,  15,  16). 

Thus  we  see  that  impatience  of  his  coming,  and 
their  belief  that  he  was  dead,  were  rebuked  when  he 
returned,  with  God's  law,  to  execute  judgment  on  those 
who  had  gone  back  to  the  worship  of  matter.  At  Moses' 
second  ascension  into  a  higher  state  of  consciousness 
beyond  their  material  recognition,  we  read  in  Deuteron- 
omy xxxiv.,  6,  "  And  He  [God]  buried  him  in  a  valley  .  . . 
but  no  man  knoweth  of  his  sepulchre  unto  this  day." 
God,  who  is  Life,  never  buried  His  manifestation,  man, 
but,  because  of  the  materiality  of  that  age,  they 
believed  him  to  have  been  buried,  and  as  no  one  was 
found  who  had  performed  that  office,  they  attributed 
it  to  God.     And,   as  Thomas  Fuller  quaintly  says: 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     807 

"God  buried  also  his  grave" — that  is,  there  was  no 
evidence  of  his  having  been  buried. 

It  remained  for  Jesus  to  demonstrate  man's  power 
over  death  and  the  tomb,  and  to  appear  in  visible 
form  to  those  who  had  attained  sufficient  spiritual 
discernment  to  witness  Jesus '  proof  of  the  power  of  an 
endless  life. 

From  J.  A.  Seiss,  D.D.,  Lectures  on  The  Apocalypse, 
volume  ii.,  page  354,  I  quote: 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Moses  is  not  dead.  He 
did  indeed  "die  in  the  mount"  [according  to  the  material 
senses  of  the  people  of  that  day],  .  .  .  but  he  was  seen 
alive  in  the  days  of  the  Saviour  on  the  mount  of  the  Trans- 
figuration, seen  "in  glory,"  hence  in  resurrection  life.  He 
must  therefore  have  been  raised  again  from  the  state  of 
death,  .  .  .  Enoch  and  Elijah  were  translated  before 
the  general  translation  of  God's  waiting  and  watching  ones 
at  the  coming  of  the  Lord.  .  .  .  the  dispute  between  the 
archangel  Michael  and  the  devil  "about  the  body  of 
Moses,"  was  a  contention  about  his  resurrection,  the  one 
standing  up  for  the  recovery  of  that  body  from  death,  and 
the  other  resisting.  ...  It  was  the  resurrection  and  glori- 
fication of  Moses  which  was  the  subject  of  collision  then, 
and  it  is  the  resurrection  and  glorification  of  the  saints  in 
general  which  is  the  subject  and  occasion  of  the  war  here. 
It  is  Michael  again,  joined  now  by  all  his  angels,  that  here 
stands  up  in  behalf  of  the  true  people  of  God  emerging  into 
resurrection  life  and  glory;  and  it  is  the  same  Old  Serpent, 
stirring  up  now  all  the  power  of  his  kingdom  to  hinder 
and  prevent  the  sacred  seed  of  faith  from  attaining  their 
promised  exaltation.  .  .  . 

With  the  dominion  of  death  broken  the  whole  empire 
of  darkness  breaks  with  it,  the  reign  of  hell  is  dissolved, 
and  the  victory  of  redemption  is  complete.  With  the 
curse  of  mortality  and  corruption  thus  swallowed  up  of  life, 


808     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

the  devil's  sway  is  gone,  his  kingdom  mutilated,  and  all 
his  malignant  hopes  against  the  Church  overwhelmed. 

John  refers  to  this  hour,  Revelation  xii.,  10,  II: 

And  I  heard  a  loud  voice  saying  in  heaven,  Now  is  come 
salvation,  and  strength,  and  the  kingdom  of  our  God,  and 
the  power  of  His  Christ :  for  the  accuser  of  our  brethren 
is  cast  down,  which  accused  them  before  our  God  day 
and  night. 

And  they  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb 
[spiritual  love],  and  by  the  word  of  their  testimony. 

I  quote  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  Science  and  Health,  page  52 1 : 

The  harmony  and  immortality  of  man  are  intact. 
We  should  look  away  from  the  opposite  supposition  that 
man  is  created  materially,  and  turn  our  gaze  to  the  spiritual 
record  of  creation,  to  that  which  should  be  engraved  on 
the  understanding  and  heart  "with  the  point  of  a  diamond" 
and  the  pen  of  an  angel. 

Also  from  Science  and  Health,  pages  572  and  573 : 

In  Revelation  xxi.  1  we  read: — 

And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth:  for  the  first 
heaven  and  the  first  earth  were  passed  away;  and  there 
was  no  more  sea. 

The  Revelator  had  not  yet  passed  the  transitional  stage 
in  human  experience  called  death,  but  he  already  saw  a 
new  heaven  and  a  new  earth.  .  .  .  The  Revelator  was  on 
our  plane  of  existence,  while  yet  beholding  what  the  eye 
cannot  see, — that  which  is  invisible  to  the  uninspired 
thought.  This  testimony  of  Holy  Writ  sustains  the  fact 
in  Science,  that  the  heavens  and  earth  to  one  human 
consciousness,  that  consciousness  which  God  bestows, 
are  spiritual,   while  to  another,  the  unillumined  human 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     809 

mind,  the  vision  is  material.  This  shows  unmistakably 
that  what  the  human  mind  terms  matter  and  spirit  indi- 
cates states  and  stages  of  consciousness. 

Read  to  page  574,  line  2. 

I  quote  from  The  Popular  and  Critical  Bible  En- 
cyclopedia: 

As  Moses  was  preeminently  a  lawgiver,  so  Jesus,  in  his 
Sermon  on  the  Mount,  laid  down  a  code  which  not  only 
expounds  but  fulfils  the  Decalogue;  as  Moses  was  a  prophet, 
so  Jesus  is  the  great  Prophet  of  his  Church ;  as  Moses  was 
a  Mediator,  so  Jesus  is  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant, 
standing  between  God  and  man,  and  bridging,  by  his 
atonement  and  intercession,  the  gulf  between  the  two. 

Moses  came  down  from  the  Mount  with  the  law,  by 
which  he  judged  the  people;  Jesus,  the  God-inspired 
man,  our  Way-shower,  came  bringing  the  law  and  the 
Gospel,  declaring  "I  and  my  Father  are  one"  (John 
x.,  30),  "My  Father  is  greater  than  I"  (John  xiv., 
28).  Also  he  taught,  "God  is  a  Spirit:  and  they  that 
worship  Him  must  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth" 
(John  iv.,  24).  He  also  said:  "Call  no  man  your  father 
upon  the  earth:  for  one  is  your  Father,  which  is  in 
heaven"     (Matt,  xxiii.,  9). 

Thus  we  see  that  Jesus  acknowledged  no  other 
source  than  Spirit,  eternal  Life,  and  on  this  basis  made 
his  demonstration.  "  For  the  law  was  given  by  Moses, 
but  grace  and  truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ"  (John  i., 
17).  Now,  in  this  age,  our  beloved  and  revered  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  through  spiritual  illumination  of 
the  Word  of  God,  the  Holy  Bible,  has  discerned  the 
spiritual  facts  of  creation.  She  has  discovered  and 
founded  Christian  Science,  which  is  the  understanding 
of  the  power  of  the  Christ-man  or  the  Mind  of  Christ. 


810     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Only  one  God-inspired  as  our  Leader  could  stem 
the  tide  of  ignorance,  bigotry,  prejudice,  and  malice, 
antagonize  time-honored  creeds  and  dogma,  and  re- 
verse the  testimony  of  the  material  senses  which  had 
held  sway  over  humanity  for  ages,  since  Christ  pro- 
claimed and  demonstrated  the  Gospel  of  Truth,  "on 
earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men."  Mrs.  Eddy 
came  with  the  declaration,  "Spirit  is  infinite;  there- 
fore Spirit  is  all.  'There  is  no  matter'  is  not  only 
the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science,  but  it  is  the  only 
basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be  demonstrated" 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  Upon 
this  spiritual  fact,  and  upon  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion, Mrs  Eddy  established  her  Church.  In  speaking 
of  Jesus,  our  Way-shower,  our  Leader  says  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  138):  "Jesus  purposed  founding  his 
society,  not  on  the  personal  Peter  as  a  mortal,  but  on 
the  God-power  which  lay  behind  Peter's  confession 
of  the  true  Messiah." 

This  spiritually  advanced  prophet  and  seer  of  this 
age,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  unsealed  the  "  deep  things  of  God," 
through  the  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  which  she  has  given  to  the  world. 
She  has  awakened  an  understanding  of  Jesus'  teach- 
ings; she  has  quickened,  in  her  followers,  the  spiritual 
power  which  Jesus  exercised  in  healing  the  sick,  reform- 
ing the  sinner,  and  raising  the  dead;  she  has  aroused 
those  in  this  age,  who  are  ready  to  grasp  the  spiritual 
facts  of  being,  to  apprehend  their  relation  to  God, 
eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  and  has  inspired  thou- 
sands to  make  their  at-one-ment  with  divine  Mind, 
the  Principle  of  being.  As  the  ray  reflects  the  light, 
heat,  and  color  of  the  sun,  so  man,  God's  image  and 
likeness,  reflects  the  Father. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     811 

The  wonderful  spiritual  illumination  of  our  great 
Leader's  reflection  of  Love  is  revealing  to  humanity 
the  possibilities  and  living  energies  of  man  when 
governed  by  Spirit.  On  the  rock  of  spiritual  under- 
standing, Christ,  Mrs.  Eddy  has  built  her  Church,  and 
its  unprecedented  prosperity  is  due  entirely  to  her 
spiritual  leadership.  Jesus  said,  "Upon  this  rock 
I  will  build  my  church;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it"  (Matt,  xvi.,  18).  The  superstruct- 
ure of  Mary  Baker  Eddy's  Church  is  Truth  and 
Love,  against  which  the  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail. 
All  the  seeming  forces  of  suppositional  evil,  malice, 
lust,  jealousy,  revenge,  envy,  and  hypocrisy,  combined 
in  the  term  "malicious  animal  magnetism,"  are 
powerless  to  move  it  from  its  solid  foundation.  Nor 
can  evil  arrest  the  spiritual  unfolding  of  its  members 
who  accept  and  understand  the  letter  of  Christian 
Science  and  demonstrate  the  spirit,  or  the  power  of 
the  Christ-mind. 

As  Moses  was  God's  mouthpiece  in  his  age,  through 
whom  God  gave  His  law  on  the  two  tables  of  stone, 
so  Mary  Baker  Eddy  is  God's  interpreter  to-day. 
In  Science  and  Health,  and  the  Manual  of  The  Mother 
Church  is  reiterated  His  law  to  His  people.  "And 
the  tables  were  the  work  of  God,  and  the  writing 
was  the  writing  of  God,  graven  upon  the  tables" 
(Exod.  xxxii.,  16).  In  Revelation  xxii.,  18,  19,  we 
read: 

If  any  man  shall  add  unto  these  things,  God  shall  add 
unto  him  the  plagues  that  are  written  in  this  book  : 

And  if  any  man  shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the 
book  of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his  part  out  of 
the  book  of  life,  and  out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
things  which  are  written  in  this  book. 


8 12     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Christ  Jesus  asked,  "When  the  Son  of  man  cometh, 
shall  he  find  faith  on  the  earth?"  (Luke  xviii.,  8.) 
Christ  found  faith  in  this  God-anointed  woman, 
through  whom  the  Spirit  has  restored  the  lost  or  waning 
faith  of  thousands  who  have  longed,  who  have  yearned, 
and  who  have  prayed  for  God  to  deliver  them  from  the 
bondage  of  sin,  suffering,  and  death,  which  have  fol- 
lowed since  Jesus'  mighty  works  of  healing  disappeared, 
or  were  lost  sight  of  by  humanity.  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
is  the  forever  Leader  of  Christian  Scientists. 

Christ  Jesus  said  to  his  disciples,  "I  will  come  again, 
and  receive  you  unto  myself"  (John  xiv.,  3).  He 
fulfilled  his  promise  to  his  disciples  in  that  age,  in  his 
demonstration  over  death  and  the  tomb,  and  appeared 
in  visible  form  to  his  disciples  and  to  "five  hundred 
brethren."  This  was  not  spiritualism,  as  some  affirm, 
but  a  probationary  state,  a  gradual  emergence  from 
the  flesh,  without  which  he  would  have  left  no  evidence 
to  the  unillumined,  nor  to  the  doubting,  of  his  final 
victory  over  death.  "Unto  them  that  look  for  him 
shall  he  appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto 
salvation"     (Heb.  ix.,  28). 

Christian  Scientists  are  looking  for  their  Lord  in  the 
dawn  of  a  new  light,  a  higher  illumination  of  spiritual 
consciousness,  which  will  reveal  the  spiritual  ideal  man 
in  God's  image  and  likeness,  untrammeled  by  fetters 
of  flesh,  and  victorious  over  the  last  enemy,  death. 

But  and  if  that  servant  say  in  his  heart,  My  Lord  delayeth 
his  coming  [does  not  appear];  and  shall  begin  to  beat  the 
menservants  and  maidens  [rule  with  human  will  and  ecclesi- 
astical despotism],  and  to  eat  and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken 
[undertake  to  feed  the  flock  of  Christ  with  materialism]; 

The  Lord  of  that  servant  will  come  [appear,  be  manifest] 
in  a  day  when  he  looketh  not  for  him,  and  at  an  hour  when 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     813 

he  is  not  aware,  and  will  cut  him  in  sunder,  and  will  ap- 
point him  his  portion  with  the  unbelievers  (those  blind  in 
the  belief  of  life  in  matter — Luke  xii.,  45,  46). 

My  dear  student,  I  pray  that  you  may  be  "wise 
unto  salvation,"  and  watch  for  the  coming  of  Christ, 
for  "When  Christ  [the  spiritual  compound  idea],  who 
is  our  life,  shall  appear,  then  shall  ye  also  appear  with 
him  in  glory"  (Col.  iii.,  4). 

Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
January  29,  191 1. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  am  cheered  and  comforted  to  read  your  clear  and 
correct  interpretation  of  "the  way"  which  our  revered 
Leader  is  demonstrating.  There  is  no  other.  "Tren- 
chant Truth  .  .  .  cuts  its  way  through  iron  and  sod" 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  vi.,  p.  739).  It  matters 
not  what  "stone"  is  rolled  over  belief;  one  ton  can  be 
removed  as  readily  as  one  pound,  since  there  is  no 
substance  in  mortal  mind,  nor  its  phenomena.  Do 
not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  our  Leader  never  died. 
Life  is  God,  and  man  is  idea.  God  and  man  are 
inseparable.  Let  the  light  of  understanding  dispel 
the  darkness  of  belief,  and  the  phenomenon  of  belief — 
a  grave — will  fade  from  your  consciousness. 

You  make  your  own  environment.  I  am  eliminating 
much  discord  and  illusion  from  mine.  If  we  rise  with 
our  Leader  to  comprehend  her  demonstration,  we  shall 
awake  with  her  to  know  that  there  is  no  sting  in  so- 
called  death,  and  no  victory  in  the  false  objectified 
thought  of  mortal  mind  called  a  grave.     The  wonder 


8 14     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

will  be  all  the  greater  when  the  fortified  belief,  concrete, 
steel,  iron,  and  sod  is  dissolved  by  spiritual  power. 

Our  beloved  Leader  is  governed  by  God,  and  there 
is  no  other  power  nor  presence.  Read  the  second 
verse  on  page  sixty-seven  of  her  poems.  Long  ago  she 
understood  that  there  was  no  death,  and  how  she  must 
pass  through  every  phase  of  belief  as  d  d  the  Master, 
to  prove  to  the  world  that  she  "walks  and  talks"  with 
all  who  have  sufficient  spiritual  light  to  recognize  her. 
All  in  time  will  gain  this  spiritual  consciousness  as 
she  has  gained  it,  by  denying  the  testimony — the 
pleasures  and  pains,  of  the  material  senses,  and  by 
rising  to  obtain  and  retain  the  Mind  of  Christ. 
Lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  1,  1911. 

My  dear  Student: — 

I  am  glad  to  note  that  you  quickly  detect  erroneous 
statements  which  claim  to  be  the  teachings  of  divine 
metaphysics  or  Christian  Science,  as  taught  by  our 
revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Because  these 
articles  have  the  endorsement  of  those  calling  them- 
selves Christian  Scientists,  it  does  not  follow  that  they 
are  the  true  teachings  of  divine  or  Christian  Science. 

The  statement  to  which  you  refer  is  both  confusing 
and  misleading.  It  is  evidently  the  writer's  inter- 
pretation of  Mrs.  Eddy's  text -book,  educed  from  a 
material  mentality.  This  statement  is  not  Christian 
Science,  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  whose  personal 
instructions  I  have  received  and  demonstrated,  with 
her  public  and  private  commendation  and  endorsement, 
for  twenty-five  years. 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     815 

Your  quotation  from  The  Christian  Science  Monitor 
refers  to  impersonal  evil  expressed  in  hatred.  The 
writer  goes  on  to  ask, — "Now  how  may  we  surely 
guard  ourselves  against  this  prime  destroyer  of  human 
peace  and  progress?  By  ceasing  to  recognize  any 
personal  offender.  .  .  .  To  do  this  we  must  also  cease 
to  recognize  any  personal  benefactor."  This  is  not 
Christian  Science  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

You  must  be  alert  to  this  insidious  argument.  The 
"destroyer  of  human  peace"  and  health  is  impersonal 
evil,  called  mortal  mind,  but  it  works  through  its  own 
embodiment, — the  matter  body,  the  material  universe, 
and  physical  personalities  who  compose  this  material 
body  or  universe.  You  cannot  rid  yourself  of  this  so- 
called  impersonal  evil  by  "  ceasing  to  recognize  any  per- 
sonal offender."  Evil  and  the  evil-doer  are  one.  Sin 
and  the  sinner  are  one.  Sin  or  impersonal  evil  ex- 
presses itself  through  the  sinner.  "The  offender" 
is  the  actor  or  agent,  without  which  impersonal  evil 
could  find  no  witness,  and  would  die  "unknelled, 
uncoffined,   and  unknown." 

In  Christian  Science,  we  recognize  "the  offender" — 
a  physical  personality — work  with,  and  for  "the 
offender,"  and,  when  we  have  caused  "the  offender" 
who  is  a  mouthpiece  for  evil  to  cease  testifying  for 
impersonal  evil,  we  have  demonstrated  Christian 
Science  healing  of  sin  and  disease,  mental  or  physical. 
This  is  handling  innocent,  ignorant,  or  malicious 
animal  magnetism,  or  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind, 
expressed  through  physical  personality.  This  is  the 
only  way  to  demonstrate  divine  metaphysics  or 
Christian  Science. 

I  have  nearly  four  hundred  autograph  letters  from 
Mrs.   Eddy,   written   to   me   during   the   twenty-five 


816     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

years  that  I  have  been  her  student,  which  leave  no 
question  as  to  the  handling  of  animal  magnetism. 

For  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed 
all  judgment  unto  the  Son  (John  v.,  22). 

Give  therefore  Thy  servant  an  understanding  heart  to 
judge  Thy  people,  that  I  may  discern  between  good  and 
bad  (1  Kings  iii.,  9). 

Spiritual  sense  is  the  detective  which  uncovers  "the 
offender" — the  mouthpiece  of  Satan  or  impersonal 
evil,  and  annuls  the  effect  of  the  false  claim.  Our 
Leader  says: 

Christians  must  take  up  arms  against  error  at  home  and 
abroad.  They  must  grapple  with  sin  in  themselves  and 
in  others,  and  continue  this  warfare  until  they  have 
finished  their  course.  If  they  keep  the  faith,  they  will 
have  the  crown  of  rejoicing  (Science  and  Health,  p.  29). 

Jesus  said  to  Peter:  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan: 
thou  art  an  offence  unto  me"  (Matt,  xvi.,  23). 
Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "Of  a  sick  woman  he  said  that  Satan 
had  bound  her"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  6).  Jesus 
recognized  Peter  as  "the  offender."  The  sick  woman 
was  also  an  "offender." 

It  is  one  of  the  arguments  of  evil  to  pass  over  "the 
offender."  Jesus  said:  "It  must  needs  be  that  offences 
come;  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offence 
cometh!"  (Matt,  xviii.,  7.)  This  proves  that  imper- 
sonal evil  works  through  personalities;  therefore 
guard  the  portal  of  your  thought  that  you  be  not  an 
"offender,"  or  a  witness  for  hate,  envy,  jealousy, 
revenge,  self-love,  self-will,  lust,  hypocrisy,  etc.  Handle 
these  qualities  of  the  false  mentality  wherever  and 
through  whomsoever  they  appear,  and  refuse  to  bear 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     817 

witness  yourself  to  the  claim  of  a  power  and  presence 
opposed  to  God. 

I  note  the  statement  which  follows  the  advice  to 
"cease  to  recognize  the  offender, "  which  simply  means, 
to  let  the  sinner  pass  by  without  detection  or  correction. 
Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "When  error  confronts  you,  withhold 
not  the  rebuke  or  the  explanation  which  destroys 
error"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  452).  Be  not  lulled 
by  this  subtle  suggestion, — to  "cease  to  recognize  the 
offender."  Love  alone  and  eternal  vigilance  emanci- 
pate us  from  the  influence  of  the  mental  malprac- 
tioner who  is  a  mouthpiece  for  impersonal  evil. 

Again  I  quote:  "We  must  also  cease  to  recognize 
any  personal  benefactor." 

This  is  one  of  the  subtlest  arguments  of  Satan.  It 
is  a  bland  denial  of  the  Son  of  God,  Jesus  the  Christ, 
who  was  a  "personal  benefactor"  to  mankind.  Long 
before  the  personal  Jesus  had  yielded  the  human  to  the 
Christ,  he  went  about  blessing  mankind  and  declaring 
himself  the  Son  of  God,  by  the  reflection  of  whose 
power  and  presence  he  did  his  mighty  works.  The 
carnal  mind  did  not  then,  nor  does  it  now,  cognize  the 
spiritual  idea,  or  the  ideal  man, — the  expression  of 
Mind,  God's  representative. 

Mankind  concedes  power  to  evil.  It  believes  in 
two  powers, — good  and  evil,  and  punishes  a  "personal 
offender"  who  expresses  evil.  The  offender  must  be 
restrained.  Impersonal  evil  waxes  stronger  and  bolder 
as  it  finds  the  avenues  through  which  to  exercise  its 
authority,  and  destroy  the  health  and  happiness  of 
mortal  man.  Thus  in  Christian  Science  we  are 
taught  to  bring  the  qualities  of  the  Christ-mind  and  of 
spiritual  love  to  bear  upon  impersonal  evil,  sin,  and 
the    sinner — the    mouthpiece    of    the    lying,    talking 


818     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

serpent  called  the  carnal  mind,  until  there  is  no  sinner 
or  "offender"  to  testify  for  sin. 

The  statement  that  "We  must  also  cease  to  recog- 
nize any  personal  benefactor,"  would  shut  out  the 
good  which  God  bestows  on  man,  His  idea,  through 
whom  He  conveys  His  messages  and  blessings  to 
humanity.  Jesus  was  a  "personal  benefactor'  whom 
all  the  world  should  recognize  and  adore.  I  re- 
joice that  I  have  had  the  "personal  benefactor," 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  I  shall  never  cease  to  recognize 
her  as  a  messenger  of  the  Most  High  God  to  me,  and 
to  the  world.  I  shall  declare  my  gratitude  to  these 
spiritual  "personal  benefactors"  until  I  rise  to  the 
heights  of  a  wholly  spiritual  consciousness,  and  dis- 
cern the  spiritual  personality  or  individuality — the 
ideal  man  in  God's  image. 

Throughout  my  entire  experience  in  the  travail 
from  the  human  to  the  divine,  from  the  fleshly  mind 
to  the  Mind  of  Christ,  I  have  perceived  the  divinity 
of  spiritual  "personal  benefactors" — the  divine  shining 
through  the  human  finite  personality,  and  blessing  the 
world.  God  would  be  without  a  witness  of  Himself 
if  we  did  not  recognize  Him  in  some  Christly  word  or 
deed  of  those  who  are  still  in  the  human.  God  is 
expressed  in  the  ideal  man, — the  spiritual  personality, 
as  opposed  to  the  physical  personality.  The  ideal 
man  acts  in  response  to  infinite  Mind  or  causation, — 
the  Principle  of  being.  We  dishonor  God  when  we 
"cease  to  recognize"  His  representative,  man. 

Jesus  said:  "I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life: 
no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by  me"  (John 
xiv.,  6),  meaning  his  Ego  or  divine  selfhood — the  Son 
of  God.  He  also  said  to  Philip:  "He  that  hath  seen 
me   hath   seen   the   Father"    (John    xiv.,  9).      Jesus 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     819 

exalted  his  divinity.  He  constantly  declared  for  his 
spiritual  identity  and  oneness  with  God.  His  mission 
was  to  make  unreal  the  material  world,  the  flesh,  and 
the  false  claim  of  evil,  and  to  demonstrate  one  God, 
one  Father,  one  Principle  of  existence,  and  man  as 
God's  idea  or  representative. 

God  and  His  manifestation, — spiritual  man  and  the 
spiritual  universe, — omnipotent  Life,  Truth,  and  Love, 
— are  the  real  and  only  verities  of  being.  Impersonal 
evil,  expressing  itself  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death  through 
its  physical  personalities,  will  be  destroyed  by  the 
power  of  Truth  and  Love,  expressed  and  operating 
through  spiritual  man.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "God  will 
heal  the  sick  through  man,  whenever  man  is  governed 
by  God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  495). 

When  the  Christian  Scientist  "ceases  to  recognize" 
the  agent  of  evil  or  "the  offender, "  and  refuses  to 
correct  or  point  out  the  mesmerism  and  hypnotism 
which  is  influencing  him,  he  ceases  to  be  a  Christian 
Scientist,  and  is  aiding  and  abetting  the  evil  one. 
Christian  Scientists  do  not  ignore  the  hypnotist  or 
the  mesmerist  who  acts  in  the  interest  of  the  devil, 
or  so-called  malicious  animal  magnetism.  They  detect 
and  destroy,  with  the  power  of  Truth  and  Love, — the 
Christ-mind — the  mental  marauders,  mental  robbers, 
and  mental  assassins.  Thus  they  aid  in  destroying 
sin,  and  this  frees  the  sinner. 

With  no  tongue  to  speak  for  the  lie,  no  eye  to  be 
deceived  by  its  seductive,  illusive  phenomena,  no  ear 
to  listen  to  its  mesmeric  persuasions  and  hypnotic 
suggestions;  with  no  hand  to  strike  the  fatal  blow 
which  kills  mentally  and  morally  a  brother  or  sister, 
no  foot  to  walk  in  the  paths  of  sensuality,  there  would 
be  no  representative  for  impersonal  evil — no  "offender." 


820     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

When  God  is  understood  and  not  merely  believed, 
when  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  are  spiritually  apprehended  and  de- 
monstrated, as  Jesus  demonstrated  Truth  and  Love  by 
overcoming  the  claim  of  death,  and  as  Mrs.  Eddy 
is  sure  to  demonstrate,  as  she  follows  Christ  in  his 
demonstration,  then  we  shall  recognize  the  "personal 
benefactors,"  from  Moses  and  all  the  Prophets,  to 
Jesus  the  Christ  and  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
These  are  the  benefactors  by  whom  God  has  spoken 
throughout  the  ages,  and  has  led  the  world  to  know 
that  man  is  God  manifest — the  expression  of  infinite 
Mind,  or  Principle  and  idea.  To  honor  the  spiritual 
man,  the  Son  of  God,  is  to  honor  God.  Jesus  said, 
"He  that  loveth  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen, 
how  can  he  love  God  whom  he  hath  not  seen?" 

Few,  in  Jesus'  day,  discerned  his  divinity.  None 
followed  him  in  his  demonstration  over  death.  There 
seem  to  be  few  Christian  Scientists  to-day  who 
have  spiritual  illumination  to  discern  the  divinity  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "God  and  the  real  man  are  insepar- 
able" {Science  and  Health,  p.  476).  She  does  not 
mean  that  God  and  so-called  mortal  man  are  insepar- 
able. She  admits  but  one  man, — the  spiritual  man,  or 
God  expressed  in  His  representative — man.  Immortal 
man  and  mortals  are  as  widely  separated  as  the 
poles.  Let  us  differentiate  between  physicality  and 
the  spiritual  personality.  Many  use  the  expression, 
"There  is  no  personality."  There  is  no  physical 
personality,  but  there  is  a  spiritual  personality,  a 
divine,  individual  selfhood,  which  reflects  God  and 
is  one  with  God — the  ideal  man. 

The  healing  by  Christian  Science,  which  is  the  re- 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     821 

flection  of  spiritual  qualities,  and  the  so-called  healing 
on  a  material  basis  or  human  will,  which  relieves 
temporarily  mental  and  physical  discord,  are  dia- 
metrically opposed,  the  one  to  the  other.  The  Christian 
Scientist  knows  that  disease  is  a  condition  of  mortal 
belief,  false  in  every  statement,  and  that  it  is  the 
result  of  the  belief  that  mortal  mind  and  its  mortal 
body,  which  are  one,  is  man.  He  knows  that  so  far 
as  he  has  conquered  his  own  human  belief  of  life, 
substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter,  his  carnal  ap- 
petites or  sensuous  desires,  he  has  power  over  the 
disease  which  he  is  called  upon  to  destroy;  therefore 
a  Christian  Scientist  consecrates  himself  to  the  service 
of  God,  to  reveal  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth,  to 
gradually  lessen  sin,  disease,  and  death,  and  to  demon- 
strate ultimately  for  himself  health,  happiness,  holiness, 
and  immortality. 

He  enters  into  a  solemn  contract  with  God  to  reflect 
His  power  to  free  humanity  from  the  sin  which  pro- 
duces misery,  squalor,  discord,  and  death,  which 
result  from  the  belief  of  an  "enemy  of  good"  {Chris- 
tian Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910).  He  takes  Jesus 
the  Christ  for  his  example  and  emulates  the  life  of 
Christ  as  fast  as  he  can  demonstrate  over  the  material 
senses.  He  comes  out  from  the  material  world,  and, 
with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word  of  God,  he  goes 
forth  to  battle  with  the  claim  of  suppositional  sin, 
sickness,  sorrow,  and  death.  Instead  of  indulging  the 
dream  of  life  in  matter,  the  material  senses,  he  con- 
templates the  goal  of  immortality,  and  dwells  upon 
the  eternal  verities  of  Spirit.  He  conquers  the  carnal 
desires  with  truth  and  love,  his  divine  nature,  and 
works  only  as  God  works  through  him. 

Jesus  said,     "I  speak  not  of  myself:  but  the  Father 


822     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

that  dwelleth  in  me,  He  doeth  the  works."  He  healed 
the  sick  by  his  spiritual  power,  his  reflection  of  Truth 
and  Love.  The  Christian  Scientist  recognizes  his  mis- 
sion, and  that  by  conforming  to  the  law  of  God,  he 
gains  health,  holiness,  and  an  endless  life  of  spiritual 
dominion,  spiritual  peace  and  joy.  No  miser  is  more 
willing  to  sacrifice  personal  comfort,  suffer  personal 
privations  and  hardships,  and  endure  until  the  end  is 
achieved,  than  is  the  genuine  Christian  Scientist.  His 
ambition  is  to  attain  to  a  wholly  spiritual  conscious- 
ness. His  riches  consist  of  spiritual  power  to  break 
the  fetters  of  mesmerism  which  bind  mortals  to  suffer- 
ing, sorrow,  poverty,  and  death. 

The  difference  between  a  mental  healer,  or  a  material- 
ist who  exercises  the  power  of  the  human  will,  and  a 
true  Christian  Science  practitioner  who  reflects  the 
power  of  Spirit, — the  "dominion"  with  which  God 
endowed  man  when  He  made  him  in  His  own  "image" 
and  "likeness,"  will  be  known  in  time.  Already 
humanity  is  rising  to  apprehend  the  real  Christian 
Scientist,  and  is  responding  to  the  influence  of  the 
Christ-mind.  Christian  Scientists  do  not  heal  by 
praying  to  God  only,  they  must  demonstrate  God 
and  His  Christ, — their  divinity  and  their  power  with 
God. 

The  frequent  statement  of  some  is,  "/  do  not  heal, 
God  heals."  This  is  not  a  correct  statement.  Jesus 
said,  "I  will  come  and  heal  him."  He  did  not  say, 
God  will  come  and  heal  him,  for  he  knew  that  he  and 
the  Father  were  one,  as  cause  and  effect — Father  and 
Son.  God  heals  through  man,  and  man  is  as  essential 
in  the  healing  as  God;  for  God  and  man  are  one  as 
cause  and  effect.  We  would  not  pray  the  principle  of 
mathematics  to  do  our  work.     We  must  prove  our 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     823 

understanding  of  God  by  reflecting  the  Principle  of 
being — Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

Many  who  call  themselves  Christian  Science  healers 
use  the  letter  of  Christian  Science,  but  live  the  life  of 
mortals.  They  participate  in  the  pleasures  of  the 
material  senses,  love  the  material  world,  and  refuse  to 
turn  from  it,  therefore  the  healing,  so-called,  is  but  the 
influence  of  a  strong  human  will  which  replaces  one 
belief  with  another  belief, — the  change  of  a  belief  of 
discord  to  a  belief  of  harmony.  The  patient  is  relieved 
and  thinks  he  has  had  a  Christian  Science  treatment. 
If  all  he  desires  is  absence  of  physical  or  mental  discord, 
the  patient  is  satisfied, — but  when  his  false  thoughts 
produce  another  and  more  serious  belief,  and  the  mental 
healer  has  not  the  strength  of  human  will  to  meet  the 
patient's  stronger  belief,  then  the  patient  learns  that 
only  the  Christian  Scientist  who  possesses  the  God  qual- 
ities can  relieve  him,  and  he  turns  to  Christian  Science. 

The  world  is  awaking  to  the  fact  that  Christian 
Science  healing,  and  mortal  mind's  temporary  relief, 
which  is  now  passing  for  true  Christian  Science,  are  op- 
posite methods.  The  life  and  the  works  determine  the 
real  teacher  and  practitioner  of  Christian  Science  or  di- 
vine metaphysics.  God  is  deciding  this  question.  Christ 
will  again  appear  and  reign  on  earth.  There  will  be 
no  more  death,  neither  any  more  pain,  for  the  former 
thoughts  which  produced  them  will  have  passed  away. 
Lovingly,  faithfully  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
February  12,  191 1. 

My  blessed  Students: — 

Yes,  thrice  blessed.  Blessed  in  having  found  God  as 
ever-present  Life,  in  whom  you  live  forever.     Blessed  in 


824     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

having  a  great  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  whose 
faithful  following  of  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  strict  adher- 
ence to  the  law  of  God,  has  given  you  the  "Key"  to  the 
Holy  Bible,  the  Word  of  God,  which  is  unlocking  the 
hidden  mysteries  of  God's  universe,  and  revealing  man 
in  the  image  and  likeness  of  eternal  Life.  And  blessed 
in  the  understanding  that  Mary  Baker  Eddy  lives  and 
is  continuing  to  reflect  the  omnipotence  of  eternal 
Life.  She,  impelled  by  Spirit,  is  overturning  the  mate- 
rial world,  and  uncovering  false  philosophy  founded 
on  the  belief  of  life  in  matter.  Woman,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  will  come  forth  as  the  second  demonstrator  of 
the  "dominion"  of  man  when  governed  by  God. 

/  am  blessed  in  knowing  that  you  are  protecting  the 
teachings  of  Christian  Science  and  bravely  defending 
your  teacher,  who  dares  to  proclaim  to  the  material 
world,  asleep  in  the  belief  of  life  and  substance  in 
matter,  "There  is  no  death"!  (Science  and  Health,  pp. 
427,  428.)  Mary  Baker  Eddy  never  died.  She  lives, 
and  will  prove,  by  reappearing  in  God's  time,  her  teach- 
ing, that  Life  is  real  and  that  man  is  immortal. 

Be  not  dismayed  because  the  old  dragon  is  sending 
"forth  a  new  flood"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  570).  The 
lie  and  the  liar  have  no  power  to  those  armed  with 
Truth,  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  for  your  loving  efforts  to  minister 
to  my  temporal  needs.  Truly,  "He  shall  give  His 
angels  charge  over  thee"  (me).  I  am  always  working, 
watching,  praying,  and  loving  "more  for  every  hate" 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  389),  that  my  dear  students 
may  catch  the  spiritual  reflection  of  scientific  thought, 
which  as  our  Leader  says,  ' '  reaches  over  continent  and 
ocean  to  the  globe's  remotest  bound"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  559). 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     825 

God  bless  you,  and  give  you  the  rich  reward  of  fidelity 
to  God,  to  our  Leader,  and  to  all  mankind. 
Ever  faithfully,  lovingly  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

7  West  q6th  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  19,  191 1. 

My  beloved  Student: — 

I  wonder  how  many  of  my  dear  students  are  taking 
cognizance  of  Good  Friday,  which  other  denominations 
observe.  It  seems  to  me  that  we,  as  Christian  Scientists, 
can  interpret  this  in  divine  metaphysics  as  no  other 
religionists  can.  Understanding  that  there  is  but  one 
Mind — God  and  His  Christ,  which  is  the  real  and 
eternal,  and  that  we  are  each  individual  members  of 
the  body  of  Christ,  and  reflectors  of  ever-present  Life, 
Truth,  and  Love,  we  appreciate  the  operation  of  Spirit 
upon  the  so-called  mortal  mind  and  its  embodiment — 
matter,  and  understand  the  reappearing  Christ  as 
crucifying  or  destroying  the  materia'  senses  which 
compose  mortal  man. 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says,  in  Science  and 
Health,  "When  the  human  element  in  him  struggled 
with  the  divine,  our  great  Teacher  said:  'Not  my  will, 
but  Thine,  be  done!'"  It  is  most  evident  that  the 
demand  to-day  is  made  for  higher  demonstration  of 
spiritual  power  over  the  material  beliefs  of  mortal  man 
and  a  material  universe.  Are  Christian  Scientists 
recalling  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus,  and  considering  the 
meaning  of  Good  Friday?  Are  they  meeting  the  so- 
called  forces  of  evil  and  its  claims  of  life  in  matter, 
with  the  spiritual  forces  of  good?     Do  they 

".    .    .    kiss  the  cross,  and  wait  to  know 
A  world  more  bright"?1 
1  Man'  Baker  Eddy. 


826     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

Are  they  putting  away  false  appetites,  false  pleasures, 
and  the  ensnaring  illusions  of  this  temporal  world,  and 
rising,  through  sacrifice  of  personal  sense,  to  grasp  the 
deep  things  of  God,  and  regain  their  birthright — do- 
minion over  all  things?  Do  they  love  the  material  world 
and  the  things  that  are  in  the  material  world ;  or,  are  they 
rejoicing  that  Spirit  is  arousing  them  from  the  deep 
sleep  of  the  Adam-dream,  and  is  revealing  to  them  the 
nothingness  of  the  dream  of  material  existence?  Are 
they  rejoicing  in  their  oneness  with  infinite  Spirit?  Are 
we  all  rejoicing  that  we  are  privileged  to  suffer  with 
Christ  that  we  may  also  reign  with  him?  Are  we  will- 
ing to  suffer  reproach  for  Christ?  If  not  are  we 
Christian  Scientists? 

Nearly  two  thousand  years  ago,  Jesus  was  nailed  to 
the  cross  for  his  teachings  of  God's  omnipotence  and 
man's  oneness  with  eternal  Life.  He  declared  that  he 
was  the  Son  of  God;  that  he  came  forth  from  God; 
that  he  was  one  with  the  Father,  who  had  sent  him  to 
preach  deliverance  to  the  captive,  to  heal  the  sick,  and 
to  open  the  prison  doors  to  them  that  are  bound.  He 
had  demonstrated  his  teachings  even  to  the  raising  of 
the  dead,  and  the  calming  of  the  troubled  waters,  with 
the  word,  "Peace,  be  still."  He  asked,  "For  which  of 
those  works  do  ye  stone  me?"  and  his  persecutors 
answered,  H  For  a  good  work  we  stone  thee  not ;  but  .  .  . 
because  that  thou  .  .  .  makest  thyself  God."  Jesus 
was  demonstrating  the  power  of  Spirit  which  was  his 
divine  being — his  God-consciousness.  Our  Leader  says, 
"shall  the  humblest  or  mightiest  disciple  murmur  when 
he  drinks  from  the  same  cup,  and  think,  or  even  wish, 
to  escape  the  exalting  ordeal  of  sin's  revenge  on  its 
destroyer?"     (Science  and  Health,  p.  48.) 

As  Christian  Scientists,  let  us  ask  ourselves,  to-day,  if 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     827 

it  is  a  good — God — Friday  to  us,  and  let  us  demonstrate 
our  sonship  with  God.  Are  we  willing  to  meet  hating, 
scoffing,  and  abuse  which  the  carnal  mind  hurls  at  the 
Christ-idea,  as  the  Christ-idea  in  each  true  Christian 
Scientist  demands  recognition?  Are  we  repeating 
the  words  of  David :  "  Search  me,  0  God,  and  know  my 
heart :  try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts :  and  see  if  there 
be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  ever- 
lasting"?   (Ps.  cxxxix.,  23,  24.) 

Christian  Scientists  encounter  the  claims  of  the  carnal 
mind-forces,  and  only  mighty  wrestling  against  their 
pretended  power  can  free  us,  and  prepare  us  for  the 
glories  of  a  higher  apprehension  of  omnipotent  Mind — 
divine  Love.  In  proportion  as  we  assimilate  ourselves 
to  Love,  shall  we  be  able  to  rejoice  in  the  risen  Christ — 
a  higher  understanding  of  our  ideal  selfhood,  a  fuller 
apprehension  of  Love  as  ever-present,  and  our  dominion 
over  the  material  senses,  the  so-called  material  world, 
and  its  claim  of  impersonal  evil. 

As  mortals  surge  through  the  church  doors  to  chant 
the  Easter  anthem,  "Christ  Is  Risen,"  thinking  only  of 
the  personal  Jesus,  who  seemed  to  suffer  and  die  on  the 
cross,  do  they  recall  many  a  struggle  over  self  that 
they  might  rise  to  the  Mind  of  Christ?  Have  they 
been  buried  with  Christ?  Has  the  human  been  lost 
in  the  divine  love?  Have  we  risen  with  Christ  through 
self-immolation  and  unselfed  love?  If  so,  then  we  have 
risen  with  him.  Christian  Scientists  understand  that 
the  Christ  never  struggled,  that  Christ  was  never  in 
matter,  and  therefore  never  died,  but  that  the  power 
of  Christ's  divine  nature,  his  immortal  consciousness, 
destroyed  the  human  Jesus,  and  enabled  Christ  Jesus 
to  come  forth  from  the  tomb  of  belief  of  life  in  matter,  to 
the  understanding  that  Life  is  God,  and  to  recognize 


828     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

himself  as  spiritual — the  Son  of  God.  Jesus  was 
demonstrating  on  the  cross  his  oft-repeated  statement, 
"I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life,"  and  on  the 
Resurrection  morn  he  proved  his  words  by  reappearing 
to  his  disciples. 

Let  us  strive  unceasingly  for  the  Mind  of  Christ 
which  will  lift  us  Spirit- ward,  and  will  draw  to  our 
divine  source — Spirit — all  who  are  ready  to  follow  the 
invisible,  impersonal  Christ. 

Ever  faithfully,  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
August  23,  191 1. 
My  beloved  Student: — 

I  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  you  again,  and  to  learn 
that  you  are  still  clear  on  the  one  important  point, — 
my  position  in  this  hour,  and  my  ability  to  stand 
and  refuse  to  be  separated  from  my  "Leader  and  best 
earthly  friend, "  Mrs.  Eddy  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  910).  The  understanding  of  the  Principle 
she  taught  me,  and  my  obedience  to  her  constant  de- 
mands to  handle  the  false  claim,  malicious  animal 
magnetism,  which  would  destroy  the  "remnant  of  her 
seed,"  has  saved  me,  and  the  evil  one,  the  dragon,  has 
utterly  failed  to  overthrow  me  and  the  students  who  have 
so  far,  conquered  personal  sense. 

Dear  heart,  it  would  grieve  you  to  see  the  poor  lambs 
who  were  led  to  follow  "an  hireling,"  and  who,  now, 
desire  to  return  to  the  under  shepherd.  They  have  no 
light  and  they  know  it.  I  hear  that  they  are  hoping 
to  return  to  me  but  dare  not  arise  and  break  the  fetters 
which  bind  them.  Scientifically,  they  cannot  unite 
with  us.     The  mental  gulf  has  widened  and  the  chasm 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     829 

cannot  be  bridged  until,  through  Science  and  suffering, 
they  awake  to  the  demands  of  Christ.  "How  often 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children,  .  .  .  and  ye  would 
not."  My  heart  goes  out  to  these  straying  lambs, 
but  I  hear  our  Leader's  voice  in  the  call  "Let  them 
alone;  they  must  learn  from  the  things  they  suffer" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  328). 
,  I  cannot  do  the  work  for  my  students.  I  have  given 
them  "precept  upon  precept;  line  upon  line"  for 
years,  and  now  I  must  work  to  follow  my  precious 
Leader,  and  my  blessed  flock  must  strive  to  follow 
their  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  me.  Together,  we  are 
reaching  a  state  of  spiritual  consciousness  which,  as  we 
rise,  will  ultimate  in  a  wholly  spiritual  condition  of  reali- 
zation of  God,  and  man  in  His  image  and  likeness. 

On  "the  way"  from  material  sense  to  spiritual  self- 
hood, we  are  beset  by  foes  in  ambush,  mental  assassins 
— wolves  in  sheeps'  clothing — poor  deluded  mortals  who 
are  the  victims  of  a  self -deceived  sense,  and  who  believe 
that  if  they  can  put  a  little  wormwood  in  the  honey, 
they  will  turn  the  sweet  into  bitter,  and  the  honey,  the 
sweetness  of  truth  and  love,  the  loving  unity  of  God's 
dear  children  will  be  no  longer  desired.  Then  comes 
the  schism  in  individual  consciousness,  then  the  col- 
lective disturbance,  finally  the  separation  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  body  of  Christian  Scientists.  In  my 
experience  in  Christian  Science,  I  have  had  no  part  in 
entertaining  divisions — schisms.  I  have  fought  and 
struggled  for  unity  in  my  own  mentality. 

I  would  not  admit  for  a  moment  the  belief  that  there 
was  any  one  opposing  me.  Every  one  must  bar  the 
door  of  his  thought  to  the  suggestion  that  man  is  mor- 
tal, or  he  has  given  the  enemy  entrance,  and  who  can 
eject  the  foe,  once  he  has  proved  incapable  of  keeping 


830     Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel 

his  house  guarded?  The  human  footsteps,  which  lead 
up  to  the  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390)  cannot  be  taken  by  any 
one  without  a  struggle  to  adhere  to  Principle.  But  the 
"rugged  way,"  and  the  retracing  one's  steps, — "un- 
winding one's  snarls"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  240),  and 
learning  that  divine  Love  alone  saves,  is  the  only  way 
to  gain  the  heights  of  holiness  and  our  immortal  birth- 
right. "Though  I  give  my  body  to  be  burned,  and 
have  not  love,  it  profiteth  me  nothing."  Love  is  com- 
passionate, sees  a  brother's  need  and  supplies  it,  pities 
another's  inability  to  demonstrate  love,  and  raises  a 
fallen  brother. 

Oh!  my  dear  child,  how  I  long  to  pour  into  your  heart 
the  love  that  overflows  mine.  But,  alas,  you  must 
suffer  as  I  have,  to  gain  this  divine  love,  which  would  do 
for  another,  at  the  sacrifice  of  personal  ease,  personal 
sacrifice  of  self, — anything  to  help  to  break  the  mesmer- 
ism which  holds  another  in  the  belief  that  evil  and  mat- 
ter are  real.  The  hour  is  near.  The  time  is  short.  We 
must  have  on  a  wedding  garment.  The  wedding  gar- 
ment is  divine  love  for  God  and  man. 

No  one  can  prove  error  unreal  in  this  hour,  nor  make 
a  demonstration  of  Christian  Science,  who  does  not 
detect  the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism  as 
it  works  through  physical  personalities.  I  find  that 
all  who  have  failed  to  handle  error  in  this  age  are  vic- 
tims of  the  tyrannous  master,  so-called  mortal  mind, 
and  are  in  a  most  helpless  mental  condition.  How 
glad  I  would  be  if  Mr.  G.  .  .  would  ask  me  to  help 
him.  Twenty-six  years  ago,  I  healed  him  of  the  claim 
of  consumption  which  has  never  returned.  His  pre- 
sent claim  is  something  else.  He  has  repeatedly  ex- 
pressed to  others  his  dislike  of  me.     I  have  heard  this 


Letters  of  Instruction  and  Counsel     831 

for  years  and  have  endeavored  to  make  this  error  unreal, 
and  know  that  the  claim  of  malicious  animal  magnetism 
could  not  make  me  see  him  as  other  than  God's  perfect 
man,  and  my  brother.  This  has  helped  to  give  me 
perfect  health  and  happiness,  success  in  Truth,  and  a 
peace  and  divine  love  which  are  heaven  on  earth. 

I  have  never  seen  the  By-Laws  of  your  church  to 
which  you  refer.  I  do  not  know  the  conditions  there, 
so  I  do  not  know  where  the  trouble  is,  if  any,  but  I 
know  that  it  is  right  to  keep  the  church  open.  I  have 
always  felt  that  dear  M  .  .  .  was  divinely  guided  in 
closing  the  church  until  the  members  had  had  time  to 
recover  from  the  terrible  shock.  Each  was  sent  to  his 
tent  to  commune  alone  with  God,  for  a  time.  It  was 
the  testing  time  with  that  church,  and  when  they  came 
together,  poor  lambs,  they  needed  the  love  of  all,  the 
pitiful  patience  with  each  other's  weakness.  They 
needed  more  of  the  Mind  of  Christ  with  which  to  handle 
the  evil  one  which  would  separate  the  flock.  I  never 
have  said,  or  thought  that  which  was  reported  to  you. 
I  have  said  of  all  the  church  work  everywhere  when 
there  was  bitterness  or  indifference,  that  envy  and 
jealousy  were  at  work,  and  so  they  are. 

You  can  readily  detect  the  influence  of  Christ  and  the 
opposite  influence  of  the  carnally  minded  or  agents  for 
malicious  animal  magnetism.  I  shall  send  you  my 
pamphlet  this  week  on  M.  A.  M.  I  trust  that  you  will 
all  be  guided  by  our  beloved  Leader  and  dear  M.  .  . 
and  will  handle  the  claim  of  evil.  I  am  too  busy  destroy- 
ing the  evil  claim  with  love  and  truth,  to  take  up  more 
questions  at  present.  I  send  you  deepest  love.  Write 
me  when  you  can.  Love  must  fulfil  Her  law  in  you. 
Lovingly  ever, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

LETTERS  TO  THE  PRESS 

Give  ear,  O  ye  heavens,  and  I  will  speak;  and  hear,  O  earth,  the 
words  of  my  mouth. 

Because  I  will  publish  the  name  of  the  Lord:  ascribe  ye  greatness 
unto  our  God. — Deuteronomy  xxxii.,  I,  3. 

Progress,  legitimate  to  the  human  race,  pours  the  healing  balm  of  Truth 
and  Love  into  every  wound.  •  It  reassures  us  that  no  Reign  of  Terror 
or  rule  of  error  will  again  unite  Church  and  State,  or  re-enact,  through 
the  civil  arm  of  government,  the  horrors  of  religious  persecution. 

No  and  Yes,  p.  44. 

The  New  York  Sun 
CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE1 

IT  IS   PROCLAIMED  TO   BE  THE   HEALING    TAUGHT   BY   JESUS 
OF  NAZARETH 

February  25, 1887. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Sun: — 

After  reading  your  article  in  The  Sun  of  February 
2 1  st,  in  which  the  writer  associates  the  name  of 
the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  of  Boston,  with 
Mrs.  Plunkett,  permit  me  to  state  the  following: 
Mrs.  Eddy  is  the  author  of  the  work,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  is  the  Discoverer 
and  Founder  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing.     Mrs. 

1  First  article  ever  printed  on  the  subject  of  Christian  Science  in 
the  press  of  New  York  City. 

832 


Letters  to  the  Press  833 

Plunkett's  teachings  and  writings  are  entirely  different 
and  are  based  on  a  material  premise  the  opposite  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  spiritual  foundation.  Mrs.  Plunkett 
is  not  a  follower  of  Christian  Science  as  taught  by 
Mrs.  Eddy.  We  have  only  to  say  in  reply,  that  it  is 
very  evident  that  the  writer  of  said  article  is  totally 
ignorant  of  the  subject  which  he  attempts  to  discuss, 
and,  as  he  calls  for  information,  I  will,  as  a  representa- 
tive of  Mrs.  Eddy,  endeavor  to  enlighten  him  upon 
some  points. 

Christian  Science,  in  its  pure  and  sublime  force- 
fulness,  is  the  Christ-healing,  as  taught  and  demon- 
strated eighten  hundred  years  ago  by  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
whom  the  world  rejected,  persecuted,  and  crucified. 

To  this  question,  "For  which  of  those  fmy  good] 
works  do  ye  stone  me? "  they  replied :  "For  a  good  work 
we  stone  thee  not;  but  .  .  .  because  that  thou  .  .  . 
makest  thyself  God"  (John  x.,  32,  33).  Jesus  healed 
through  the  power  of  the  Word,  and  said:  "I  speak 
not  of  myself:  but  the  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me, 
He  doeth  the  works"  (John  xiv.,  10).  His  disciples 
did  the  same — healed  the  sick  in  the  name  of  Christ, 
Truth. 

In  Jesus'  day  there  were  those  who  cast  out  evil 
through  the  power  of  mortal  will,  mesmerism,  hypnot- 
ism, and  Beelzebub,  the  prince  of  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness. "Many  will  say  ...  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord, 
have  we  not  .  .  .  cast  out  devils?  and  in  thy  name 
done  many  wonderful  works?"  Then  shall  he  say 
unto  them,  "I  never  knew  you:  depart  from  me" 
(Matt,  vii.,  22,  23). 

In  Jesus'  age  few  recognized  that  he  was  the  Christ, 
and,  when  Peter  declared,  "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God,"  the  Master  said:  "Flesh  and 


834  Letters  to  the  Press 

blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee"  (Matt,  xvi., 
1 6,  17).  Mortal  man  does  not  discern  the  things  of 
Spirit.  Sacred  history  has  recorded  the  unwillingness 
of  mortals  in  every  age  to  accept  the  leadership  of 
the  God-directed  or  the  Christ -inspired.  Moses  con- 
tended against  Pharoah  and  his  hosts,  and  each  and 
every  one,  from  Abraham  to  Jesus,  who  has  heard 
the  voice  of  God  commanding  him  to  lead  the  people, 
has  been  opposed  and  denied.  The  humble  Nazarene, 
who  endeavored  to  show  the  way  to  Life  eternal,  and 
teach  man  his  God-given  birthright,  dominion  over 
all  things,  who  healed  the  sick,  raised  the  dead,  and 
gave  the  hand  of  compassionate  forgiveness  to  the 
penitent  sinner  was  reviled  and  persecuted,  and,  at 
last,  heard  the  cry,  "Crucify  him!"  "We  will  not 
have  this  man  to  reign  over  us." 

His  followers  of  this  nineteenth  century,  at  his 
second  coming,  meet  with  the  same  denunciations 
that  the  early  disciples  encountered.  History  repeats 
itself,  and,  to-day,  the  world  of  matter  worshipers  re- 
fuses to  listen  to  the  voice  of  Truth,  as  the  Leader 
of  Christian  Science  repeats  to  mankind,  "The  hour 
cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  true  worshippers  shall 
worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth"  (John 
iv.,  23). 

Through  the  teaching  of  Christian  Science  man 
learns  his  oneness  with  the  Father,  and  the  omni- 
potence of  divine  Mind.  Christian  Science  is  the 
mightiest  Christianizing  power  since  the  days  when 
Jesus  proclaimed  the  fact  that  God  is  All  and  there 
is  none  beside  Him.  Thousands  are  endeavoring  to 
live  up  to  its  high  and  holy  requirements,  as  enjoined 
by  the  noble  Christian  woman,  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy, 
who,   amid   bitter  persecution   and   fierce   opposition, 


Letters  to  the  Press  835 

has,  for  twenty-five  years,  labored  to  bring  the  world 
to  a  knowledge  of  Truth  as  it  was  taught  and  demon- 
strated by  Jesus  the  Christ. 

Mind  cure,  mesmerism,  spiritualism,  hypnotism, 
theosophy,  faith  without  understanding,  scholastic 
theology,  and  materia  medica  have  arisen  to  hush  her 
voice,  but  Truth  is  mighty,  and,  to-day,  the  prophetic 
visions  of  the  Christ-inspired  reveal  the  signs  of  the 
times.  They  know  that  a  battle,  greater  and  more 
destructive  than  was  fought  at  Waterloo  or  Gettys- 
burg, is  raging  in  mortal  mind,  and  that  the  war 
between  Truth  and  error  is  inevitable.  Sin,  sickness, 
and  death  must  and  shall  go  down  before  the  Christ, 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

The  world  has  given  itself  to  the  study  of  all  that 
the  carnal  mind  holds  as  power,  even,  as  the  writer 
says,  to  "lessons  learned  from  witches."  After  having 
so  thoroughly  investigated  the  carnal  mind,  in  its 
various  phenomena,  and  proved  that  its  wages  is 
death,  would  it  not  be  well  to  turn  and  acquaint  one's 
self  with  God,  whom  to  know  aright  is  Life  eternal? 
The  writer  says,  "it  is  a  fascinating  subject  for  the 
incomplete  activities  of  femininity." 

It  has  proved  a  most  fascinating  study  for  thou- 
sands of  the  most  intelligent  men  and  women  from 
all  the  churches,  and  they  are  "persuaded,  that 
neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities, 
nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come, 
nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall 
be  able  to  separate  us  [them]  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord"  (Rom.  viii.,  38, 
39).  If  the  writer  of  that  article  would  sit  at  the 
feet  of  this  God-inspired  woman,  he  would  learn  that 
through    Christ's    Christianity  —  Christian    Science — 


836  Letters  to  the  Press 

the  world  is  to  be  set  free  from  its  bondage  to  sin  and 
death. 

Let  all  know  that  Christian  Science  is  not  faith- 
cure,  as  the  writer  affirms,  nor  is  it  any  of  the  theories 
which  he  claims  to  have  investigated,  but  it  is  the 
Science  of  Christ,  or  Truth,  which  heals  the  sick  as 
well  as  the  sinful.  We  beg  to  remind  him  of  the  words 
of  Gamaliel:  "If  this  counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men, 
it  will  come  to  nought:  But  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot 
overthrow  it;  lest  haply  ye  be  found  even  to  fight 
against  God"  (Acts  v.,  38,  39). 

T.A.J.* 


New  York  Herald 


May  10, 1899. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Herald: — 

An  article  appears  in  your  morning  issue  headed 
"Another  death  due  to  Christian  Science,"  in  which 
the  physician  declares  that  the  life  of  the  patient 
might  have  been  saved  by  an  operation,  had  he  been 
called  earlier.  It  is  a  strong  assertion  for  any  one  to 
make  in  the  face  of  the  many  failures  which  have 
occurred  under  surgery.  While  there  has  been  an 
occasional  failure  to  heal  similar  cases  among  Christian 
Science  practitioners,  these  failures  have  been  due  to 
their  limited  understanding  of  spiritual  law  and  its 
application  to  the  mental  condition  of  the  patient. 
The  healing  being  mental,  opposing  thought  and 
environment  have  much  to  do  with  preventing  or 
retarding  recovery. 

The  principle  of  mathematics  is  not  responsible 
for  the  schoolboy's  failure  to  prove  his  rule;   neither 

1  The  article  was  signed  with  the  initials  of  my  nom  de  plume  which 
I  used  for  the  press  at  that  time. 


Letters  to  the  Press  837 

is  divine  metaphysics,  which  is  yet  in  its  infancy  as 
a  demonstrable  science,  responsible  for  the  failure  of 
its  students.  Even  Jesus,  the  great  Metaphysician, 
who  healed  all  manner  of  diseases  through  his  under- 
standing of  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind,  was  unable 
to  do  "  many  mighty  works  there  [in  Nazareth]  because 
of  their  unbelief."  In  every  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, may  be  found  well-authenticated  cases  of  the 
cure  of  tumors,  without  the  aid  of  surgery,  which 
physicians  have  pronounced  incurable. 

The  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Discoverer  and  Founder 
of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  has  graduated 
thousands  of  students  from  the  Massachusetts  Meta- 
physical College  in  Boston,  who  are  successful  practi- 
tioners. Surely  every  one  should  be  permitted  to 
exercise  his  individual  right  to  choose  the  method  of 
physical  relief  which  he  prefers,  be  it  allopathy, 
homeopathy,  or  Christian  Science. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

New  York  Herald 

January  25, 1900. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Herald: — 

Will  the  Editor  of  the  Herald  permit  a  brief  reply 
to  some  misstatements  in  the  published  account  of 
the  sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson,  which  may  be  due 
to  the  misapprehension  of  the  reporter.  A  very  false 
impression  is  given  of  Christian  Science  in  the  article 
as  it  appears  in  your  morning  issue.  We  are  living 
in  a  progressive  age,  if  that  is  what  Dr.  Anderson 
means  by  "peculiar  age" — and  it  is  true  that  "all 
Christians  must  be  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  truth 
of  God,  not  to  become  confused  by  the  isms  of  to-day." 

It  behooves  us  to  know  whereof  we  speak  before 


838  Letters  to  the  Press 

we  give  judgment  in  a  case,  and  Christian  Science 
differs  so  radically  from  spiritualism,  pantheism,  and 
so-called  faith-cure,  that  it  would  not  be  feasible  for 
one  who  had  ever  read  carefully  and  thoughtfully 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by 
Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy,  to  name  these  widely  differing 
beliefs  together. 

Mrs.  Eddy  expressly  states  her  position  on  these 
points  on  page  five  of  Science  and  Health.  If  Dr. 
Anderson  had  caught  the  metaphysical  definition 
of  spiritual  man  made  in  God's  "image  and  like- 
ness," and  of  mortal,  carnal  man,  the  Adam  man  in 
which  all  die,  he  would  not  have  been  confused. 
Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

No  analogy  exists  between  the  vague  hypotheses  of 
agnosticism,  pantheism,  theosophy,  spiritualism,  .  .  .  and 
the  demonstrable  truths  of  Christian  Science;  and  I  find 
the  will,  or  sensuous  reason  of  the  human  mind,  to  be  op- 
posed to  the  divine  Mind  as  expressed  through  divine 
Science.  .  .  .  The  Principle  of  divine  metaphysics  is  God ; 
the  practice  of  divine  metaphysics  is  the  utilization  of  the 
power  of  Truth  over  error;  its  rules  demonstrate  its  Science. 
Divine  metaphysics  reverses  perverted  and  physical  hy- 
potheses as  to  Deity,  even  as  the  explanation  of  optics 
rejects  the  incidental  or  inverted  image  and  shows  what 
this  inverted  image  is  meant  to  represent  {Science  and 
Health,  pp.  no,  in). 

The  healing  to-day  is  the  same  as  in  the  days  of 
the  Apostles,  and  is  done  through  the  same  Christ, 
who  says  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world."  Instead  of  "striking  at  God,  and 
blotting  out  the  truths  of  reason,"  as  Dr.  Anderson 
affirms,  Christian  Science  exalts  God,  making  Him 
the    living    energy,    the    source    of    all    intelligence. 


Letters  to  the  Press  839 

Mrs.  Eddy  says  again,  page  331,  "God  is  individ- 
ual, incorporeal.  He  is  divine  Principle,  Love,  the 
universal  cause,  the  only  creator,  and  there  is  no 
other  self-existence.  He  is  all-inclusive,  and  is  re- 
flected by  all  that  is  real  and  eternal  and  by  nothing 
else." 

Mrs.  Eddy  does  not  deny  the  existence  of  matter,  as  a 
claim,  but  that  which  is  subject  to  decay  and  death,  she 
declares,  can  never  belong  to  the  "real  and  eternal." 
The  breaking  of  this  claim,  the  destruction  of  the 
false  belief  is  the  only  "healing,"  and,  in  this  sense,  it 
is  perfectly  true  that  there  is  no  "forgiveness  of  sin" 
except  "in  the  destruction  of  sin  and  the  spiritual  un- 
derstanding that  casts  out  evil  as  unreal"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  497). 

To  one  who  believes  in  the  power  of  mind  over 
matter,  as  does  Dr.  Anderson,  it  seems  anomalous  that 
he  should  overlook  the  effect  of  accumulated  belief 
in  the  results  of  poisons,  which  must  inevitably  touch 
either  infants  or  animals,  unless  antidoted  by  the 
knowledge  through  which  Jesus  did  his  mighty  works, 
namely,  that  there  is  no  power  opposed  to  God  except 
in  mortal  belief.  This  belief  can  be,  and  to-day  is 
changed,  under  the  action  of  the  Christ-mind.  This 
knowledge  annuls  all  seeming  power  in  mesmerism, 
hypnotism,  or  in  the  human  will, — and  the  same 
signs,  of  which  Jesus  told  his  disciples  "shall  follow 
them  that  believe."  Every  statement  can  be  finally, 
scientifically  proved  by  the  Christian  Scientist  who 
obeys  the  law  of  Spirit,  and  emulates  the  life  of  Christ 
Jesus.  Christian  Science  exalts  the  Christ,  and  carries 
out  his  Word,  in  the  extremest  literalness  of  its  meaning. 
He  is  our  Way-shower  in  all  things. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


840  Letters  to  the  Press 

The  New  York  Sun 

February  2, 1900. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Sun: — 

In  your  issue  of  January  29th  appeared  the  report 
of  a  lecture  by  Dr.  W.  S.  Crowe,  which  was  delivered 
in  the  Church  of  the  Eternal  Hope  in  West  81st 
Street.  We  recognize  the  kindly  spirit  manifested 
by  this  distinguished  gentleman  towards  a  large  body 
of  people,  which  is  demonstrating  primitive  Christian 
healing,  as  taught  by  Christ  Jesus.  We  quote  his 
closing  remarks,  "My  mind  is  open,  and  my  heart 
is  open,  and  I  want  to  know  everything  that  Scientists 
can  teach  me."  Therefore,  as  one  who  has  thoroughly 
investigated  and  demonstrated,  for  nearly  sixteen 
years,  the  rules  of  Christian  Science,  as  taught  by  the 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science  and 
author  of  its  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  I  cheerfully  accede  to  his  request  and 
will  endeavor  to  correct  his  misapprehension  of  the 
subject. 

The  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  in  Boston 
was  chartered  in  1881,  under  the  Seal  of  the  Common- 
wealth. From  this  college  has  been  graduated  a  large 
number  of  Christian  Science  teachers  and  practi- 
tioners. The  birthplace  of  Christian  Science  was 
Lynn,  Massachusetts.  "Mental  Science,"  if,  by  that, 
is  meant  the  so-called  mental  science  on  a  material 
basis,  has  nothing  in  common  with  Christian  Science, 
which  properly  defined  is  the  Science  or  understanding 
of  Christ,  Truth.  Christian  Scientists  strive  for  the 
Mind  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  the  power  of 
this  Mind  which  heals  the  sick,  and  reforms  the  sinner. 
Christian  Scientists  are  not  teaching  the  power  of 
a  "human  soul."     They  acknowledge  but  one  Soul, 


Letters  to  the  Press  841 

which  is  God,  and  spiritual  man  as  the  reflection  of 
Soul  or  God.  No  resemblance  exists  between  Christian 
Science  and  theosophy. 

The  term  Christian  Science  was  given  to  this  system 
of  divine  Mind-healing  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  The  first 
edition  of  the  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  was  published  by  her  in  1875.  We 
agree  with  Dr.  Crowe  that  the  "human  mind  has  strug- 
gled" in  all  ages  to  solve  the  problem  of  being.  Paul, 
who  was  a  Roman,  learned  from  Truth,  through  the 
teaching  and  demonstrations  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  to 
distinguish  the  difference  between  the  carnal  mind 
and  its  effects,  and  the  spiritual  mind,  and  its  healing 
and  restoring  influence:  "To  be  carnally  minded  is 
death;  but  to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace" 
(Rom.  viii.,  6).  Humanity  throughout  the  centuries 
has  been  repeating  Pilate's  question,  "  What  is  truth?" 
Christian  Science  upholds  Truth  as  divine  Mind, 
intelligence,  the  one  omnipotent,  omnipresent,  and 
omniscient  God,  whose  potency,  when  understood,  can 
be  demonstrated. 

Philosophers  have  been  unable  to  give  any  demon- 
strable rules  by  which  man  may  rise  superior  to  the 
ills  and  limitations  of  his  temporal  existence.  It  re- 
mained for  one  whose  spiritual  vision  could  grasp  the 
things  of  God  and  show  them  to  man.  This,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
the  great  Leader  of  the  Christian  Science  movement, 
has  done.  To  the  doctor's  question,  "Is  mind  a 
real  thing  and  matter  an  appearance,"  I  reply,  that- 
as  understood  in  Christian  Science,  Mind  is  God,  the 
Supreme  Being,  therefore,  to  Christian  Scientists,  Mind 
is  real  and  eternal;  and  matter  is  the  manifestation 
of  a  false  mentality,  known  in  Christian  Science  as 
the    "mortal    or    carnal    mind."     "For   as   in    Adam 


842  Letters  to  the  Press 

[mortal  mind]  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be 
made  alive"  (1  Cor.  xv.,  22).  Dr.  Crowe  is  avowedly 
a  seeker  for  Truth,  and  when  the  mind  is  open  and  the 
heart  is  open  and  one  "desires  to  know  everything 
that  is  to  be  found  in  Christ,"  the  invisible  presence 
will  quietly  lead,  and  the  voice  of  the  Master  will 
again  be  heard,  "Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the 
truth  shall  make  you  free." 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 

The  Evangelist 

February  12, 1900. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Evangelist: — 

In  The  Evangelist  of  February  8th,  appears  an  article 
entitled  "Christian  Science,  Its  Strength  and  Its  Weak- 
ness," by  the  Rev.  Chauncey  W.  Goodrich,  Pastor  of  St. 
Cloud  Presbyterian  Church,  Orange,  New  Jersey.  He 
handles  the  subject  in  a  most  delicate,  courteous  and 
unprejudiced  manner.  Heretofore,  Christian  Science 
has  not  found  among  the  clergy  many  who  could  discern 
so  clearly  and  declare  so  justly  the  results  produced 
by  the  practice  of  its  tenets. 

Mr.  Goodrich's  appreciation  of  its  effects  on  char- 
acter, as  seen  in  its  adherents,  is  shown  in  two  points 
which  he  makes.  First,  he  observes  a  "certain  quiet- 
ness and  serenity  of  spirit,  not  common  to  members 
of  other  churches;"  second,  that  they  possess  an 
"exceptionally  vivid  consciousness  of  the  Divine," 
showing  that  he  is  in  touch  with  the  great  Truth  that 
unites  all  who  love  Christ.  "As  in  water  face  answer- 
eth  to  face,  so  the  heart  of  man  to  man"  (Prov. 
xxvii.,  19). 

It  is  gladdening  to  the  heart  of  a  pioneer  Christian 


Letters  to  the  Press  843 

Scientist  who  has  labored  unceasingly  and  prayer- 
fully to  awaken  mankind  to  the  healing  power  of  the 
Christ-mind  as  it  was  revealed  to  the  Leader  of  this 
great  movement,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  at  length  to  find 
some,  who,  like  Mr.  Goodrich,  through  communion  with 
the  one  God  and  Father  of  us  all,  have  been  moved 
by  the  great  spiritual  thought-force,  which  is  leavening 
this  age.  But  it  is  the  human  mind-power,  which 
Mr.  Goodrich  accepts,  and  not  the  divine  Mind. 

He  has  failed  to  grasp  the  fundamental  truth  in 
Christian  Science,  that  man  is  made  in  God's  image 
and  likeness,  and  has  "dominion  .  .  .  over  all  the 
earth."  This  certainly  includes  man's  body.  Mr. 
Goodrich's  illustrations  of  the  effect  of  mind  over 
matter,  are  most  convincing,  so  far  as  they  reach, 
but  they  stop  short  of  Christ  Jesus'  commission  to 
his  disciples,  to  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 
the  gospel,"  "Heal  the  sick,  .  .  .  raise  the  dead, 
cast  out  devils,"  and  of  his  command  "Be  ye  therefore 
perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is 
perfect."  He  mistakes  the  Christian  Scientist's  un- 
derstanding of  God. 

We  do  believe  in  a  personal  God,  if  by  that  is  meant 
an  individual  Supreme  Being  or  Principle,  Mind, 
Spirit,  Soul;  but  corporeality  involves,  of  necessity, 
finity  and  limitation.  According  to  the  ordinary 
use  of  the  word  personal,  how  can  one  conceive  an 
omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omnipresent  personality? 
"God  is  a  Spirit, "  Jesus  said,  "No  man  hath  seen  God 
at  any  time,"  and  when  Philip  asked,  "Show  us  the 
Father,"  he  answered,  "Have  I  [my  spiritual  individu- 
ality] been  so  long  time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou  not 
known  me,  Philip?  he  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen 
the  Father." 


844  Letters  to  the  Press 

God  is  the  creative  Principle,  the  universal  Father, 
who  must  be  worshiped  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  Christ- 
ian Scientists  pray  without  ceasing  to  "Our  Father 
which  art  in  heaven,"  and  in  the  words  of  their  Leader 
and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy,  '"Thy  kingdom  come;'  let 
the  reign  of  divine  Truth,  Life,  and  Love  be  estab- 
lished in  me,  and  rule  out  of  me  all  sin;  and  may  Thy 
Word  enrich  the  affections  of  all  mankind,  and  gov- 
ern them!"  (Manual  of  The  Mother  Church,  Art. 
viii.,  Sect.  4.)  In  the  healing  of  the  sick,  and  the 
reformation  of  the  sinner,  they  have  the  evidence  that 
"thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  Himself  shall  reward 
thee  openly. " 

Christian  Scientists  do  not  deny  that  there  is  a 
carnal,  sinning  sense,  which,  until  it  is  destroyed  by 
Truth  and  Love,  produces  discord  and  death.  Had 
not  Paul  awakened  from  this  illusion,  when  he  declared, 
"The  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made 
me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death,"  and  "To  be 
carnally  minded  is  death;  but  to  be  spiritually  minded 
is  life  and  peace"?  Christian  Scientists  admit  the 
claim,  as  they  do  that  of  a  dream,  whose  conditions 
disappear  on  awaking.  Paul  said,  "Awake  thou  that 
sleepest."  Christian  Science  is  awaking  humanity 
from  the  Adam-dream  of  life  in  matter  in  which  all 
die,  to  the  understanding  of  life  in  Christ  in  which 
all  are  made  alive. 

Only  to  mortal  sense  is  this  mortal  or  matter  body 
real.  In  every  particular,  it  is  unlike  the  divine  image 
and  likeness.  It  is  a  distorted  counterfeit  of  the 
perfect  model.  Christian  Scientists  hold  more  firmly 
than  any  other  body  of  Christians  that  God  never  is 
in,  nor  of  matter — Soul  is  never  in  body — the  limitless 
is  never  confined  in   the  limited — that   life  never  is 


Letters  to  the  Press  845 

subject  to  discord,  decay,  and  death,  and  that  the 
creator  cannot  be  confined  in  that  which  He  creates 
but  is  reflected  by  spiritual  man.  Thus  Christian 
Science  refutes  every  claim  of  pantheism. 

But  one  point  remains  to  be  noted  in  Mr.  Goodrich's 
article,  and  that  is  in  the  closing  paragraph,  which 
refers  to  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  this  movement, 
the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  The  revelations  of 
divine  Love  have  always  been  conveyed  to  the  world 
seemingly  through  human  personalities.  From  Moses 
to  the  present  time,  in  every  epoch,  these  personalities 
have  been  questioned,  as  claiming  prerogatives  not 
supported  by  proof.  This  last  Revelator,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
has  met  more  resistance  in  human  thought  than  any 
other,  for  she  tells  of  the  second  coming  of  Christ  into 
consciousness,  which  the  carnal  mind  opposes.  Her 
teachings  obeyed,  shatter  the  sense  of  limitation  in 
every  phase,  point  to  the  source  of  all  supply,  and 
break  every  yoke.  She  is  the  great  iconoclast  of 
this  age,  crushing  every  idol,  so  that  here  and  now  the 
possibility  of  Christ  manifest  in  the  flesh  may  appear 
in  physical  harmony,  and  in  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit. 

The  true  Christian  Scientist  has  no  anxious  care  for 
the  future.  He  knows  that  his  God,  creative  Principle, 
will  supply  every  need.  Therefore,  God  can  demand 
his  time,  his  strength,  his  affections,  and  his  wealth — 
all  these  he  gives  without  fear,  knowing  that  his  supply 
is  inexhaustible  when  he  understands  his  Father, 
claims  his  birthright,  and  demonstrates  Truth  and 
Love.  This  is  the  result  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  revelation  to 
the  world  through  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures.  Until  one  finds  this  "Key,"  and  with  it 
opens  the  door  of  spiritual  understanding,  and  obeys 
the  law  of  Truth  and  Love — Spirit,  many  things  will 


846  Letters  to  the  Press 

not  be  intelligible.  The  new  tongue  must  be  learned, 
the  new-old  rules  of  Christian  living  must  grow  famil- 
iar. We  are  no  longer  bound  by  human  logic,  but 
are  working  out  our  salvation  with  the  aid  of  divine 
metaphysics,  or  the  Mind  of  Christ. 

The  Christ-healing  has  always,  in  a  greater  or  lesser 
degree,  penetrated  the  world's  thought.  Moses  and 
Elijah  used  it,  Jesus  demonstrated  it,  and  passed  it 
on  to  his  disciples,  declaring  "greater  works  than 
these  shall  he  do." 

But  men  lost  sight  of  the  rule  of  Christian  living, 
which  made  possible  the  healing.  To-day,  Mrs.  Eddy 
tells  the  world  that  the  Science,  by  which  Jesus' 
"mighty  works"  were  done,  is  a  divine  Principle,  that 
can  be  demonstrated,  in  a  degree,  now.  Christ  said 
that  he  had  many  things  to  say,  when  the  world  could 
bear  them. 

They  are  now  being  uttered,  and  their  power  is 
shown  in  the  quietness  and  confidence  which  Mr. 
Goodrich  sees  in  the  faces  of  Christian  Scientists. 
Living  in  the  spirit  of  the  Ninety-first  Psalm  brings 
to  us  what  he  calls  the  "exceptionally  vivid  conscious- 
ness of  the  Divine."  Every  Christian  Scientist  will 
thank  Mr.  Goodrich  for  his  gracious  recognition  of  the 
Truth  that  he  acknowledges  has  been  brought  to  the 
world  through  Mrs.  Eddy. 

If,  in  this  century,  the  Science  of  being,  with  its 
application  to  all  manner  of  disease,  has  appeared  to 
one,  who,  through  willing  obedience  to  the  example 
and  teachings  of  the  Nazarene  Prophet,  and  through 
unceasing  toil  and  prayer,  communion  with  the  Father, 
and  study  of  His  Word,  has  had  revealed  to  her  the 
Principle  of  Jesus'  unsurpassed  mental  ability  to  open 
the  prison  doors  to  those  who  are  bound  by  sin,  sickness, 


Letters  to  the  Press 

and  death — if  she  has  found  many  weary  pilgrims, 
sighing  for  the  rest  that  Jesus  promised,  and  has  led 
them  to  the  fountain  of  living  waters,  is  she  not  worthy 
of  the  gratitude  and  love  which  Christian  hearts 
delight  to  bestow?  She  will  be  judged  by  the  following 
tenets1  which  she  has  given  to  her  Church,  and  to  which 
the  body  of  Christian  Scientists  subscribe. 

i.  As  adherents  of  Truth,  we  take  the  inspired  Word 
of  the  Bible  as  our  sufficient  guide  to  eternal  Life. 

2.  We  acknowledge  and  adore  one  supreme  and  infinite 
God.  We  acknowledge  His  Son,  one  Christ;  the  Holy 
Ghost  or  divine  Comforter;  and  man  in  God's  image  and 
likeness. 

3.  We  acknewledge  God's  forgiveness  of  sin  in  the  de- 
struction of  sin  and  the  spiritual  understanding  that  casts 
out  evil  as  unreal.  But  the  belief  in  sin  is  punished  so  long 
as  the  belief  lasts. 

4.  We  acknowledge  Jesus'  atonement  as  the  evidence 
of  divine,  efficacious  Love,  unfolding  man's  unity  with  God 
through  Christ  Jesus  the  Way-shower;  and  we  acknowl- 
edge that  man  is  saved  through  Christ,  through  Truth, 
Life,  and  Love  as  demonstrated  by  the  Galilean  Prophet  in 
healing  the  sick  and  overcoming  sin  and  death. 

5.  We  acknowledge  that  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus  and 
his  resurrection  served  to  uplift  faith  to  understand  eternal 
Life,  even  the  allness  of  Soul,  Spirit,  and  the  nothingness 
of  matter. 

6.  And  we  solemnly  promise  to  watch,  and  pray  for 
that  Mind  to  be  in  us  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus;  to 
do  unto  others  as  we  would  have  them  do  unto  us ;  and  to 
be  merciful,  just,  and  pure  (Science  and  Health,  p.  497). 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 

•The  original  tenets  which  concluded  this  article  have  been  replaced 
by  their  latest  revision  contained  in  the  1910  edition  of  Science  and 
Health. 


848  Letters  to  the  Press 

New  York  Herald 
"CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE"  AS  A  TITLE 

March  10, 1900. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Herald: — 

For  the  benefit  of  your  readers,  and  to  correct 
the  misapprehension  that  exists  concerning  the  title 
"Christian  Science"  which  is  so  often  called  "Faith- 
cure"  or  "Faith-healing,"  I  beg  the  privilege  of 
stating  the  difference  between  these  titles.  Those 
who  call  themselves  "  Faith -healers,"  believe  God  to 
be  cognizant  of  both  good  and  evil,  sickness  and 
health, — that  He  sees  and  knows  all  that  exists  in  this 
material  universe,  and  that,  when  appealed  to  for  re- 
lief from  physical  or  mental  suffering,  He  hears  the  peti- 
tion, and  answers  according  to  His  good  pleasure. 
They  believe  in  the  reality  of  matter,  that  matter 
sees,  hears,  and  feels — in  other  words,  they  believe  the 
testimony  of  the  physical  senses,  and  that  God  is  the 
originator  and  controller  of  both  life  and  death,  spirit 
and  flesh,  mind  and  matter. 

Christian  Scientists  believe  in  a  supreme  creative 
intelligence  or  Mind, — the  great  causation — who  is 
Life,  Truth,  and  Lave.  All  that  is  created  by  God — 
divine  Mind — must  express  life,  truth,  and  love  through- 
out His  creation.  Like  cause,  like  effect.  Darkness 
does  not  proceed  from  the  sun,  the  source  of  light,  nor 
does  evil  emanate  from  good,  neither  can  death 
result  from  Life.  The  "Faith-healers"  do  not  under- 
stand the  power  inherent  in  the  one  Mind  that  is 
cognizant  only  of  good,  consequently,  they  cannot 
work  as  do  Christian  Scientists,  from  a  demonstrable 
Principle. 

Let  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder 


Letters  to  the  Press  849 

of  Christian  Science,  speak  from  her  book,   Unity  of 
Good,  page  31 : 

According  to  Christian  Science,  the  first  idolatrous  claim 
of  sin  is,  that  matter  exists;  the  second,  that  matter  is 
substance ;  the  third ,  that  matter  has  intelligence ;  and  the 
fourth,  that  matter,  being  so  endowed,  produces  life  and 
death. 

Again,  on  page  36 : 

This  whole  subject  is  met  and  solved  by  Christian 
Science  according  to  Scripture.  Thus  we  see  that  Spirit 
is  Truth  and  eternal  reality;  that  matter  is  the  opposite 
of  Spirit, — referred  to  in  the  New  Testament  as  the  flesh 
at  war  with  Spirit;  hence,  that  matter  is  erroneous,  transi- 
tory, unreal. 

A  further  proof  of  this  is  the  demonstration,  according 
to  Christian  Science,  that  by  the  reduction  and  the  re- 
jection of  the  claims  of  matter  (instead  of  acquiescence 
therein)  man  is  improved  physically,  mentally,  morally, 
spiritually. 

Thus  we  assert  that  Christian  Science  healing  is 
based  upon  a  demonstrable  Principle,  which  is  the 
power  of  the  Mind  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
healed  all  manner  of  diseases.  We  adhere  firmly  to 
the  title  given  us  by  our  Leader,  "Christian  Science." 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 


The  Buffalo  Express 

March  20, 1900. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Buffalo  Express: — 

J  .  .  .  M  .  .  .  asks  in  the  Morning  Mail  column  of 
your  paper,  March  15th,  "What  is  the  substratum  of 
Truth  on  which   'Christian   Science'   rests?"     As  its 

54 


850  Letters  to  the  Press 

name  implies,  it  is  the  "knowledge  of  the  Christ-mind." 
One  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  definitions  of  the  title  is  terse  and 
to  the  point:  "Christian  Science  brings  to  light  Truth 
and  its  supremacy,  universal  harmony,  the  entireness  of 
God,  good,  and  the  nothingness  of  evil"  {Science  and 
Health  p.  293).  The  substratum  on  which  Christian 
Science  rests  is  Principle — God — the  only  causation ;  and 
what  it  manifests  is  God  in  relation  to  His  universe, 
especially  as  regards  man,  His  highest  idea,  made  in 
His  image  and  likeness.  To  bring  out  this  likeness, 
God's  man,  and  to  destroy  the  false  concept,  mortal 
mind,  is  the  work  of  Christian  Science. 

One  fundamental  point  is  that  every  effect  has  a 
mental  cause.  If  you  contemplate  the  real  man  as  God 
created  him,  with  dominion,  spiritual  sense  begins  to 
operate,  the  spiritual  mental  is  quickened  and  the 
effect  is  holiness,  health,  life.  If  you  look  at  the 
mortal,  or  as  St.  Paul  calls  him,  the  "carnal"  man, 
you  find  mortal  thought  at  work,  and  the  effect  is 
sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Christian  Science  discerns  clearly  between  the  two, 
and  is  willing  to  be  judged  by  its  fruits.  There  is  not 
a  proposition  it  makes  that  cannot  be,  and  has  not 
been,  logically  proved  by  its  practitioners  and  their 
patients,  and,  when  scientifically  demonstrated  by 
conforming  to  the  law  of  God,  and  possession  of  the 
Mind  of  Christ,  sin  and  disease  are  destroyed. 

The  life  of  the  true  Christian  Scientist  is  modelled 
by  the  "Sermon  on  the  Mount"  and  lived  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  the  Ninety-first  Psalm. 

The  carnal  or  fleshly  mind  is  destroyed  by  the  action 
of  the  divine  Mind,  which  is  the  only  intelligence.  The 
carnal  mind  belongs  only  to  the  dream  of  life  in 
matter.     As  the  dreamer  awakes  and  begins  to  seize  his 


Letters  to  the  Press  851 

God-given  dominion  he  brings  out  the  Christ  on  the 
flesh,  and  discords  disappear.  They  are  only  seeming 
effects  of  a  false  belief,  which  has  been  aptly  likened 
to  an  evil  dream  from  which  one  awakes.  Were  we 
fully  awake  we  should  be  aware  that  there  never  were 
two,  the  human  and  divine  consciousness,  but  one 
only,  a  perfect  man  and  a  perfect  body — the  mani- 
festation of  God — and  that  man  is  in  deed  and  in 
truth  God's  man  in  His  image  and  likeness. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

Brooklyn  Daily  Eagle,  February  2, 1901 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Brooklyn  Daily  Eagle: — 

In  an  article  written  by  "Mul,"  published  in  your 
issue  of  January  30th,  I  notice  an  allusion  made  to  my 
acquaintance  with  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  "that 
doubtless  she  is  as  familiar  with  her  home  life,  and 
character  as  any  one."  I  am  very  glad  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  inform  the  readers  of  your  valuable  paper, 
that  I  have  been  closely  associated  with  Mrs.  Eddy 
as  her  student,  and  as  an  active  worker  in  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science,  for  nearly  seventeen  years. 
During  this  time,  I  have  known  all  the  members  of 
her  household,  and  have  been  constantly  in  communi- 
cation with  her  and  with  her  family. 

A  year  before  I  studied  Christian  Science  with 
Mrs.  Eddy,  I  was  invited  to  listen  to  a  parlor  talk, 
given  by  her.  The  hostess,  who  invited  me  to  meet 
her,  remarked  that  she  was  a  most  intelligent  and 
cultured  woman,  and  a  consecrated  follower  of  Christ 
Jesus.  After  having  listened  to  her  for  an  hour  I  had 
no  doubt  of  this,  for  never  had  I  heard  such  words 
fall  from  human  lips,  nor  ever  felt  such  spiritual  up- 


852  Letters  to  the  Press 

lifting  from  any  speaker.  I  was  partially  awakened 
to  the  Truth  she  voiced,  that  God  is  the  loving  Father 
and  Mother  of  the  universe,  including  man,  and  that 
divine  Mind  governs  all. 

I  there  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  power  of  the  Christ- 
mind,  and  its  application  to  sin  and  sickness,  the 
power  which  Jesus  utilized,  and  which  he  taught 
to  his  disciples.  I  questioned,  "Shall  I  investigate 
this  Christ-mind  healing  and  ascertain  if  it  has  a 
demonstrable  Principle?"  I  desired  to  understand 
the  possibilities  of  man  governed  by  God,  and  to  grasp 
the  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Bible  as  taught  in 
her  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures.  I  felt  confident  that  the  one  to  whom  the 
Truth,  contained  in  that  wonderful  book,  had  been 
revealed,  must  have  been  inspired  by  God,  therefore 
I  desired  her  to  elucidate  its  philosophy.  About  this 
time  Mrs.  Eddy  invited  me  to  one  of  her  classes, 
which  invitation  I  accepted. 

A  course  of  twelve  lessons  in  the  Massachusetts 
Metaphysical  College  awakened  in  me  a  spiritual 
sense,  which  enabled  me  to  behold  on  every  page  of 
the  Bible  a  luminous  lesson  of  God's  allness,  and  man's 
relation  to  a  loving  Father  and  Mother  who  is  an  ever- 
present  Principle  or  intelligence,  and  that  an  under- 
standing of  God's  law  never  fails  to  deliver  humanity 
from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  suffering. 

I  then  put  away  false  theories  and  time-honored 
undemonstrable  dogmas,  and  began,  through  the 
teaching  and  example  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  to  follow  the 
Master  and  strive  to  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and 
in  truth.  Since  then  she  has  been  constantly  and 
untiringly  inciting  me  to  higher  spiritual  attainments, 
by  her  holy  walk  and  consecrated  life.     I  recall  the 


Letters  to  the  Press  853 

infinite  patience  and  tender,  forbearing  love  with 
which  she  met  the  many  demands  of  my  inexperience. 
How  she  continually  encouraged  and  quickened  my 
immature  efforts  to  prove  the  promise  of  the  Christ, 
"He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall 
he  do  also." 

During  every  trial  of  my  faith  and  understanding, 
in  every  hour  of  need  for  higher  spiritual  light  to 
illumine  the  way,  she  has  been  a  faithful  Leader, 
Teacher,  and  Mother.  This  same  watchful  care  is 
exercised  by  her  towards  all  her  students,  and  even 
those  who  have  turned  away  from  her  teachings,  and 
refused  to  walk  with  her  in  the  straight  and  narrow 
way  which  leads  to  health,  happiness,  and  holiness, 
recognize  and  admit  the  faithful,  devoted  sincerity 
of  her  Christly  character.  It  was  only  at  the  urgent 
request  of  her  loving  followers  that  she  consented  to  the 
use  of  the  endearing  title  of  "Mother."  She  is,  in- 
deed, our  Mother  in  Israel.  Her  meek  and  unselfish 
life  speaks  in  purity  of  thought,  in  nobility  of  pur- 
pose, in  spiritual  inspiration  and  spiritual  activity,  in 
loyalty  to  God,  and  in  literal  adherence  to  the  teach- 
ings and  commands  of  Jesus  the  Christ. 

Great  liberality  is  one  of  her  marked  character- 
istics. Her  unswerving  devotion  to  the  good  of  all 
mankind,  and  her  wise  leadership  of  the  great  move- 
ment of  which  she  is  the  Founder  engross  her  entire 
time  and  attention,  and  thousands  are  arising  to  call 
her  blessed.  She  has  unflinchingly  held  aloft,  in  a 
material  age,  the  standard  of  Christian  Science,  and, 
with  invincible  courage,  she  has  defended  it  against 
malice,  scorn,  envy,  ignorance,  and  misrepresentation. 
She  has  penetrated  the  .mystery  of  existence,  has 
found  a  solution  to  the  Science  of  being,  and,  within 


854  Letters  to  the  Press 

the  "Holy  of  Holies,"  has  received  the  inspired  message 
of  divine  Love,  and  has  given  it  to  a  waiting  world. 
The  fleeting  centuries  will  cherish  her  in  highest 
reverence  and  gratitude,  as  the  earth,  through  the 
ministry  of  this  woman,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  is  made 
to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  beauty  of  Spirit  expressed  in  her  countenance, 
the  deep  soulful  eyes  which  at  one  moment  flash  with 
the  merriment  of  a  happy  girl,  and  the  next  seem  to 
penetrate  beyond  the  visible  and  behold  things  unseen, 
her  graceful,  courtly  movements,  all  remind  her 
students  that  she  is  a  notable  example  of  how  to  grow 
young, — or,  in  more  scientific  parlance,  she  is  a  nota- 
ble example  of  the  life-giving,  energizing  power  of  a 
spiritual  life. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.S.D. 
I 

The  New  York  World,  May  28,  1904 

WHAT  MRS.  STETSON  THINKS  OP  CLUB  LIFE 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  through  whose  energetic  efforts 
one  million  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  were 
collected  with  which  to  build  the  new  First  Christian 
Science  Church,  of  this  city,  says  of    Mrs.    Eddy's   new 

By-Law  and  the  reasons  for  it: 

■ 

Most  of  the  evils  in  modern  life,  including  divorce, 
intemperance,  gambling,  lack  of  chastity,  indifference 
to  church  attendance  and  to  religious  ties  are  the 
direct  result  of  the  weakening  of  the  home  influence. 

The  men  and  women  who  are  attached  to  their 
home  life,  who  find  in  their  own  dwellings  the  highest 
joys,  and  seek  them  each  evening  in  preference  to  any 
other    place,    are    almost    invariably    temperate    and 


Letters  to  the  Press  855 

moral,  and  are  ready  to  do  their  part  toward  the  up- 
building of  society,  and  to  devote  sufficient  time  to 
religious  activities  to  enable  them  to  appreciate  the 
spiritual  riches  which  are  offered  in  the  teachings  of 
Christianity. 

Secret  societies,  clubs,  and  associations,  while  gen- 
erally harmless  in  themselves,  and  often  very  bene- 
ficial in  their  effects  along  certain  lines,  tend  to 
draw  people  from  the  home  and  religious  interests, 
and  the  effect  of  this  tendency  is  plainly  seen  in  the 
lamentable  increase  in  divorce,  and  the  breaking  of 
family  ties,  where  society  and  club  life  demands  are 
most  noticeable. 

To  counteract  the  inclination  of  modern  social  ac- 
tivities in  fashionable  circles,  something  more  than 
a  mere  exposure  of  the  evils  under  which  the  nation 
suffers,  or  than  sermons  and  exhortations,  is  required. 
Christian  Scientists  believe  that  the  answer  to  the 
need  of  the  day,  to  the  demands  for  a  better  home  life 
must  be  found  in  a  practical  application  of  Christianity. 
To  apply  it  we  have  built  up  a  church  which  stands 
to  us  as  the  highest  expression  of  the  teachings  of 
Christ  Jesus,  and  the  Word  of  God  as  given  in  the 
Bible.  In  that  church  we  find  a  need  for  every 
philanthropy,  and  every  variety  of  helpful  activity. 
In  it  we  have  use  for  all  the  spiritual  mental  powers 
of  each  member  to  help  make  normal  the  life  of 
mankind. 

Jesus  understood  that,  only  by  living  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  our  real  natures,  only  as  children  of  God, 
can  man  be  saved  from  sin,  sickness,  and  death,  and 
all  the  strife  and  suffering  they  bring.  His  disciples 
needed  no  club  or  society  life,  save  their  association 
with  one  another  and  with  all  who  loved  and  served 


856  Letters  to  the  Press 

God,  and  who  labored  to  establish  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  on  earth.  We  have  found  that,  in  following 
his  instructions,  we  have  not  time  for  anything  save 
the  work  at  hand,  the  peace,  health,  and  comfort  of 
home  life,  and  the  ministrations  of  those  in  our  homes 
and  among  our  relatives  and  friends  who  help  us  with 
love  and  affection. 

We  recognize  the  place  the  lodges  have  filled  in 
the  world,  and  the  great  benefactions  they  have 
brought  to  those  in  need.  Many  Christian  Scientists 
have  belonged  to,  and  still  retain  membership  in 
lodges  and  societies  that  are  very  dear  to  them,  but, 
in  our  church,  there  are  so  many  demands  for  healing 
the  sick,  helping  the  needy,  and  reforming  the  sinner: 
in  our  homes  so  great  a  wealth  of  love,  that  they  have 
found  it  impossible  to  keep  the  same  active  interest 
in  these  organizations  which  they  had,  before  they  came 
to  an  understanding  of  Christian  Science.  It  is  a 
proof  of  the  wisdom  of  our  beloved  Leader  and  Teacher, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  that  she  has  seen  the  futility  of  mere  oral 
protest,  and  has  asked  the  members  of  The  Mother 
Church  to  devote  themselves  entirely  to  the  work  the 
church  has  in  hand,  and  to  those  home  interests  which 
are  most  important.  She  has  requested  her  followers 
to  do  the  work  of  the  Master,  who  bids  us  "Heal  the 
sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  devils." 

That  the  portion  of  the  people  of  the  world  (who 
have  not  yet  seen  the  perfect  application  of  Christ's 
Christianity  to  all  human  needs  and  problems)  should 
seek  in  social  and  benevolent  societies  that  measure 
of  love  and  peace,  which  even  a  fragmentary  applica- 
tion of  Christ's  teaching  brings,  is  both  natural,  and 
in  many  ways  beneficial  to  the  world.  That  we  should 
do  so,  after  understanding,  as  we  have,  the  truth  that 


Letters  to  the  Press  857 

there  is  one  God,  one  Mind,  one  invisible  Church,  would 
be  manifestly  unwise.  We  are  manifestations  of  infinite 
Life,  and  we  must  seek  our  joys  in  the  divine  Love,  and 
our  work  in  the  methods  which  Christ  used. 

WE    BELIEVE    IN    RECREATION 

We  believe  in  recreation  and  enjoyment  more  than 
those  not  of  our  faith  can  understand.  Art,  literature, 
and  the  beauty  of  the  natural  world,  social  meetings 
with  good  people,  charity  and  good  fellowship,  are  all 
very  valuable  to  us.  But  our  Leader  has  established 
a  church  at  the  demand  of  Truth.  We  have  perceived, 
and  are  engaged  in,  the  greatest  work  the  ages  ever 
gave  to  humanity.  It  is  a  very  little  thing  that  our 
members  should  abstain  from  club  and  lodge  life  as  a 
rule,  and  devote  themselves  to  the  work  at  hand. 
This  makes  a  protest,  the  only  weighty  argument 
possible  against  the  neglect  of  the  spiritual  life,  which 
divorce  and  other  present-day  evils  indicate. 

No  Christian  Scientist,  who  is  really  what  he  pro- 
fesses to  be,  and  understands  the  matter,  has  any 
disposition  to  question  the  wisdom  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
ruling,  and  all  will  gladly  conform  to  it.  For  some 
time,  the  workers  have  felt  that  they  should  devote 
themselves  entirely  to  the  active  healing  of  sin  and 
disease  in  which  the  disciples  of  Jesus  found  their 
greatest  joy  and  glory.  The  recent  By-Law  has  come 
as  a  confirmation  of  what  was  already  in  our  thought. 
It  is  the  law  of  God  applied  to  an  evil  in  American  life, 
and  its  universal  observance  would  do  more  to  dimin- 
ish domestic  unhappiness  than  legislation,  social  decrees, 
or  any  method  yet  proposed  by  social  reformers. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


858  Letters  to  the  Press 

New  York  Journal 
A  LETTER  FROM  MRS.  STETSON 

July  1,1904. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Evening  Journal: — 

Several  instances  have  occurred  of  late  in  which  my 
name  has  been  mentioned  in  the  press  as  the  "logical 
successor  of  Mrs.  Eddy,"  and  as  the  "leader  of  the 
Christian  Scientists  in  New  York  City."  I  have 
repeatedly  published  denials  of  similiar  statements 
in  the  New  York  press,  and  now  beg  space  in  your 
columns  again  to  emphasize  my  statement  that  I  am 
not  the  "leader  of  the  Christian  Scientists  in  New 
York  City." 

I  am  but  one  of  many  students  of  the  Rev.  Mary 
Baker  G.  Eddy  in  this  city,  who  has  been  graduated 
under  her  personal  instruction  from  the  Massachusetts 
Metaphysical  College,  of  which  she  is  still  the  president, 
and  who  has  been  sent  out  by  her  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men,  to  heal 
the  sick  according  to  her  metaphysical  method,  as 
demonstrated  by  Christ,  and  to  reform  the  sinner. 

Every  Christian  Scientist  acknowledges  the  wisdom 
and  spiritual  perception  of  our  Leader  and  Teacher, 
the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  Christian  Science. 

Any  suggestion  or  question  of  a  successor  to  Mrs. 
Eddy,  as  the  Leader  of  the  Christian  Science  movement, 
is  one  that  could  not  be  entertained  nor  considered  by 
any  loyal  Christian  Scientist.  Mrs.  Eddy  is,  and  ever 
will  be,  the  only  Leader  of  the  Christian  Science  move- 
ment. There  is  no  question  among  loyal  Christian 
Scientists  as  to  her  continuing  to  lead  them  on  to  the 
demonstration  of  eternal  Life,  through  faith  in  God  and 


Letters  to  the  Press  859 

the  understanding  of  the  law  of  the  spirit  of  Life  in 
Christ  Jesus  which  sets  us  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and 
death. 

She  is,  as  ever,  constantly  and  actively  engaged  in 
working  for  the  Cause  of  Christ,  and  in  leading  human- 
ity to  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  She  is 
demonstrating  the  truth  of  her  own  teachings,  as 
found  by  her  in  the  Bible,  and  given  to  the  world  in 
her  great  work,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


New  York  Herald,  November  2,  1909 

To  the  Editor  of  the  New  York  Herald: — 

The  reports  that  I  am  resisting  the  authority  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  and 
that  I  expect  to  secede  and  form  an  independent 
church,  are  false.  I  have  not  said  to  any  one,  any  of 
the  things  attributed  to  me  in  the  papers.  On  October 
16,  1909,  I  notified  the  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church  that  I  would  comply  strictly  with  their  orders, 
and  therefore  would  neither  teach  classes  in  Christian 
Science  nor  convene  nor  attend  my  Students'  Associa- 
tion.1 I  leave  all  judgment  to  God,  the  righteous 
Judge.  On  the  same  day,  I  notified  the  Trustees  of 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
that  I  had  so  advised  the  authorities  of  The  Mother 
Church.  I  also  requested  the  secretary  of  my  Students' 
Association  to  notify  its  members,  whom  I  had  taught 

1  I  submitted  to  constituted  authority,  confident  that  I  was  right, 
and  willing  to  wait  on  Truth  to  vindicate  me. 


860  Letters  to  the  Press 

in  past  years,  that  there  would  be  no  meeting  of  my 
students  this  year. 

I  shall  never  secede  from  Christian  Science,  and  no 
student  of  mine,  with  my  approval,  will  ever  withdraw 
from  Christian  Science  or  disobey  the  constituted 
authorities  of  our  denomination.  I  was  never  more 
devoted  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  to  which 
I  have  consecrated  my  life  for  twenty-five  years.  I 
was  never  more  grateful,  loving,  and  obedient  to  my 
revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  Christian  Science  and  the  forever  Leader 
of  all  true  Christian  Scientists. 

I  have  labored  for  over  twenty-three  years  to  build 
and  strengthen  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City.  I  have  seen  it  spring  from  nothing 
to  what  it  now  is.  It  is  for  others  to  say  what  part 
I  had  in  its  growth.  From  what  I  have  learned  of 
its  members  by  my  labors  in  developing  this  church, 
and  in  teaching  Christian  Science  to  them,  I  am  sure 
that  this  church  and  my  students  everywhere  will 
always  be  found  holding  the  banner  of  Christian 
Science  aloft  most  valiantly  and  fearlessly,  when  the 
enemies    of    Christian    Science    are    most    aggressive. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

New  York  American,  November  8,  1909 
MRS.  STETSON  PROTESTS  HER  LOYALTY  AND  INNOCENCE 
IN  LONG  STATEMENTS   SHE  DENIES    ALL   CHARGES1 

To  the  Editor  of  the  New  York  American: — 

In  a  New  York  newspaper  this  morning,  November 
7th,  I   read  the  following  headlines:    "Mrs.  Stetson's 

1  Self-defence  against  mental  malpractice  is  scientific. 


Letters  to  the  Press  86 1 

Followers  Defy  Mother  Church."  I  wish  to  state 
here  most  emphatically  that  I  do  not  defy  The  Mother 
Church,  nor  the  constituted  authorities  of  The  Mother 
Church  (the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors), 
neither  do  my  followers,  who  are  loyal  Christian 
Scientists — loyal  to  God,  loyal  to  their  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science, 
as  found  in  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder 
of  Christian  Science. 

Upon  examination  of  the  witnesses,  my  students, 
who  had  appeared  in  Boston  before  the  Board  of 
Directors,  and  whom  our  Trustees  were  told  to  investi- 
gate "without  fear  or  favor,"  these  witnesses  showed 
a  clear  understanding  of  Christian  Science  and  true 
Christian  Science  practice.  In  justice  to  these  prac- 
titioners, after  a  thorough  and  impartial  examination 
of  all  the  witnesses  "without  fear  or  favor,"  the 
Committee  of  Inquiry,  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  New 
York  City,  rendered  the  verdict  of  "Not  guilty."  In 
doing  this,  they  were  acting  within  their  own  jurisdic- 
tion, and  not  in  any  spirit  of  defiance  of  the  Directors 
of  The  Mother  Church. 

Christian  Scientists,  to-day,  are  confronting  the  so- 
called  claims  of  hypnotism,  mesmerism,  occultism, 
witchcraft,  and  the  combined  forces  of  so-called  evil, 
which  Christian  Science  proves  to  be  powerless  when 
met  with  the  right  understanding  of  Truth. 

I  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  that  had 
to  pass  upon  my  teaching  and  practice  of  Christian 
Science.  I  voluntarily  relinquished  the  right  of  being 
present  during  the  inquiry. 

I  never  requested  nor  desired  the  persons  conducting 


862  Letters  to  the  Press 

the  inquiry  to  stand  for  me  against  the  authorities 
of  The  Mother  Church.  On  the  contrary,  I  said  to 
them,  when  I  appeared  before  them,  that  I  depended 
alone  upon  God  and  my  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  and  that  they  should  simply  suspend  judgment 
until  they  had  heard  all  the  evidence. 

During  the  inquiry,  I  notified  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  that  I  would  comply  strictly  with 
their  orders,  and  I  advised  the  New  York  Committee 
of  Inquiry,  that  I  had  done  this.  I  have  fully  complied 
with  the  orders  of  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church. 

During  this  period  there  were  repeated  publications 
of  false  reports  to  the  effect  that  I  was  resisting  the 
constituted  authorities  of  The  Mother  Church;  also 
that  I  was  influencing  others  to  do  so,  particularly 
the  authorities  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City.  Therefore  I  gave  out  a  public 
announcement  that  these  reports  were  false;  further- 
more, that  I  never  was  more  loyal  to  my  beloved 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  or  to  Christian  Science,  and  that 
no  student  of  mine  would  ever  separate  himself  from 
Christian  Science  with  my  approval. 

In  answer  to  the  statements  in  a  "diary,"  I  can 
only  say:  I  never  saw  its  contents,  and  the  reports  of 
statements  contained  therein  are  absolutely  so  in- 
volved, and  so  filled  with  misrepresentations  and 
reversal  of  Truth,  as  to  be  incomprehensible.  The 
only  answer  is  an  emphatic  denial.  I  will  briefly 
review  what  happened  at  the  time  and  place  cited  on 
July  31, 1909. 

On  my  return  from  Boston,  we  had  the  practitioners' 
meeting  as  usual;  first,  the  reading  of  the  Bible  Lesson, 
at  the  conclusion  of  which,  as  was  our  custom,  we 
discussed   the   problems   pertaining   to   our   Christian 


Letters  to  the  Press  863 

Science  work.  At  this  time,  I  intimated  to  the  prac- 
titioners the  possibility  of  their  being  called  upon  by 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  to 
explain  what  they  understood  by  malpractice.  At 
the  same  time,  I  in  no  way  either  told  or  intimated  to 
them  that  I  had  been  in  Boston  or  that  I  expected  to 
go.  We  then  discussed  at  length  how  we  handled 
malpractice,  also  the  difference  between  that  and  the 
true  practice  of  self -protection,  or  defence  against 
malicious  animal  magnetism,  evil  thoughts  and  their 
effect  on  the  human  body;  furthermore,  what  is  im- 
plied by  "personal  control." 

I  found  all  but  three  or  four  clear  in  their  under- 
standing. Among  those  who  were  confused  was  Mr. 
.  .  .  ,  and  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  he  seemingly 
could  not  grasp  the  metaphysical  point  that  there 
exists  a  difference  between  mental  malpractice  and 
self-defence,  and  he  questioned  the  use  of  names  in 
self -protection. 

I  will  give  as  an  illustration  what  I  understand 
the  difference  to  be  between  mental  malpractice  and 
"Indispensable  defence"  or  self -protection  {Science  and 
Health,  pp.  451,  452). 

If  I  felt  sure  that  I  was  being  attacked  either  ignor- 
antly  or  maliciously  by  any  person,  I  should  fill  my 
thought  with  the  qualities  of  God,  Truth,  and  Love, 
which  alone  render  one  invincible  to  the  entrance  of  evil 
in  any  form — fear,  doubt,  envy,  malice,  jealousy,  re- 
venge, and  whatever  proceeds  from  the  so-called  carnal 
mind.  From  this  fortress  of  defence,  I  should  speak  to 
the  person,  addressing  him  by  name,  and  should  declare 
God's  omnipotence  and  ever-presence,  and  that  there 
is  no  other  power  nor  presence. 

In  other  words,   I   should   come   to  him   reflecting 


864  Letters  to  the  Press 

Truth  and  Love,  and  should  declare  that  he  is  God's 
image  and  likeness,  a  spiritual  being,  perfect  and 
immortal.  I  should  then  speak  to  the  error,  which 
might  be  operating  through  the  human  mind,  for 
which  he  has  been  an  avenue.  I  should  endeavor  to 
see  him  as  our  Leader  writes  on  page  476  of  Science 
and  Health,  "Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the  perfect  man, 
who  appeared  to  him  where  sinning  mortal  man  appears 
to  mortals." 

Then  I  should  declare  that  so-called  malicious 
animal  magnetism  in  all  its  phases  and  forms  was 
powerless  to  work  through  his  human  personality 
using  him  as  an  avenue  to  injure  me  or  any  one,  or  to 
hinder  the  progress  of  Christian  Science.  This  could 
only  bless  the  corporeal  man,  and  is  doing  unto  others 
what  we  would  be  willing  to  have  others  do  unto  us. 
It  would  heal  the  sick  by  casting  out  the  evil  thoughts 
which  produce  mental  and  physical  disease.  It  is  the 
superiority  of  spiritual  power  over  material  sense,  and 
is  not  malpractice. 

Mental  malpractice  is  the  influence  of  one  so-called 
mortal  mind  over  another,  and  may  be  either  innocent, 
ignorant,  or  malicious. 

Innocent  malpractice :  A  mother  is  often  an  innocent 
malpractitioner  upon  her  child.  With  her  own  thought 
filled  with  the  fear  of  disease  or  accident,  apprehensive 
of  danger  for  her  little  one,  she  produces  these  im- 
pressions upon  the  child's  mind,  to  be  afterwards 
manifested  on  the  body  in  the  form  of  disease  or 
discord. 

Ignorant  mental  malpractice  is  constantly  in  opera- 
tion among  those  who  are  ignorant  of  the  power  of 
thought,  and  who  exercise  their  human  wills  to  obtain 
that  which  they  desire. 


Letters  to  the  Press  865 

Malicious  mental  malpractice  is  any  thought  enter- 
tained or  expressed  with  intent  to  govern  erroneously 
or  injure  another. 

True  Christian  Scientists,  admitting  but  one  Mind, 
striving  to  have  no  other  mind  but  the  Mind  of  Christ, 
to  have  one  God  and  to  love  their  neighbor  as  them- 
selves, can  only  bless  all  upon  whom  their  thoughts 
rest. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


The  New  York  Sun,  November  16,  1909* 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Sun: — 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  has  re- 
quested us  all  to  unite  with  those  in  our  church  who  are 
supporting  The  Mother  Church  Directors.  To-day  I 
have  received  a  copy  of  her  letter  addressed  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  church. 

For-  twenty-five  years  I  have  gladly  obeyed  her 
leading  in  every  question.  I  have  always  found  that 
by  doing  this  I  drew  nearer  to  God.  My  students 
know  that  I  have  taught  them  to  do  likewise,  without 
questioning  her  wisdom;  therefore,  they  do  not  now 
need  any  word  from  me  in  addition  to  what  our 
beloved  Leader  has  said  to  guide  them  at  this  hour. 
They  will  know  that  it  is  right  for  them  to  unite  with 
those  who  supported  The  Mother  Church  Directors 
in  the  judgment  rendered  against  me.  I  have  been 
obeying  that  judgment,  and  I  shall  continue  to  do 
so.  I  shall  furthermore  obey  my  Leader  by  uniting 
with  those  who  felt  that  it  was  right  to  condemn  me 
in  their  testimony.     Her  letter  induces  me  to  believe 

1  Special  despatch  from  Boston,  Mass.,  to  The  (New    York)  Sun. 
55 


866  Letters  to  the  Press 

that  I  may  have  been  wrong  where  I  was  confident 
that  I  was  absolutely  right. 

For  twenty-five  years  I  have  watched  and  prayed 
for  guidance  and  strength  in  correcting  every  error 
revealed  to  me  by  God  and  by  my  Leader,  or  by  any 
of  my  brethren. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

This  letter  was  written  the  evening  preceding 
the  last  day  of  my  trial  before  the  Directors.  I  was 
asked  by  them  why  I  said,  "I  may  have  been  wrong." 
"Why  did  you  not  say  you  were  wrong?"  I  re- 
plied: that  I  could  not  say  I  was  wrong  while  my 
convictions  were  so  strong  that  I  was  absolutely 
right.  I  was  now  confident  that  this  was  a  test  of 
my  faith  and  understanding  through  which  I  was 
obliged  to  pass  in  my  emergence  from  material  organ- 
ization and  separation  from  all  who  were  not  ready  to 
follow  me  in  the  absolute,  as  I  was  following  my 
Leader. 

Had  I  resisted  this  forcible  ejection  from  material 
organization  it  would  have  been  my  "destruction." 
Later,  through  persecution,  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  these  latter  days,  this  was  all  revealed  to  me.  My 
reward  for  my  defense  of  absolute  Christian  Science 
has  been  health,  a  peace  that  passeth  understanding 
and  a  consciousness  of  present  immortality  which 
gives  me  the  sweet  assurance  of  eternal  Life,  and  a 
spiritual  love  which  heals  the  sick,  reforms  the  sinner 
and  enables  me  to  say  to  all  opponents  of  good, 
"Father,  forgive  them;  for  they  know  not"  that 
they  are  forcing  the  soldiers  of  Christ  to  rise  to  the 
zenith  of  demonstration  of  divine  love  for  God  and 
man. 


Letters  to  the  Press  867 

New  York  Daily  Tribune,  November  19,  1909 

MRS.    STETSON   STATES    POSITION   AFTER   HEARING   OF 
ACTION  OF  MOTHER  CHURCH  DIRECTORS  AT  BOSTON 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Tribune:— 

I  have  not  received  any  notice  direct  from  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  but  I  have 
seen  the  newspaper  notice  given  out  by  the  Christian 
Science  Publication  Committee  for  New  York  State, 
that  my  name  has  been  dropped  from  the  rolls  of  The 
Mother  Church. 

No  student  of  mine,  with  my  approval,  will  separate 
himself  from  The  Mother  Church,  or  from  Christian 
Science. 

As  for  myself,  "neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor 
things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  [me]  from  the 
love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,"  and 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  my  beloved  Leader. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

• 

New  York  American,  January  21,  1910 
MRS.  STETSON  DECLARES:    NO  NEW  CHURCH    PLANNED 

DEPOSED    LEADER    INSISTS    SHE     HAS    BEEN    ALWAYS    LOV- 
INGLY   LOYAL    TO   MRS.    EDDY 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American: — 

Will  you  kindly  permit  me  to  correct  a  statement 
which  appeared  in  this  morning's  American,  that 
"Mrs.  Stetson  is  to  start  another  church."     I  have  no 


868  Letters  to  the  Press 

such  intention,  nor  has  such  a  step  ever  occurred  to 
me.  No  body  of  my  students  has  convened  in  my 
home  for  any  such  purpose,  nor  elsewhere  to  my 
knowledge.  I  have  never  heard  a  student  suggest 
another  church.  We  are  grateful  to  our  God  for 
having  enabled  us  to  build  a  church  for  the  Cause  of 
Christian  Science  and  as  a  tribute  of  love  and  grati- 
tude to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science  and  the 
author  of  its  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures.  This  dear  church  is  built  on  the 
rock  of  spiritual  understanding,  Christ,  Truth,  and 
Love.  It  is  now  passing  through  an  experience  which 
will  unite,  in  the  bonds  of  spiritual  love,  all  who  are 
willing  to  suffer  with  Christ  that  they  may  reign  with 
him. 

It  is  only  when  my  loyalty  to  my  revered  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  to  The  Mother  Church  and  to  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science  is  questioned,  that  I  protest 
and  ask  to  be  heard.  It  must  be  apparent  to  all 
thinkers  that  history  is  repeating  itself  in  this  mental 
conflict.  I  declared  my  steadfast  allegiance  to  Christ, 
to  my  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  to  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science,  twenty-five  years  ago,  and 
though  my  path  has  been  beset  by  constant  opposition 
at  every  step  of  my  progress  from  the  human  to  the 
divine  consciousness,  I  have  never  wavered  in  my 
faith  in  God  nor  in  my  loving  loyalty  to  His  highest 
manifestation  of  Truth  in  this  age,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

With  each  test  of  my  trust  in  my  heavenly  Father's 
guiding  hand  and  protecting  love,  I  have  risen  to 
grasp  more  firmly  the  sword  of  the  Spirit — the  invin- 
cible Word  of  God.  Love  must  fulfil  Her  law.  I  am 
invulnerable   to   the   suggestion  that   I   can  ever  be 


Letters  to  the  Press  869 

separated  from  the  love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord  and  in  my  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
I  am  abiding  in  "the  secret  place  of  the  most  High," 
the  impregnable  fortress  of  Love.  From  this  vantage 
ground  I  am  contemplating  the  Church  Triumphant, 
where  consciousness  is  "wholly  spiritual"  {Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

Our  Leader  says  in  her  message  to  our  church, 
"Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all;"  and  in 
Science  and  Health,  page  495,  "God  will  heal  the  sick 
through  man,  whenever  man  is  governed  by  God." 
This  spiritual  consciousness  is  the  Mind  which  was  in 
Christ  Jesus,  to  which  all  true  Christian  Scientists 
aspire.  The  cross  has  no  terror  for  those  who  discern 
a  world  governed  by  God,  in  which  is  no  sorrow,  sin, 
nor  death.  Love  must  finally  assert  Her  supremacy — 
for  Love  is  God  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness — 
spiritual  and  immortal. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


New  York  Herald  April  4,  1910' 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Herald: — 

The  constant  attacks  that  have  been  made  upon  my 
interpretation  of  the  teaching  of  the  Christian  Science 
text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  the  recent  false 
charges  and  misrepresentation  of  my  words  and  work, 
move  me  to  ask  space  in  your  columns  again  to  de- 
clare my  position  as  a  teacher  and  demonstrator  of 
divine  metaphysics,  which  is  Christian  Science. 

For  nearly  twenty-four  years  I  have  taught  in  this 

1  This  article  appeared  only  in  part. 


870  Letters  to  the  Press 

city  and  proved  the  Principle  of  Christian  Science, 
that  the  power  of  the  "mind  .  .  .  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus"  is  as  effectual  to-day,  in  the  healing  of 
sickness  and  of  sin,  as  it  was  over  nineteen  hundred 
years  ago,  when  demonstrated  by  Christ  Jesus  and 
his  students.  I  have  followed  the  teachings  of  the 
text -book,  as  well  as  the  personal  instruction  of  my 
beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  in  declaring  for 
the  absolute  Science  of  Christianity,  that  God,  or 
good,  is  the  only  creator,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love — that  God  created  man  in  His  own  image  and 
likeness  and  gave  him  "dominion  .  .  .  over  all  the 
earth." 

Therefore,  I  have  unceasingly  proclaimed  man's 
oneness  with  God  and  his  eternal  existence  in  Mind. 
In  my  teachings  I  have  endeavored  to  awaken,  in  my 
students,  faith  in  eternal  Life,  or  Mind,  the  Principle 
of  all  real  being,  and  to  differentiate  between  the  so- 
called  "mortal  man"  and  the  immortal  man,  or  child 
of  God.  Paul  states:  "In  Adam  [mortal  thought, 
belief  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter] 
all  die,"  but  that  "in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive." 
Also,  "To  be  carnally  minded  is  death;  but  to  be 
spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace." 

We  are  taught  in  divine  metaphysics,  or  Christian 
Science,  that  we  must  choose  whom  we  will  serve,  the 
Christ-mind  or  the  carnal  mind,  because  Mind  governs 
the  body  and  produces  all  phenomena.  I  have  chosen 
my  eternal  birthright,  the  Mind  of  Christ,  which  casts 
out  evil  and  heals  the  sick — but,  as  in  the  days  of 
yore,  Truth  meets  with  opposition  from  error,  and 
"The  evil  in  human  nature  foams  at  the  touch  of 
good"  (Message  for  1901,  p.  45). 

I  shall  continue  to  defend  my  spiritual  understanding 


Letters  to  the  Press  871 

of  the  supremacy  and  omnipotence  of  divine  Mind 
over  sickness,  sin,  and  death. 

In  this  battle  of  Truth  over  error,  or  Mind  over 
matter,  "Standeth  God  within  the  shadow,  keeping 
watch  above  His  own."  The  spiritually  minded  are 
grasping  the  grand  realities  of  being,  and,  through 
their  willingness  to  "suffer"  with  Christ  that  they 
may  "  also  reign  with  him, "  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
established  in  the  hearts  of  the  followers  of  Christ. 

Among  the  many  false  charges  and  reversals  of  the 
statements  made  by  me,  I  notice  this:  that  I  have 
gathered  my  students  together  with  a  view  of  organiz- 
ing a  "schism."  I  have  never  called  my  students 
to  me  for  any  purpose  such  as  has  been  imputed  to 
me.  I  have  always  regretted  a  separation  or  schism 
whenever  it  occurred  in  a  church,  and  have  unflinch- 
ingly stood  for  unity  in  the  bonds  of  love,  among  the 
brethren.  I  do  not  need  to  build  another  church. 
I  have  already  prepared  an  edifice,  a  resting-place, 
where  weary,  storm-tossed,  suffering  mortals  may 
find  refuge  from  the  discords  of  material  existence. 
There  humanity  will  learn,  through  the  Holy  Bible, 
and  through  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, by  Mrs.  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of 
Christian  Science,  the  way  to  eternal  Life.  Therefore, 
I  have  no  intention  of  changing  my  fixed  purpose, 
which  is  to  abide  in  spiritual  consciousness,  the  under- 
standing of  the  allness  of  Spirit.  The  law  of  Love 
must  be  fulfilled.  Christian  Scientists  must  be  made 
perfect  in  divine  Love — Love  which  will  finally  free 
them  from  all  the  qualities  of  the  so-called  carnal  mind, 
within  and  without,  and  will  reveal  the  immortal  man 
and  the  universe  of  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


872  Letters  to  the  Press 

The  New  York  Times,  November  16,  1910 
MRS.  STETSON  DENIES  LEADERSHIP  PLOT 

won't  build  another  church,  but  go  right  on  trying 
to  be  christlike — "  denunciation  "  ready  for  her 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  the  deposed  leader  of  the  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  who,  as  told  in  yesterday's 
Times,  is  alleged  to  be  extending  her  influence  throughout 
the  Christian  Science  Church  with  a  view  to  succeeding 
Mrs.  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy,  on  the  death  of  the  aged 
Founder  of  the  sect,  sent  to  The  Times  yesterday  this  letter 
denying  the  latest  allegations  against  her: 

To  the  Editor  of  The  New  York  Times: — 

Repeated  denials  by  me  of  false  and  malicious  reports 
should  make  it  unnecessary  for  me  again  to  refute  the 
charge  that  I  am  in  any  least  particular  working  against 
the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  established  by  my 
beloved  and  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  How- 
ever, the  article  which  appears  in  your  columns  to-day, 
November  15th,  affords  me  an  opportunity  again  to 
declare  publicly  my  unswerving  allegiance  to  the  great 
Leader  of  Christian  Science,  Mrs.  Eddy,  my  unfaltering 
adherence  to  her  teachings  as  set  forth  in  our  text-book, 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  my 
implicit  respect  for  and  obedience  to  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  her  Church  as  contained  in  the  Manual 
of  The  Mother  Church,  nor  will  my  students  who  are 
loyal  to  Principle  and  to  Mrs.  Eddy  and  her  teachings 
ever  be  found  working  in  opposition  to  anything  she 
has  directed  or  may  hereafter  direct. 

It  is  now  nearly  two  years  since  our  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy,  said  in  the  Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvi., 
page  696:  "When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire 


Letters  to  the  Press  873 

to  build  higher  .  .  .  and  demonstrate  Christian  Science 
to  a  higher  extent, — they  must  begin  on  a  wholly  spir- 
itual foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other. " 

To  this  wholly  spiritual  work  I  am  consecrated.  I 
know  that  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.  Our 
revered  Leader  says  in  Science  and  Health,  page  192, 
"We  are  not  Christian  Scientists  until  we  leave  all  for 
Christ."  True  Christian  Scientists  everywhere  are 
seeking  the  "city  which  hath  foundations,"  and  are 
gaining  glorious  glimpses  of  the  consciousness  that 
reveals  the  spiritual  fact,  which  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
expresses  in  these  words:  "Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore 
Spirit  is  all."  In  this  wholly  spiritual  building, 
stationary  stillness,  and  the  reflection  of  divine  Love 
and  Truth  are  indispensable  to  the  attainment  of 
spiritual  power  over  sin,  disease,  and  death. 

You  have  been  erroneously  informed  in  regard  to  my 
having  been  in  Wilmington.  I  have  not  been  away 
from  my  home  for  many  weeks.  I  find  my  time  fully 
employed  in  striving  to  possess  that  "  mind  .  .  .  which 
was  also  in  Christ  Jesus,"  in  healing  the  sick  and 
teaching  humanity  to  utilize  the  power  and  presence 
of  our  heavenly  Father,  divine  Truth,  Life,  and  Love, 
which  demonstrate  the  infinite  capacities  of  man  when 
governed  by  God. 

To  my  knowledge  none  of  my  students  have  as- 
sembled to  consider  the  question  of  the  proposed 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  church,  nor  have  I  heard 
anything  from  them  relating  to  your  statement  that 
"  they  intend  to  take  action. "  Instead  of  this  they  are 
striving  to  fulfil  the  law  of  love  and  establish  the  true 
brotherhood  of  man,  "in  which  one  mind  is  not  at  war 
with  another"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  276).  "For  God 
hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear;  but  of  power,  and 


874  Letters  to  the  Press 

of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind"  (2  Tim.  i.,  7),  and  its 
correlative  from  Science  and  Health,  page  183:  "Obedi- 
ence to  Truth  gives  man  power  and  strength." 

The  oft-repeated  statement  that  I  am  to  "supplant 
or  succeed  Mrs.  Eddy  as  the  head  of  the  entire  cult"  I 
have  repeatedly  and  emphatically  denied.  Christian 
Science  teaches  that  life  is  eternal,  man  is  immortal,  and 
that  no  one  can  take  the  individual  place  of  another. 
In  reply  to  a  clergyman  who  had  said  that  "Christian 
Science  will  be  improved  in  its  teaching  and  authorship 
after  Mrs.  Eddy  is  gone,"  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  in  her 
Message  for  iqoi,  under  the  sub-caption  "Questionable 
Metaphysics, " 

I  am  sorry  for  my  critic,  who  reckons  hopefully  on  the 
death  of  an  individual  who  loves  God  and  man;  such  fore- 
seeing is  not  foreknowing,  and  exhibits  a  startling  ignor- 
ance of  Christian  Science.  .  .  .  for  Life  is  the  Principle  of 
Christian  Science  and  of  its  results.  .  .  .  Christ  came 
not  to  bring  death  but  life  into  the  world. 

I  adhere  steadfastly  to  this  teaching.  Therefore  I 
repeat:  each  individual  has  his  and  her  place  in  the 
body  of  Christ.  No  one  can  take  the  individual  place 
of  another. 

I  trust  I  shall  not  again  be  obliged  to  refute  the  errone- 
ous statement  that  I  contemplate  erecting  another 
material  church  edifice.  That  has  been  fully  and 
finally  demonstrated. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  New  York  Sun,  December  27,  1910 
MRS.  STETSON'S  PATH  OF  DUTY 

Mrs.  Stetson  gave  to  The  Sun  yesterday  the  first  complete 
statement  of  her  attitude  that  she  has  made  since  her  ex- 


Letters  to  the  Press  875 

communication  over  a  year  ago.  In  this  she  sets  forth 
fully  her  belief  in  the  adequacy  of  a  full  understanding  of 
Truth  to  triumph  over  "  the  carnal  mind,"  and  she  says 
that  the  battle  between  Truth  and  the  unreal  is  inevitable. 
She  also  includes  this  significant  statement : 

Great  demands  have  been  made  upon  me  by  a  large 
body  of  students  and  by  Christian  Scientists  in  every 
walk  of  life.  These  demands  have  forced  me  to  gain 
a  higher  understanding  of  the  Science  of  Mind.  This 
has  uncovered  to  me  the  subtler  claims  of  the  workings 
of  the  carnal  mind,  or  malicious  animal  magnetism. 
While  I  see  this  as  a  false  claim,  I  wrestle  with  it  and 
through  the  power  of  the  Christ-consciousness  make  it 
unreal.  I  know,  by  spiritual  intuition,  when  I  am 
attacked  by  malicious  mental  malpractice  in  its  efforts 
to  destroy  my  usefulness,  to  intimidate  or  discourage 
me.  My  defense  is  in  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word 
of  God ;  the  declaration  that  God  is  the  only  power  and 
the  only  presence;  that  divine  Love  fills  all  space;  that 
there  is  no  power  or  presence  opposed  to  God,  nor  to 
man,  who  reflects  Him.  Evil  in  all  its  forms  is  power- 
less to  overcome  good  and  must  disappear  and  leave  the 
field  to  Love,  who  fills  all  space.  This  is  the  mental 
defense  of  a  Christian  Scientist  and  is  not  malpractice. 

In  making  the  full  statement  of  her  position,  taken  since 
her  excommunication,  Mrs.  Stetson  took  occasion  to  enter 
a  formal  denial  of  certain  published  statements  which  cred- 
ited her  with  aiming  at  leadership  over  the  Christian  Science 
Church.  In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  editors  of  several 
newspapers,  other  than  The  Sun,  which  printed  these  re- 
ports, Mrs.  Stetson  said: 

None  of  my  "students  and  close  friends"  ever 
heard  me  say  that  I  "aim  at  leadership  in  the  Christian 


876  Letters  to  the  Press 

Science  organization."  I  have  never  said  it,  nor  do  I 
aspire  to  any  such  position;  neither  have  I  said  that  I 
am  "further  advanced  in  divine  metaphysics  than  any 
other."  I  aim  only  to  be  a  worthy  representative  and 
practical  demonstrator  of  the  teachings  of  Christian 
Science  as  discovered  and  founded  by  our  revered 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy — to  follow  Christ  as  she 
enjoins — to  love  God  supremely  and  my  neighbor  as 
myself. 

I  know  of  no  efforts  being  made  to  reorganize 
the  Christian  Science  Church,  and  the  first  intimation 
I  have  had  of  this  statement  comes  through  your 
columns. 

I  cannot  be  responsible  for  the  words,  opinions,  and 
desires  of  the  many  in  this  city  and  elsewhere  who  have 
become  my  would-be  defenders  and  avowed  friends, 
but  I  solemnly  protest  against  the  affirmation  that  I  am 
engaging  in  any  effort  to  interfere  with  the  Christian 
Science  organization  or  with  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church.  I  stand  for  loyal  allegiance  to  my 
forever  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  strict  adherence  to 
her  teachings  as  found  in  Science  and  Health  and  her 
other  writings,  including  the  Manual  of  The  Mother 
Church.  I  stand  for  unfaltering  faith  in  my  God-given 
ability  to  interpret  and  demonstrate,  step  by  step  in 
the  line  of  spiritual  unfoldment,  the  truth  of  Christian 
Science.  This  is  my  inalienable  right  which  God  grants 
and  defends. 

I  am  sure  that  you  will  appreciate  my  position  in 
this  hour  of  religious  controversy  and  will  manfully 
stand  for  truth  and  justice.  May  I  beg  that  in  future 
you  will  ascertain  whether  statements  made  to  you  are 
true? 

It  must  be  evident  to  the  twentieth  century  thinker 


Letters  to  the  Press  877 

that  this  is  the  dawn  of  a  new  era,  where  the  Christ- 
mind  is  becoming  the  standard  of  man. 

In  regard  to  spiritual  ascendency  and  supremacy, 
let  me  quote  from  an  article  by  Mrs.  Eddy  entitled  "  The 
Way  of  Wisdom,"  published  in  the  Christian  Science 
Sentinel  of  January  16,  1909,  before  I  had  resigned  from 
my  church  and  while  I  was  a  member  of  its  Board  of 
Trustees : 

When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher, — to  enlarge  their  phylacteries  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent, — they  must  begin  on  a 
wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other, 
and  proportionably  estimate  their  success  and  glory  of 
achievement  only  as  they  build  upon  the  rock  of  Christ, 
the  spiritual  foundation.  This  will  open  the  way,  widely 
and  impartially,  to  their  never-ending  success, — to  salva- 
tion and  eternal  Christian  Science. 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "  There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science, 
but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated. 

I  shall  continue  to  follow  in  this  line  of  light. 

The  following  is  the  statement  of  her  position  which  she 
prepared  last  April  and  which  she  has  never  published  in 
'•  this  cris's  in  the  warfare  between  Truth  and  error,"  and 
which  Mrs.  Stetson  gave  yesterday  to  a  Sun  reporter  at 
her  home,  7  West  Ninety-sixth  Street : 

Christian  Science  teaches  that  there  is  but  one 
Mind — one  God;  therefore  "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its 
infinite  manifestation,  for  God  is  All-in-all"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  468).  The  great  creative  Principle  is 
Spirit,  Mind,  intelligence.     Man  is  God's  idea  or  child, 


878  Letters  to  the  Press 

made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  his  creator,  God. 
There  is  but  one  God,  one  creator,  and  one  man — 
which  is  the  universe  or  manifestation  of  God,  or  God 
and  His  Christ,  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  In- 
dividual man  is  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ.  There 
is  but  one  primal  cause — one  Mind;  therefore  man  is  a 
mental  being,  emanating  from  God,  the  source  of  all 
life.  Man  reflects  Mind  as  the  ray  reflects  the  sun. 
All  the  rays  proceed  from  the  sun  and  compose  the  sun. 
Thus  we  see  in  divine  metaphysics  that  man  cannot  be 
separated  from  God.  He  cannot  be  detached  from  his 
source,  neither  can  God  be  deprived  of  His  ideas  or 
thoughts.  This  is  absolute  Christian  Science  as  taught 
in  our  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  our  revered  and 
beloved  Leader. 

We  have  Scriptural  authority  for  this  creation  in 
the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  where  we  read  that  "God 
created  man  in  His  own  image,  in  the  image  of  God 
created  He  him.  .  .  .  And  God  saw  everything  that 
He  had  made,  and,  behold,  it  was  very  good."  And 
God  gave  man  dominion  over  all  the  earth.  I  stand 
immovable  in  this  conviction,  unflinchingly  defending 
my  true  consciousness,  my  spiritual  selfhood.  I  admit, 
as  real,  but  one  power,  one  presence — omnipotent, 
omniscient,  and  omnipresent  Mind,  and  I  declare  my 
oneness  with  this  great  and  only  source  of  being — our 
Father-Mother  God.  The  opposite,  so-called  mortal 
mind,  or  Adam,  is  not  the  real  man,  but  is  the  mortal 
mind  which  is  always  opposed  to  the  Christ-mind;  one 
is  truth,  the  other  is  error — a  false  mentality  which 
expresses  itself  in  a  material  embodiment  and  manifests 
sin,  sickness,  and  death.  These  two  opposing  mental 
forces  have  always  been  antagonistic. 


Letters  to  the  Press  879 

The  great  master  Metaphysician,  Jesus  the  Christ, 
gained  a  sublime  victory  over  the  material  senses,  the 
world,  the  flesh,  and  evil.  He  is  our  example.  Our 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  discovered  and  founded  Christian 
Science  through  her  apprehension  of  the  superiority  of 
Spirit  over  matter,  or  the  divine  consciousness  over  the 
material  senses.  She  learned  through  a  highly  de- 
veloped spiritual  sense  and  by  constant  communion 
with  God  and  study  of  His  Word  how  Jesus  performed 
his  mighty  works  of  healing  the  sick  and  destroying  sin. 
She  is  following  the  example  of  Christ  and  has  estab- 
lished this  great  religious  truth  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  have  spiritual  discernment  to  comprehend  it. 
Progress  is  the  law  of  the  infinite.  As  Truth  urges 
Her  claim  upon  mortals  She  meets  resistance  from  the 
carnal  mind.  Only  the  dauntlessly  brave  who  have 
enlisted  in  this  warfare  dare  to  encounter  the  hostility 
of  the  relentless  foe  to  Christ — the  carnal  mind.  The 
battle  is  on  for  the  supremacy  of  immortal  Mind  over 
the  mortal,  material  senses.  I  have  no  fear  for  the 
result.  Truth  is  always  the  victor.  My  opponents 
declare  that  my  teaching  is  erroneous  because  it  con- 
flicts with  their  interpretation  of  Science  and  Health, 
from  their  standpoint,  which  is  that  they  are  mortal 
now,  but  in  the  hereafter  they  will  gain  immortality. 
I  declare  that  "Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God;"  that  now 
is  man  a  divine  emanation  of  Spirit,  and  in  the  words  of 
Jesus,  "He that  believeth  on  me  hath  everlasting  life." 
This  understanding  will  destroy  the  belief  in  a  power 
opposed  to  God — called  mortal  mind. 

Thought  is  force.  It  must  be  obvious  to  the 
twentieth  century  thinker  that  man's  real  consciousness, 
which  proceeds  from  God,  must  carry  with  it  the  power 
of  God,  with  which  He  endowed  man.     This  is  the 


880  Letters  to  the  Press 

truth  of  being  and  must  be  demonstrated  by  humanity 
either  here  or  hereafter.  Paul  says:  "For  to  be  carnally 
minded  is  death;  but  to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life 
and  peace"  (Rom.  viii.,  6). 

To  be  a  follower  of  Christ,  a  true  Christian  Scien- 
tist, demands  not  alone  profession,  but  demonstration. 
Many  are  called  who  enlist  in  this  race  for  immortality, 
but  because  of  the  price  which  Truth  requires  (the 
sacrifice  of  personal  self,  self-will,  personal  ambition, 
and  the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence  in  matter)  few 
continue  to  press  onward  to  the  goal.  Many  fall  by 
the  wayside  through  lack  of  moral  courage,  others 
through  lack  of  comprehension  of  the  deep  things  of 
God,  and  many  because  of  self-love,  self-will,  and  desire 
for  worldly  popularity. 

They  are  slaves  who  will  not  choose 

Hatred,  scoffing,  and  abuse, 

Rather  than  in  silence  shrink 

From  the  truth  they  needs  must  think; 

They  are  slaves  who  dare  not  be 

In  the  right  with  two  or  three.1 

The  true  Christian  Scientist  sings  with  the  spirit 
and  with  the  understanding,  "In  the  cross  of  Christ  I 
glory,"  because  the  cross  is  illumined  by  the  presence  of 
the  invisible  Christ.  The  cup  my  Father  has  given  me 
to  drink  has  within  it  no  redundant  drop,  "[love's] 
rod  and  [love's]  staff  they  comfort  me"  (Science  and 
Health,  p .  578). 

St.  Paul  says,  "But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love, 
joy,  peace,  longsuffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance"  (Gal.  v.,  22,  23).  This  I  have 
proved  amid  the  most  terrible  experiences  which  any 

1  Lowell. 


Letters  to  the  Press  88 1 

one  was  ever  compelled  to  endure.  I  have  never  for  a 
moment,  during  twenty-five  years,  wavered  in  my 
allegiance  to  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
I  have  never  doubted  her  wisdom,  nor  permitted  a 
criticism  of  her  words  or  works.  I  have  always  been 
profoundly  grateful  for  her  unselfed  love  for  humanity 
and  for  me.  I  have  deeply  appreciated  her  gentle 
guidance  and  her  stern,  loving  rebuke;  her  forbearing 
patience  and  her  watchful  care  of  my  feeble  efforts 
to  follow  Christ  and  to  demonstrate  the  power  and 
presence  of  Truth  and  Love.  I  would  be  an  ingrate 
should  I  fail  to  appreciate  all  I  have  received  from  my 
beloved  Leader.  Could  she,  for  twenty-five  years, 
have  walked  with  a  faithful,  obedient  student,  and 
forsake  such  in  the  crucial  hour,  when  that  student  was 
standing  for  the  spiritual  reality  which  she  teaches? 

I  believe  I  am  demonstrating  the  spiritual  law,  or 
power  of  omnipotent  Love  against  opposing  forces  in 
the  realm  of  mortal  mind.  I  believe  I  am  obedient 
to  the  law  of  divine  Mind,  because  I  have  demonstrated 
the  power  of  the  Christ-mind  over  nearly  every  disease 
to  which  flesh  is  heir.  During  twenty-four  years  in  this 
city,  as  a  demonstrator  of  the  power  of  divine  Mind,  I 
have  risen  above  seemingly  insurmountable  obstacles 
in  building  a  church  edifice,  and  in  building  characters 
on  the  rock  of  spiritual  understanding  of  the  allness  of 
God,  and  the  nothingness  of  a  suppositional  power 
opposed  to  God — called  mortal  mind  or  evil.  I  have 
proved  the  Principle  of  being  in  perfect  physical  health, 
a  perfectly  harmonious  environment,  and  calm  peace 
which  is  inexpressible — a  trust  in  ever-present,  omnipo- 
tent Love,  which  must  be  unity  with  the  source  of  my 
being.     I  have  not  yet  attained  to  the  heights  of  spiritual 

power,  but  I  have  gained  sufficient  to  meet  this  hour. 
56 


882  Letters  to  the  Press 

There  is  a  problem  before  the  world  that  has  never 
been  solved.  The  Bible  has  been  a  sealed  book.  Mrs. 
Eddy  has  opened  this  seal  and  given  to  the  world  the 
"Key"  to  the  hidden  treasures  of  the  Word  of  God  and 
man's  unity  with  his  Maker.  She  has  unmasked  the 
forces  of  so-called  evil  which  compose  the  carnal  mind, 
namely,  belief  of  life  in  matter,  which  is  sin,  fear,  malice, 
hatred,  revenge,  envy,  hypocrisy,  etc.,  which  have 
deceived  the  whole  world.  With  the  power  of  the  Word 
of  God  (our  spiritual  consciousness)  we  are  freeing 
ourselves  and  humanity  from  these  false  forces,  and  are 
teaching  the  Truth  which  sets  free  from  sin,  sickness, 
and  death.  The  human  contest  is  for  spiritual  domin- 
ion which  God  has  given  to  the  Christ-man.  The 
materially  minded  do  not  comprehend  spiritual  facts. 
Paul  says,  "But  the  natural  man  receive th  not  the 
things  of  the  Spirit  of  God :  for  they  are  foolishness  unto 
him:  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they  are 
spiritually  discerned"  (i  Cor.  ii.,  14). 

One  would  not  expect  a  pupil  in  addition  to  compre- 
hend the  terms  used  in  algebra,  so  in  Christian  Science 
only  those  who  strive  manfully  keep  abreast  with 
Truth,  but  these  are  one  with  God,  therefore  are  a 
majority. 

To-day  it  is  a  question  of  ecclesiastical  control  or 
despotism,  official  domination  of  material  sense,  as  op- 
posed to  individual  understanding  and  spiritual  sense. 

In  my  teaching  and  practice  I  am  closely  following 
the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  as  I  have  done  for 
twenty-five  years.  This  book  is  continually  unfolding 
to  me  the  wonders  hidden  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world  in  the  law  of  God,  but  now  made  manifest  in  the 
operation  of  that  law  or  Mind-force  to  those  who  can 
discern  it,  who  work  for  it  and  utilize  it,  in  gaining  their 


Letters  to  the  Press  883 

freedom  from  the  bondage  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 
Only  the  works  will  prove  whether  it  is  I  or  the  Direc- 
tors of  The  Mother  Church  who  understand  this  law 
sufficiently  to  demonstrate  it. 

There  is  no  evidence,  as  yet,  that  the  Directors  are 
the  demonstrators  of  the  teachings  of  Science  and  Health 
in  the  signs  which  follow — the  healing  of  the  sick,  the 
reforming  of  the  sinner,  and  the  abasement  of  material 
selfhood,  or  that  their  judgment  of  divine  metaphysics 
or  Christian  Science  is  infallible.  They  have,  up  to  this 
time,  been  good  business  men  who  have  conducted  the 
temporal  affairs  of  the  material  organization  in  a  thor- 
oughly satisfactory  manner.  Now  they  are  called  upon 
to  show  their  understanding  of  divine  metaphysics  and 
to  judge  me,  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  oldest  students,  with 
whom  she  has  walked  in  close  association  and  with 
devoted  love  for  twenty-five  years.  During  those  years 
I  have  given  all  my  time  to  the  study  and  demonstra- 
tion of  Christian  Science,  and  thousands  have  been 
healed  and  have  accepted  Christianity,  according  to 
Christian  Science,  in  that  time.  The  Directors  are 
acting  in  their  capacity  of  "the  highest  ecclesiastical 
tribunal"  of  a  material  organization.  Mrs.  Eddy  says 
in  regard  to  organization : 

Despite  the  prosperity  of  my  church,  it  was  learned 
that  material  organization  has  its  value  and  peril,  and  that 
organization  is  requisite  only  in  the  earliest  periods  in 
Christian  history.  After  this  material  form  of  cohesion 
and  fellowship  has  accomplished  its  end,  continued  organi- 
zation retards  spiritual  growth,  and  should  be  laid  off, — 
even  as  the  corporeal  organization  deemed  requisite  in 
the  first  stages  of  mortal  existence  is  finally  laid  off,  in 
order  to  gain  spiritual  freedom  and  supremacy. 

From    careful    observation    and    experience    came    my 


884  Letters  to  the  Press 

clue  to  the  uses  and  abuses  of  organization.  Therefore, 
in  accord  with  my  special  request,  followed  that  noble, 
unprecedented  action  of  the  Christian  Scientist  Association 
connected  with  my  College  when  dissolving  that  organiza- 
tion,— in  forgiving  enemies,  returning  good  for  evil,  in 
following  Jesus'  command,  "Whosoever  shall  smite  thee 
on  thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also."  I  saw 
these  fruits  of  Spirit,  long-suffering  and  temperance, 
fulfil  the  law  of  Christ  in  righteousness.  I  also  saw  that 
Christianity  has  withstood  less  the  temptation  of  popu- 
larity than  of  persecution  (Retrospection  and  Introspec- 
tion, p.  45). 

Progress  is  the  law  of  divine  Mind,  God.  Those 
who  are  ready,  rally  to  Truth's  standard.  They  heed 
not  the  overturning  and  upheaval  of  false  theories  and 
erroneous  material  interpretations  of  Truth  and  Her 
laws.  Mortals  cannot  arrest  the  onward  march  of 
divine  Science,  which  seems,  to  human  sense  at  the 
present  hour,  to  be  "on  the  scaffold;"  nor  can  it  terrify 
Her  standard-bearers  by  threats  and  invectives.  I 
cannot  wrong  my  intelligence  by  accepting  another's 
interpretation  of  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health, 
which  interpretation  is  directly  opposed  to  my  under- 
standing of  my  Leader's  teachings. 

I  have  solved  many  perplexing  problems  in  this 
most  material  and  active  of  cities  and  have  proved  the 
power  of  God  over  the  claim  of  evil,  of  love  over  the 
claim  of  hate,  malice,  jealousy,  etc. 

Mrs.  Eddy,  herself,  is  above  and  beyond  this  mental 
battle  which  must  be  worked  out  by  me  as  a  metaphysi- 
cal problem.  I  am  like  a  mathematician  who  stands 
before  the  blackboard  working  out  a  rule.  The 
audience  is  the  world,  interested  only  in  the  conclusion. 
I  am  not  looking  for  my  beloved  Leader  to  spare  me 


Letters  to  the  Press  885 

humiliation  or  shorten  the  process  by  coming  forward 
and  showing  me  where  I  should  add  and  where  divide. 
I  have  had  three  classes  of  personal  instruction  by 
her,  in  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  and 
during  twenty-five  years  have  received  her  personal 
instruction  and  frequent  letters  up  to  the  30th  of 
August,  1909.  If  I  have  not  attained  sufficient  spiritual 
understanding  by  years  of  watching,  working,  prayer, 
and  demonstration,  to  meet  this  hour,  I  merit  defeat. 
Jesus,  alone  with  God  met  his  test  of  the  power  of  his 
Christ-consciousness  over  the  material  world.  He  was 
tempted  with  doubt  as  to  his  ability  to  conquer  the 
malice  of  the  world  when  he  cried  out,  "My  God,  my 
God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me?" 

While  in  Boston,  under  the  greatest  stress,  for  one 
moment  I  said,  "I  may  have  been  wrong,  but  I  thought 
I  was  absolutely  right."  Instantly  I  recognized  that  I 
was  meeting  doubt,  which  was  immediately  dispelled. 
I  knew,  that  my  teachings,  and  interpretations  of 
Science  and  Health  were,  and  had  been,  absolutely  cor- 
rect, and  I  could  not  be  induced  to  admit  that  I  was 
wrong,  although  excommunication  would  follow.  I 
knew  that  my  students  and  my  church  would  have  to 
meet  the  test  of  my  excommunication,  which  would  tax 
their  faith  and  understanding.  They  had  always  been 
taught  by  me  to  love  and  obey  our  revered  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy,  and  to  respect  constituted  authority. 

Yet  seeing  all  this  before  me,  I  stood  unswervingly 
for  my  Christ-consciousness  and  for  my  beloved  Leader, 
whose  every  word  has  been  to  me  the  voice  of  wisdom 
and  Love.  She  has  never,  during  this  crisis  in  the 
warfare  between  Truth  and  error,  condemned  my 
teaching  or  practice.  I  am  her  loyal,  loving,  obedient 
student.     If  she  considered  my  interpretation  of  her 


886  Letters  to  the  Press 

teaching  erroneous  she  would  inform  me.  Until  she 
does  I  shall  defend  my  position,  and  from  the  vantage 
ground  of  divine  Love  I  shall  strive  to  make  the  claim 
of  evil  unreal  and  wait  on  God  for  the  result.  This 
battle  is  inevitable.  Christ's  kingdom  must  be  es- 
tablished on  earth. 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never 

call  retreat; 
He  is   sifting   out  the  hearts  of  men  before  his 

judgment  seat.1 

The  conflict  will  not  cease  until  victory  rests  on  the 
side  of  immutable  Truth.  Man  is  immortal.  Mortal 
man  is  a  myth,  which  will  disappear  when  man  awakes 
to  the  truth  of  his  being — that  he  is  not  material,  but 
spiritual,  an  emanation  of  divine  Mind.  For  this 
mental  Messiah  I  am  contending. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

New  York  American,  a  January  4,  191 1 

MRS.  EDDY  TO  RISE,  MRS.  STETSON  INSISTS  J 

I  stand  immovable  on  the  rock  of  spiritual  under- 
standing, against  the  efforts  of  all  who  would  hold,  in 
the  bondage  of  flesh  and  the  grave,  this  God-impelled 
contestant  for  immortality,  our  revered  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  in  her  final  demonstration  of  eternal  Life. 
Referring  to  Jesus,  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Out  of  reach  of  the  barbarity  of  his  enemies,  he  was 
acting  under  spiritual  law  in  defiance  of  matter  and  mor- 

1  Julia  Ward  Howe  2  This  article  appeared  only  in  part. 

J  Mrs.  Stetson's  Defense  of  the  Teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
She  Persistently  Contends  for  Immortality. 


Letters  to  the  Press  887 

tality,  and  that  spiritual  law  sustained  him.     The  divine 
must  overcome  the  human  at  every  point.  .  .  . 
Truth   and   Life  must   seal   the  victory   over  error   and 
death.  .  .  . 

The  lonely  precincts  of  the  tomb  gave  Jesus  a  refuge  from 
his  foes,  a  place  in  which  to  solve  the  great  problem  of 
being  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  43,  44). 

If  another  would  arise  from  the  thousands  who  have 
been  taught  the  Science  of  Christianity,  the  spiritual 
facts  of  being,  and  would  defend  the  teaching  of  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  and  admit  the  possibility  of  her  final 
demonstration,  I  would  not  be  forced  to  the  front  to 
testify  to  my  convictions  that  she  will  finally  prove 
victor  over  death  and  the  tomb, — the  illusions  of 
corporeal  sense,  which  must  vanish  under  the  radium 
of  Spirit — the  light  that  reveals  the  nothingness  of 
matter,  the  allness  of  Spirit,  and  the  spiritual  universe, 
including  spiritual  man. 

Mrs.  Eddy  gained  her  understanding  of  the  spiritual 
facts  of  being  by  her  study  of  the  Bible,  from  Genesis 
to  Revelation.  Many  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  grasp 
the  fact  that  she  was  God-inspired  and  God-anointed  to 
reveal  the  deep  things  of  God,  and  to  interpret  Jesus' 
teachings  and  demonstration.  Many  do  not  believe 
that  the  Christ-principle,  which  operated  through  the 
man  Jesus,  destroying  the  human  and  revealing  the 
divine,  has  again  appeared  in  woman,  in  fulfilment  of 
the  law  of  God,  through  whom  Christ,  at  his  second 
coming,  again  demonstrates  his  mighty  power,  in 
proof  of  the  nothingness  of  flesh  and  of  the  allness  of 
Spirit,  thereby  revealing  the  divine  element  or  Christ- 
idea,  as  the  real  and  ideal  man. 

Again  is  consciousness  agitated  as  to  the  possibility 
or  impossibility  of  a  proof  of  eternal  life,  after  seeming 


888  Letters  to  the  Press 

death,  a  demonstration  which  was  made  two  thousand 
years  ago,  by  the  Nazarene  prophet,  Jesus.  For  cen- 
turies, from  the  pulpit,  this  proof  of  the  power  of  God 
to  restore  to  man  his  dominion,  eternal  Life,  has  been 
endorsed.  The  clergy  have  encouraged  the  faith  and 
hope  of  the  people,  by  references  in  sermons,  to  the 
proof  which  Jesus  gave  of  the  victory  of  his  Christ-mind 
over  death  and  the  tomb.  They  have  oft  repeated,  to 
listening  ears,  the  question  of  Paul,  "Why  should  it  be 
thought  a  thing  incredible  with  you,  that  God  should 
raise  the  dead?"     (Acts  xxvi.,  8.) 

Has  the  gospel  of  immortality  been  preached  for 
ages  to  those  who  were  believers  in  the  words  and 
demonstrations  of  Jesus  as  their  Way-shower,  with  the 
result  that  no  faith  has  been  inspired  in  the  ability  of 
man  to  follow  Jesus  in  his  demonstration  of  the  Christ - 
mind  over  the  human? 

The  inability  of  the  unillumined  human  mind  to 
grasp  divine  metaphysics,  and  to  discern  man's  oneness 
with  God,  Spirit,  cannot  prevent  the  verification  of 
Scripture,  "Unto  them  that  look  for  him  shall  he 
appear  the  second  time  without  sin  [flesh]  unto  salva- 
tion" (Heb.  ix.,  28).  Prophets  and  seers  have  been  re- 
jected throughout  all  time.  The  opposition  to  Jesus 
found  expression  in  these  words:  "Can  there  any  good 
thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?"     (John  i.,  46.) 

To  all  his  efforts  to  convince  them,  they  turned  a 
deaf  ear,  until,  finally,  Jesus  said,  "If  I  tell  you,  ye 
will  not  believe:  and  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not 
answer  me,  nor  let  me  go"  (Luke  xxii.,  67,  68). 

Ringing  down  through  the  ages,  the  voice  of  God 
has  been  heard:  "Touch  not  Mine  anointed,  and  do 
My  prophets  no  harm"  (1  Chron.  xvi.,  22).  The 
materially  minded   did  not   then,   nor  do  they  now, 


Letters  to  the  Press  889 

comprehend  the  mental  Messiah,  whose  mighty  power 
and  immanence  are  again  stirring  the  carnal  mind  to 
resistance  amounting  to  frenzy.  As  they  cried  out  in 
the  days  of  the  first  demonstrator  of  Christ,  so  they 
cry  to-day,  "What  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  God?  art  thou  come  hither  to  torment  us 
before  the  time?"     (Matt,  viii.,  29.) 

Our  God-anointed  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  says: 
"The  foam  and  fury  of  illegitimate  living  and  of  fearful 
and  doleful  dying  should  disappear  on  the  shore  of  time ; 
then  the  waves  of  sin,  sorrow,  and  death  beat  in  vain" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  203).  Again,  on  this  subject, 
Mrs.  Eddy  speaks  in  unmistakable  terms,  arguing  for 
the  supremacy  of  immortal  consciousness,  and  the 
manifestation  of  the  spiritual  man. 

THERE   IS   NO    DEATH 

A  suppositional  gust  of  evil  in  this  evil  world  is  the 
dark  hour  that  precedes  the  dawn.  This  gust  blows  away 
the  baubles  of  belief,  for  there  is  in  reality  no  evil,  no 
disease,  no  death ;  and  the  Christian  Scientist  who  believes 
that  he  dies,  gains  a  rich  blessing  of  disbelief  in  death, 
and  a  higher  realization  of  heaven. 

My  beloved  Edward  A.  Kimball,  whose  clear,  correct 
teaching  of  Christian  Science  has  been  and  is  an  inspiration 
to  the  whole  Field,  is  here  now  as  veritably  as  when  he 
visited  me  a  year  ago.  If  we  would  awaken  to  this  recog- 
nition, we  should  see  him  here  and  realize  that  he  never 
died;  thus  demonstrating  the  fundamental  truth  of 
Christian  Science. 

MARY  BAKER  EDDY. 

(Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  10.) 

The  desire  of  the  true  Christian  Scientists  is  so  to 
spiritualize  thought,   that  they  may  behold   man  di- 


890  Letters  to  the  Press 

vested  of  the  flesh,  and  manifesting  the  sons  of  God, 
the  expression  of  pure  Mind  or  Spirit.  The  absolute 
unreality  of  matter,  of  sin,  disease,  and  death  was 
revealed  by  the  Master's  sublime  triumph  over  all 
mortal  mentality.  Christian  Scientists  are  pressing 
forward  to  the  goal  for  the  prize  of  immortality. 

The  second  demonstrator  of  Truth,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
will  not  leave  the  valley  and  shadow  of  death  uncon- 
quered,  nor  fail  in  her  sublime  victory  over  the  dream 
of  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance  as  existent  in 
matter.     She  says  in  Unity  of  Good,  page  46 : 

I  do  not  deny,  I  maintain,  the  individuality  and  reality 
of  man;  but  I  do  so  on  a  divine  Principle,  not  based  on  a 
human  conception  and  birth.  The  scientific  man  and  his 
Maker  are  here;  and  you  would  be  none  other  than  this 
man,  if  you  would  subordinate  the  fleshly  perceptions 
to  the  spiritual  sense  and  source  of  being. 

True  Christian  Scientists  are  subordinating  the 
fleshly  perceptions  to  "the  spiritual  sense  and  source 
of  being."  They  know  that  through  spiritual  sense 
alone  can  they  reveal  spiritual  man. 

I  note,  with  deep  appreciation,  that  the  columns  of 
the  press  of  this  city  accord  to  me  equal  rights  with 
man  to  express  my  Christian  convictions.  The  hour 
has  passed  when  the  press  and  the  pulpit  order  woman 
to  the  rear,  or  place  her  upon  the  rack  for  proclaiming 
the  possibility  of  immortality,  through  demonstration 
over  sin  and  death,  and  a  repetition,  through  woman, 
of  the  demonstration  of  the  Christ-mind. 

The  holy  life  and  example  and  Christly  teachings  of 
this  godly  woman,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  followed  the 
Master,  in  his  demonstration,  even  to  enter  the  valley 
and  shadow  of  death,  are  incentives  to  her  followers  to 


Letters  to  the  Press  891 

watch  for  her  reappearance,  lest  coming  quickly  she 
find  them  sleeping. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  Kansas  City  (Mo.)  Star,  March  24,  191 1 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Star: — 

I  have  noticed  in  your  issue  of  January  27th,  an  article 
headed  "Mrs.  Stetson's  Piety  a  Cloak.  Her  Talk  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  Resurrection  Is  Not  Sincere." 

I  am  not  acquainted  with  the  writer,  Mr.  J  .  .  . 
H  .  .  .  W.  .  .  .  I  know,  however,  that  I  am  absolutely 
sincere  and  correct,  according  to  Christian  Science,  in 
my  convictions,  and  have  positive  and  unquestionable 
proof  that  Mrs.  Eddy  has  always  commended  my 
interpretation  of  Christian  Science  as  taught  by  her, 
and  my  ability  to  handle  the  claim  of  evil,  in  all  its 
phases,  through  the  power  of  Truth  and  Love. 

However  strongly  Mr.  W.  .  .  may  advocate  the 
impossibility  of  Mrs.  Eddy  making  a  final  demonstra- 
tion over  the  "last  enemy,"  death,  I  shall  continue  to 
declare  for  the  allness  of  Life,  and  the  nothingness  of 
death,  according  to  her  teachings.  I  know  that  if  the 
teachings  of  Science  and  Health  are  true — and  they  are — 
there  should  be  some  Christian  Scientists  sufficiently 
spiritually  advanced  to  comprehend  the  possibility  of 
such  a  proof. 

The  writer  goes  on  to  say:  "The  campaign  of  pub- 
licity carried  on  by  Mrs.  Stetson  to  enforce  her  views 
upon  the  public  and  to  impress  them  with  the  convic- 
tion that  she  is  an  exponent  of  the  Christian  Science 
doctrine,  was  again  illustrated  by  her  repeated  assertion, 
published  in  the  Star,  that  Mrs.  Eddy  would  rise  again." 


892  Letters  to  the  Press 

I  do  not  understand  Mr.  W.  .  .'s  expression  "rise 
again. ' 

Our  beloved  Leader  was  a  follower  of  Jesus  the 
Christ,  and  should  she  not  follow  him  through  the 
experience  which  made  him  victor  over  the  "last 
enemy,"  death?  Can  she  as  Teacher,  Leader,  and 
demonstrator  of  eternal  man,  avoid  this  experience? 
Christian  Scientists  to-day  should  be  spiritually  illu- 
mined and  understand  the  possibility  of  this  final 
demonstration  of  our  Leader.  There  are  many  who 
hope,  and  others  who  trust,  and  believe  that  the  power 
of  the  Christ-mind  possessed  by  Mrs.  Eddy  will  en- 
able her  to  demonstrate,  to  the  world,  the  power  and 
presence  of  an  endless  life. 

Again  Mr.  W.  .  .  says:  "In  all  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
writings  not  one  word  appears  to  prove  that  she  enter- 
tained the  thought  of  rising  from  the  dead,  and  students 
of  her  teachings  have  never  been  so  taught. " 

Mrs.  Eddy  certainly  never  entertained  for  one 
moment  the  thought  of  "rising  from  the  dead."  She 
entertained  only  the  thought  of  overcoming  the  belief 
of  a  claim  called  death,  as  the  master  Metaphysician, 
Jesus  the  Christ,  overcame  it.  This  can  be  proved  by 
her  own  words. 

For  the  students  of  Christian  Science  who  have  been 
taught  by  other  teachers  than  Mrs.  Eddy,  I  cannot 
answer;  but  I  have  had  the  privilege  of  three  classes  in 
the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  under  her 
personal  instruction;  two  years  of  personal  association 
with  her  before  she  sent  me  to  New  York,  and  many 
visits  to  her  during  the  twenty -four  years  in  New  York 
City,  when  I  received  much  personal  advice  in  my 
church  work,  and  counsel  on  metaphysical  points.  I 
have  received  frequent  letters  from  her  during  a  corre- 


Letters  to  the  Press  893 

spondence  covering  twenty-four  years,  and  her  final 
advice  to  me  in  a  letter  of  August  30,  1909,  is  unmis- 
takable, and  will  be  fearlessly  and  faithfully  obeyed. 
I  am  convinced  that  I  am  absolutely  right  in  my  position 
as  to  her  inevitable  demonstration  of  Truth  and  Love — 
her  divine  selfhood,  over  the  mental  phases  of  human 
belief,  through  which  she  is  at  present  demonstrating, 
to  dissolve  the  darkness  of  the  "shadow"  with  the 
spiritual  radium  of  eternal  Life. 

After  denouncing  me  and  misrepresenting  my 
methods,  Mr.  W.  .  .  states  his  opinion  of  me,  which  I 
grant  him  the  right  to  entertain.  There  are  hundreds 
of  Christian  Scientists,  however,  whose  opinions  differ 
from  Mr.  W.  .  .'s,  and  hundreds  who  do  not  judge 
me,  because  they  have  no  personal  knowledge  of  my 
teachings.  There  are  those  who  prefer  to  judge  my 
works  of  twenty-four  years  of  public  healing  and 
teaching  in  my  church,  of  which  I  am  the  spiritual  head. 
They  have  acquainted  themselves  with  my  past 
demonstrations,  and  are  awaiting  a  proof  of  my  future 
work,  which  will  decide  whether  my  convictions,  life, 
and  teachings  are  consistent  with  the  instructions  of 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  our  text- 
book, by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

It  is  an  interesting  feature  of  my  experience  of  mental 
development  in  this  hour,  that  many  have  been  moved 
to  investigate  divine  metaphysics.  Science  and  Health 
is  in  the  hands  of  hundreds  of  non-Scientists  because  of 
this  controversy. 

The  writer  also  charges  me  with  courting  publicity. 
I  never  appear  before  the  public  except  when  allegiance 
to  my  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  my  loyalty  to  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science  are  attacked.  I  would  not  be 
true  to  myself  if,  when  I  am  misrepresented  and  false 


894  Letters  to  the  Press 

statements  are  made  against  me,  I  did  not  defend  my 
spiritual  convictions  of  Christian  Science.  I  must  to 
mine  "own  self  be  true."  I  shall  continue  to  stand, 
in  the  future  as  I  have  stood  during  the  past  twenty- 
six  years,  unfaltering  in  faithful  faith,  an  inspired 
soldier  of  Christian  Science.  I  shall  teach  and  practise 
Christian  Science  as  taught  me  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
I  shall  continue  to  demonstrate  the  spiritual  animus  of 
Christian  Science — divine  love  for  God  and  man. 
When  Peter  and  John  were  commanded  (by  the  rulers 
of  Israel)  not  to  speak  at  all,  nor  teach  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  they  "answered  and  said  unto  them,  Whether 
it  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God  to  hearken  unto  you  more 
than  unto  God,  judge  ye.  For  we  cannot  but  speak  the 
things  which  we  have  seen  and  heard"  (Acts  iv.,  19, 
20). 

The  "enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  910)  has  never  been  able  to  hush  the  voice 
of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  as  she  declared  for  God's  omni- 
potence, omniscience,  and  omnipresence,  expressed  in 
spiritual  man,  and  the  spiritual  universe,  and  the 
nothingness  of  the  material  so-called  man  and  the 
material  universe,  and  it  will  never  succeed  in  hushing 
the  voice  of  any  one  who  follows  Christ,  the  spiritual 
idea. 

Mrs.  Eddy  teaches  that  man  is  spiritual,  immortal, 
God's  image  and  likeness,  and  this  must  be  proved  by 
those  who  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ,  which  alone 
destroys  the  beliefs  and  illusions  that  compose  the  so- 
called  mortal  man.  It  does  not  follow  that  because 
one  believes  in  the  reality  of  death  and  declares  it 
impossible  for  the  great  Leader  and  Teacher  of  Christ- 
ian Science,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  to  overcome  the  claim 
of  death  and  the  grave,  that  others  must  agree  with 


Letters  to  the  Press  895 

this  unscientific  statement.  Christian  Scientists  are 
declaring  for  immortality,  man's  divine  birthright,  and 
are  meeting  the  bitter  opposition  of  the  materially 
minded. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

What  if  the  old  dragon  should  send  forth  a  new  flood 
to  drown  the  Christ-idea?  He  can  neither  drown  your 
voice  with  its  roar,  not  again  sink  the  world  into  the  deep 
waters  of  chaos  and  old  night.  In  this  age  the  earth  will 
help  the  woman;  the  spiritual  idea  will  be  understood. 
Those  ready  for  the  blessing  you  impart  will  give  thanks. 
The  waters  will  be  pacified,  and  Christ  will  command  the 
wave  (Science  and  Health,  p.  570). 

Mrs.  Eddy  also  says  in  Science  and  Health: 

_ ..    .  a'  ?.  ...  1 

Life  is  real.and  death  is  the  illusion  (p.  428).  ...  all 

is  Life,  and  there  is  no  death  (p.  331).  .  .  .    all  is  Life,  and 

death  has  no  dominion  (p.  347). 

The  universal  belief  in  death  is  of  no  advantage.     It 

cannot   make   Life   or   Truth   apparent.     Death    will   be 

found  at  length  to  be  a  mortal  dream,  which  comes  in 

darkness  and  disappears  with  the  light  (p.  42). 

To  the  spiritually  minded,  Mrs.  Eddy  never  died,  and 
they  look  to  her  to  prove  the  light  of  spiritual  under- 
standing which  will  dispel  all  fleshly  phenomena, 
including  the  grave.  Christian  Scientists  refuse  to 
believe  that  death  is  inevitable.  They  are  gaining  the 
Mind  of  Christ,  the  qualities  of  Spirit  which  annul  the 
qualities  of  so-called  mortal  mind  that  produce  death. 
They  will  patiently  wait  until  Mrs.  Eddy  proves  her 
words,  "God  is  my  life." 

Jesus  the  Christ,  in  his  demonstration  over  the  false 
claim — death — laid   down   his   material   sense   of    life 


896  Letters  to  the  Press 

that  he  might  gain  a  wholly  spiritual  sense  of  eternal 
Life.  He  said:  "I  lay  down  my  life,  that  I  might  take 
it  again.  No  man  taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down 
of  myself.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have 
power  to  take  it  again.  This  commandment  have  I 
received  of  my  Father"  (John  x.,  17,  18). 

Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "The  resurrection  of  the  great 
demonstrator  of  God's  power  was  the  proof  of  his  final 
triumph  over  body  and  matter,  and  gave  full  evidence 
of  divine  Science"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  42). 

This  power  was  not  confined  to  Jesus.  He  said, 
"He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he 
do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do; 
because  I  go  unto  my  Father. " 

Mrs.  Eddy  is  following  Christ  in  his  demonstration 
over  the  grave.  "This  error  Jesus  met  with  divine 
Science  and  proved  its  nothingness  "  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  42).  Mrs.  Eddy  will  finally  meet  this  condition 
of  belief  and  prove  her  teachings — the  nothingness  of 
flesh  and  the  allness  of  the  spiritual  idea.  Thus  we 
see  that  Jesus  could  not  avoid  a  final  demonstration 
over  the  claim  of  death.  Mrs.  Eddy  followed  Christ 
until  her  hour  came  for  demonstrating  over  "  the  last 
enemy;"  nor  did  she  hesitate  to  lay  down  a  material 
sense  of  life,  that  she  might  take  it  again  and  there- 
from finally  emerge  into  her  wholly  spiritual  selfhood. 
Mrs.  Eddy,  referring  to  Jesus,  said,  "Let  men  think 
they  had  killed  the  body!  Afterwards  he  would  show 
it  to  them  unchanged"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  42). 

However  much  I  may  be  denounced  for  my  defense 
of  this  teaching  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  I  must  still  continue  to 
defend  my  spiritual  understanding  of  true  Christian 
Science  that  "Any  material  evidence  of  death  is  false, 
for  it  contradicts  the  spiritual  facts  of  being"  {Science 


Letters  to  the  Press  897 

and  Health,  p.  584).  I  do  not  admit  the  reality  of 
mortal  mind  and  its  matter  embodiment,  nor  the 
evidence  of  the  material  senses  called  death.  There  is 
a  wide  mental  gulf  between  the  Christian  Scientist  who 
interprets  Science  and  Health  spiritually,  and  they,  who, 
from  a  material  concept,  reverse  the  spiritual  teaching 
of  the  text-book. 

Nowhere  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  writings  do  we  find  her 
admitting  that  death  is  inevitable,  but,  that  it  must  be 
overcome.  The  resurrection  from  a  belief  of  life  in 
matter  to  the  understanding  that  there  is  no  death 
goes  on  hourly.  Truth  and  Love  operate  in  human 
consciousness,  and  destroy  all  that  is  unlike  God, 
revealing  man  as  "image  " —  God's  image,  the  embodied 
spiritual  idea — spiritual  man.  Mrs.  Eddy's  definition 
of  "Resurrection"  emphasizes  this:  " Spiritualization 
of  thought;  a  new  and  higher  idea  of  immortality,  or 
spiritual  existence;  material  belief  yielding  to  spiritual 
understanding"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  593). 

Christian  Scientists  who  are  spiritually  advanced  do 
not  deny  Mrs.  Eddy  the  spiritual  power  to  follow  Christ 
in  his  demonstration.  They  believe  that  she  has  al- 
ready risen  above  the  illusion  of  matter,  as  sentient 
substance,  which  is  expressed  in  the  phenomena  of  steel, 
iron,  concrete,  sod,  and  a  grave. 

In  speaking  of  Jesus'  resurrection,  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

The  truth  had  been  lived  among  men ;  but  until  they  saw 
that  it  enabled  their  Master  to  triumph  over  the  grave,  his 
own  disciples  could  not  admit  such  an  event  to  be  pos- 
sible. After  the  resurrection,  even  the  unbelieving  Thomas 
was  forced  to  acknowledge  how  complete  was  the  great 
proof  of  Truth  and  Love  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  24,  25). 

Truth  and  Love  are  as  potent  in  this  hour  of  spiritual 

57 


898  Letters  to  the  Press 

development  as  they  were  to  deliver  Christ  Jesus.  The 
unbelieving  Thomases  of  to-day  later  will  have  to 
admit  Mrs.  Eddy's  manifestation  of  Life  over  death. 
Christian  Scientists  will  cheerfully  and  patiently  wait 
until  their  Leader  triumphs  over  the  false  belief  of 
death  and  the  grave.  They  will  "  occupy"  till  Christ 
manifests  himself  through  woman,  at  his  second  and 
Permanent  appearance.  Even  then  the  doubting 
Thomases  may  not  be  able  to  perceive  that  it  is  the 
same  impersonal  idea  which  spoke  through  the  seeming 
personal  Teacher  who  taught  them  the  nothingness  of 
death.  Mrs.  Eddy  had  not  then  proved  (to  a  full 
demonstration)  the  power  of  man  when  governed  by 
God,  for  she  had  not  passed  through  the  experience 
called  death.  But  eventually  she  will  manifest  her- 
self to  the  spiritually  minded.  This  will  reassure  and 
encourage  them  to  follow  her  teachings  and  example 
to  their  own  complete  demonstration  over  the  illusion 
called  mortal  mind  and  its  material  body. 

In  Unity  of  Good,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  we  read: 
"Jesus  accepted  the  one  fact  whereby  alone  the  rule  of 
Life  can  be  demonstrated, — namely,  that  there  is  no 
death"  (p.  55). 

This  is  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching,  and  nowhere  in  her 
writings  does  one  word  appear  to  prove  that  she  enter- 
tained the  thought  that  death  is  real,  but  throughout  her 
works  she  emphasizes  the  fact  that  Jesus  had  to  pass 
through  every  phase  of  belief,  and  prove  the  nothingness 
of  all  materiality.  Students  of  her  teachings  have  been 
enjoined  to  overcome  sin,  sickness,  and  death  with  the 
understanding  and  possession  of  the  qualities  of  the 
Christ-mind. 

We  also  read  in  Unity  of  Good,  page  62 :  "In  Science, 
Christ  never  died.     In  material  sense  Jesus  died,  and 


Letters  to  the  Press  899 

lived.  The  fleshly  Jesus  seemed  to  die,  though  he  did 
not."  Understanding  this,  the  Christian  Scientist 
does  not  say,  " Mrs.  Eddy  died ; "  "Mrs.  Eddy  is  dead, " 
or  "Mrs.  Eddy  cannot  reappear." 

Again  Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  Unity  of  Good,  page  62 : 

The  Truth  or  Life  in  divine  Science — undisturbed  by  human 
error,  sin,  and  death — saith  forever,  "  I  am  the  living  God, 
and  man  is  My  idea,  never  in  matter,  nor  resurrected  from 
it."  "  Why  seek  ye  the  living  among  the  dead?  He  is  not 
here,  but  is  risen."  (Luke  xxvi.  5,  6.)  Mortal  sense,  confin- 
ing itself  to  matter,  is  all  that  can  be  buried  or  resurrected. 

Christian  Scientists  are  not  confining  themselves  to 
so-called  matter.  As  God  manifested  Himself  in  the 
individualized  Jesus,  who,  to  material  sense,  seemed 
human,  so  will  God  again  manifest  Himself,  through 
the  spiritual  individual  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  will 
reveal  the  ideal  woman.  Material  sense  reverses  the 
spiritual  facts  of  being  and  fails  to  perceive  the  divine, 
the  ideal  man  and  woman — "the  'male  and  female'  of 
God's  creating"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  249),  who  can 
never  be  buried  nor  resurrected,  but  are  always  the 
expression  of  ever-present  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

In  Unity  of  Good,  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

The  so-called  appearing,  disappearing,  and  reappearing  of 
ever-presence  ...  is  the  false  human  sense  of  that  light 
which  shineth  in  darkness,  and  the  darkness  comprehendeth 
it  not  (p.  63). 

Is  it  unchristian  to  believe  there  is  no  death?  Not 
unless  it  be  a  sin  to  believe  that  God  is  Life  and  All-in-all 

(P.  37)- 

It  is  unchristian  to  believe  in  the  transition  called 
material  death,  since  matter  has  no  life,  and  such  misbelief 


900  Letters  to  the  Press 

must  enthrone  another  power,  an  imaginary  life,  above 
the  living  and  true  God.  .  .  . 

Death  has  no  quality  of  Life;  and  no  divine  fiat  com- 
mands us  to  believe  in  aught  which  is  unlike  God,  or  to 
deny  that  He  is  Life  eternal. 

As  soldiers  of  the  cross  we  must  be  brave,  and  let 
Science  declare  the  immortal  status  of  man,  and  deny  the 
evidence  of  the  material  senses,  which  testify  that  man 
dies. 

As  the  image  of  God,  or  Life,  man  forever  reflects  and 
embodies  Life,  not  death.  The  material  senses  testify 
falsely  (pp.  38,  39). 

To  say  that  you  and  I,  as  mortals,  will  not  enter  this 
dark  shadow  of  material  sense,  called  death,  is  to  assert 
what  we  have  not  proved;  but  man  in  Science  never  dies 
(p.  40). 

Mrs.  Eddy  was  in  Science  and  never  died,  as  others 
who  pass  on.  She  laid  down  her  human  sense  of  life 
that  she  might  prove,  in  God's  time  and  way,  that 
Christian  Science  did  not  fail  her  as  she  followed 
Christ  in  her  final  demonstration  of  her  teachings. 

Again  I  quote  from  Unity  of  Good,  page  41 :  "Resur- 
rection from  the  dead  (that  is,  from  the  belief  in  death) 
must  come  to  all  sooner  or  later."  It  came  to  Jesus, 
and  it  has  come  to  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Christ  will 
appear  victor  over  the  grave  the  second  time  to  all  who 
look  for  his  reappearing;  the  phenomena  of  death  will 
disappear,  and  woman  will  have  won  an  everlasting 
victory.  Jesus  understood  the  spiritual  facts  of  being 
and  made  his  demonstration.  He  tarried  with  his 
students  until  he  had  shown  them  "the  power  of  an 
endless  life,"  when  he  rose  above  all  fleshly  manifes- 
tation into  his  individual  spiritual  selfhood.  Jesus 
had  this  advantage,  he  had  but  one  material  parent. 


Letters  to  the  Press  901 

Mrs.  Eddy  was  born  of  belief  of  material  conception, 
which  makes  her  demonstration  out  of  the  flesh  a  proof 
of  Jesus'  words,  "greater  works  than  these  shall  he  [ye] 
do."  "Jesus'  advent  in  the  flesh  partook  partly  of 
Mary's  earthly  condition,"  and  this,  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
"accounts  for  his  struggles  in  Gethsemane  and  on 
Calvary"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  30). 

Jesus  came  forth  from  the  rock-ribbed  tomb  and 
triumphed  over  the  illusion  of  death.  Mrs.  Eddy  has 
come  forth  from  the  tomb,  and  has  entered  upon  the 
phenomenon  of  the  grave,  which  in  these  latter  days 
expresses  the  subtlest  belief  of  mortal  mind,  the  so- 
called  material  law  of  substance-matter — concrete, 
steel,  and  iron;  but  God  "hath  broken  the  gates  of 
brass,  and  cut  the  bars  of  iron  in  sunder"  (Psalm 
cvii.,  16). 

Mrs.  Eddy  refers  to  "The  trenchant  Truth  that  cuts 
its  way  through  iron  and  sod"  {Christian  Science 
Sentinel,  vol.  vi.,  p.  739).  And  also,  "God's  law  is  in 
three  words, '  I  am  All ; '  and  this  perfect  law  is  ever  pres- 
ent to  rebuke  any  claim  of  another  law"  {No  and  Yes, 
p.  30).  Therefore,  the  mortal  sense  must  be  met  and 
destroyed,  and  the  immortal  idea  must  finally  assert 
itself  and  appear  in  manifestation  of  glorified  woman- 
hood. 

Mr.  W.  .  .  says  it  is  "sacrilegious"  for  me  to  asso- 
ciate Mrs.  Eddy  with  Jesus,  "our  sinless  Saviour." 

The  opposers  of  Jesus  in  his  day  did  not  consider 
him  sinless.  They  called  him  a  hypnotist  and  mes- 
merist— they  said,  "He  casteth  out  devils  through 
Beelzebub."  They  would  not  believe  his  words  nor  his 
works.  Their  dense  material  sense  saw  only  the 
human  of  the  Master  and  could  not  discern  his  Christ 
selfhood.     Failing  to  behold  the  ideal  man,  they  ques- 


902  Letters  to  the  Press 

tioned  the  human,  and  asked,  "Is  not  this  Jesus,  the 
son  of  Joseph,  whose  father  and  mother  we  know? 
how  is  it  then  that  he  saith,  I  came  down  from 
heaven?"  (John  vi.,  42),  and  "Can  there  any  good 
thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?" 

They  failed  to  perceive  the  spiritual  idea,  and  saw 
only  their  carnal  thoughts  externalized.  This  concept 
they  threw  over  "the  best  man  that  ever  trod  the  globe," 
says  our  Leader  {Science  and  Health,  p.  52).  They 
questioned  him  from  their  material  concept,  and  could 
not  understand  his  divine  utterances.  They  asked, 
"Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us.  And  he  said  unto 
them,  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe:  and  if  I  also 
ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me,  nor  let  me  go"  (Luke 
xxii.,  67). 

He  suffered  from  the  envy,  revenge,  and  malice  of 
"the  enemy  of  good"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol. 
xi.,  p.  910),  and  gave  himself  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies,  that  he  might  gain  a  final  victory  over  the 
qualities  of  the  carnal  mind — infuriated  at  his  Christ- 
mind  or  divine  consciousness.  It  is  twenty  centuries 
since  this  good  man  was  deemed  worthy  of  death. 

Jesus'  words  and  works  have  rung  down  the  centuries. 
In  this  day  there  are  those  who  profit  by  the  lack  of 
faith  of  Jesus'  disciples.  Their  faith  is  faithful.  They 
will  not  forsake  the  Leader,  Teacher,  and  demonstrator 
of  Christian  Science,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  but  will  declare 
for  her  divinity  as  the  reflection  of  omnipotent  Truth 
and  Love,  which  is  able  to  dispel  not  only  the  "shadow 
of  death,"  but  the  "shadow"  of  the  grave,  and  prove 
the  second  time  that  man  is  spiritual — God's  perfect 
image  and  likeness. 

Mr.  W.  .  .  states  that  I  was  expelled  from  The 
Mother  Church  and  from  the  local  church  in  New  York. 


Letters  to  the  Press  9°3 

It  was  on  account  of  the  above  teachings,  and  my 
declarations  that  I  am  immortal  now  (though  I  have  not 
yet  overcome  all  the  beliefs  of  the  human  mind),  and 
my  method  of  handling  so-called  malicious  animal 
magnetism,  that  I  was  dropped  from  membership  in 
the  material  organization  of  The  Mother  Church. 
Malicious  animal  magnetism  (so-called)  means  in 
Christian  Science  the  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind,  ex- 
pressed in  fear,  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  revenge,  hatred, 
lust,  hypocrisy,  etc.,  which  only  the  power  of  the 
Christ-mind  or  spiritual  sense  can  destroy. 

I  was  not  dropped  from  my  own  church.  I  resigned 
from  the  material  organization.  A  large  majority  of 
my  students  residing  in  New  York  City  and  throughout 
the  country,  and  many  church  members,  including 
eight  out  of  nine  former  Trustees,  interpret,  as  I  do,  the 
teachings  of  Mrs.  Eddy  and  publicly  exonerated  me. 

The  following  resolution  will  enlighten  your  readers 
as  to  the  statement  made  by  Mr.  W.  .  .  that  I  was 
expelled  from  my  church,  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

In  response  to  the  request  of  Mrs.  Stetson,  the  New  York  Trustees 
at  their  meeting  of  November  24,  1909,  reluctantly  accepted  her 
resignation  as  a  member  of  the  church  and  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  adopted  the  following  resolution  and  expressions  of  appreciation. 

RESOLUTION 

OF 

THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

OF 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
November  24,  1909 

Resolved,  That  we  accept  with  unfeigned  regret,  and 


904  Letters  to  the  Press 

only  at  her  urgent  request,  the  resignation  of  Mrs.  Augusta 
E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D.,  as  a  member  of  this  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  her  official  relations,  Mrs  Stetson  has  given  us  service 
for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  effort  to  further 
the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  in  this  community.  Who- 
ever knows  anything  of  the  progress  of  the  movement,  in 
the  period  covered  by  these  years,  is  aware  that,  so  far  as 
this  branch  church  is  concerned,  she  has  been  beyond  all 
comparison  the  foremost  contributor  to  the  labors  required 
for  the  results  accomplished,  and  that  the  cardinal  precept 
of  her  teaching  and  example  has  always  been,  as  it  is  now, 
that  of  unswerving  loyalty  to  our  beloved  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  and  to  her  teachings. 

Both  from  the  standpoint  of  material  achievement,  as 
well  as  from  that  of  spiritual  attainment,  she  has  left  the 
evidence  of  her  untiring  devotion,  in  the  structure  which 
houses  this  congregation,  in  the  large  body  of  adherents 
which  assembles  here  regularly  for  worship,  and  above  all 
in  the  spiritual  growth  of  the  membership  of  this  church. 
But  for  the  inspiration  of  her  faith  and  the  stimulus  of  her 
high  and  earnest  purpose,  none  of  these  results  would  have 
been  attained  in  any  such  measure.  For  ourselves,  there- 
fore, as  Trustees,  we  rejoice  in  the  work  which  she  has 
done,  we  are  grateful  in  that  we  have  been  permitted  to 
share  the  work  with  her  as  co-laborers,  and  we  desire  to 
record  our  recognition  of  the  great  spiritual  blessings  which 
have  come  to  us  in  official  associations  with  her. 

E.  F.  Hatfield,  Chairman. 
John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk. 

New  York  Herald,  March  3,  191 1 
MRS.   STETSON   DEFINES   HER   STAND 

SAYS  SHE  IS  NOT  CONTENDING  AGAINST  MOTHER  CHURCH 
DIRECTORS,  BUT  THAT  SHE  DIFFERS  WITH  THEM 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  who,  for  twenty-five  years  prior 


Letters  to  the  Press  905 

to  her  excommunication  from  the  Christian  Science  body, 
was  the  leading  figure  in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  yesterday  issued  a  statement  concerning 
a  newspaper  article,  the  headlines  of  which  indicated  that 
her  followers  were  in  conflict  with  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  in  Boston.     Mrs.  Stetson  said  in  part: 

I  have  never  instituted  a  "fight "  against  the  "heads," 
which  I  presume  is  intended  to  mean  the  Directors  of 
The  Mother  Church.  Neither  I  nor  my  students 
charge  them  with  not  being  Christian  Scientists. 

That  the  Directors  do  not  interpret  Science  and 
Health  according  to  the  teachings  which  I  have  received 
from  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  our  beloved  Leader,  was 
evidenced  when  they  dropped  my  name  from  the  roll  of 
membership  of  The  Mother  Church.  They  themselves 
took  exception  to  my  elucidation  of  her  teachings. 

Whenever  necessity  has  demanded,  I  have  defended 
my  convictions,  which  are  daily  becoming  strengthened 
on  the  doctrinal  points — immortality  and  defense 
against  mental  malpractice.  This  does  not  imply  that 
I  am  contending  against  the  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church,  but  that  I  differ  with  them. 

The  New  York  Press,  November  21,  191 1 

MRS.  STETSON  FEELS  BOUND  TO  DEFEND  MRS.  EDDY'S 
TEACHINGS 

CAUSE  OF  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  MUST  BE  PROTECTED  AGAINST 

THE    ADULTERATION    OF    TRUTH,    SHE    SAYS,    AND    HER 

LETTERS  WERE  SENT  OUT  IN  REPLY  TO  QUESTIONS 

FROM  STUDENTS  THROUGHOUT  COUNTRY 

To  the  Editor  of  The  New  York  Press: — 

In  your  issue  of  to-day,  I  note  your  statement  in 
regard  to  the  stand  I  have  taken  in  defense  of  Christian 


906  Letters  to  the  Press 

Science,  or  divine  metaphysics,  as  taught  by  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  its  Discoverer  and  Founder,  and  author 
of  its  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures. 

For  many  years  I  have  regularly  denied  the  charge 
that  Mary  Baker  Eddy  would  have  a  successor.  I  have 
repeatedly  protested  against  the  publication  of  these 
statements  in  connection  with  my  name,  and  have 
declared  that  they  are  contrary  to  the  divine  law  and 
order  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  I  have  always  asserted, 
and  to-day  I  reassert  with  increased  emphasis,  the 
spiritual  fact  of  scientific  being,  that  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
is  the  forever  Leader  of  genuine  Christian  Scientists. 
She  occupies  her  place  in  the  body  of  Christ  as  an 
individual  identity  and  is,  at  the  present  moment  as  in 
the  past,  recognized  as  the  only  Leader  of  those  who  com- 
pose, in  this  age,  the  body  of  divine  metaphysicians, — 
interpreters  and  demonstrators  of  her  teachings  and  the 
teachings  of  the  master  Metaphysician,  Christ  Jesus. 

Anticipating  this  hour  of  spiritual  development,  and 
the  separation  of  those  who  have  attained  to  the 
spiritual  apprehension  of  her  teachings  from  those  who 
hold  material  views  of  Christian  Science,  she  wrote  the 
following  words,  which  were  published  in  the  Christian 
Science  Journal  of  February,  1909,  pages  696  and  697: 

When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher,  .  .  .  they  must  begin  on  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion, than  which  there  is  no  other.  .  .  . 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science, 
but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated. 

Thousands  of  Christian  Scientists  to-day  are  rising 


Letters  to  the  Press  907 

to  meet  the  demands  of  their  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  are  comprehending  the  meaning  of  her  words, — 
"wholly  spiritual  foundation."  They  are  stoutly 
defending  their  divine  prerogative  to  build  a  wholly 
spiritual  consciousness, — the  true  Christ-mind  character. 
These  have  no  contention  with  those  who  are  building 
with  them  on  the  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  text- 
book of  Christian  Science,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  which  Mrs.  Eddy  has  given  to  the 
world,  and  which  they  have  proved  to  be  demonstrable 
Truth.  They  are  valiant  warriors  in  the  warfare 
against  the  reversal  of  divine  metaphysics  and  contra- 
dictions of  Mrs.  Eddy's  statements  of  Truth,  which  are 
to  be  found  by  any  ordinary  thinker  throughout  the 
writings  of  the  Founder  and  Discoverer  of  Christian 
Science,  the  great  Leader  of  the  Christian  Science 
movement,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

From  Science  and  Health  permit  me  to  quote  the 
following  as  justification  of  my  teachings:  "Spirituality 
lays  open  siege  to  materialism.  On  which  side  are  we 
fighting?"  (p.  216.)  -"The  Christian  Scientist  has 
enlisted  to  lessen  evil,  disease,  and  death"  (p.  450). 
This  is  not  accomplished  by  declaring  for  the  reality 
of  death. 

The  powers  of  this  world  will  fight,  and  will  command 
their  sentinels  not  to  let  truth  pass  the  guard  until  it 
subscribes  to  their  systems;  but  Science,  heeding  not  the 
pointed  bayonet,  marches  on.  There  is  always  some 
tumult,  but  there  is  a  rallying  to  truth's  standard  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  225). 

Christian  Scientists  are  rallying  to  Mrs.  Eddy's 
standard  of  Christian  Science — the  ideal  man  in  God's 
image  and  likeness. 


908  Letters  to  the  Press 

Allow  me  again  to  quote  Mrs.  Eddy: 

Life  is  real,  and  death  is  the  illusion. 

(Science  and  Health,  p.  428.) 
Christian   Science  raises   the  standard   of  liberty   and 

cries:  "Follow  me!     Escape  from  the  bondage  of  sickness, 

j  j     4.1.1 » 
sin,  and  death! 

. 

There  is  no  power  apart  from  God.  Omnipotence 
has  all-power,  and  to  acknowledge  any  other  power  is 
to  dishonor  God.  The  humble  Nazarene  overthrew  the 
supposition  that  sin,  sickness,  and  death  have  power. 
He  proved  them  powerless  (Science  and  Health,  pp. 
227,  228). 

Through  the  understanding  of  the  power  of  his 
Christ-mind,  Jesus  passed  through  the  experience  of 
death  and  came  forth  as  a  demonstrator  of  his  teach- 
ings,— that  man  is  a  mental  being,  an  emanation  of 
Mind,  Spirit,  God,  and  that  death  is  but  an  illusion  of 
the  material  senses.  Christ  Jesus  is  our  Way-shower 
to  eternal  Life.  Mary  Baker  Eddy  discovered  the 
Science  of  spiritual  being  and  demonstrated  it  up  to  the 
hour  when,  like  her  Master,  she  entered  upon  the  final 
proof  of  her  teaching.  Throughout  her  writings  she 
declares  that  man,  when  governed  by  God,  who  is  his 
life,  "can  triumph  over  sin,  sickness,  and  death" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  232) .     She  also  says  on  page  233 : 

Every  day  makes  its  demands  upon  us  for  higher  proofs 
rather  than  professions  of  Christian  power.  These 
proofs  consist  solely  in  the  destruction  of  sin,  sickness, 
and  death  by  the  power  of  Spirit,  as  Jesus  destroyed 
them.  This  is  an  element  of  progress,  and  progress  is 
the  law  of  God,  whose  law  demands  of  us  only  what  we 
can  certainly   fulfil. 


Letters  to  the  Press  909 

I  believe  and  understand  that  our  great  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  "can  certainly  fulfil"  the  law  of 
God,  as  did  the  man,  Christ  Jesus.  It  behooves  her 
followers  to  lift  the  standard  of  spiritual  character 
building  above  the  materialism  which  opposes  the 
teaching  and  practice  of  genuine  Christian  Science. 
I  shall  continue  to  declare  that  Truth's  seamless  gar- 
ment cannot  be  parted.  Every  day  I  am  called  upon 
to  lift  the  hope  and  faith  of  some  Christian  Scientists 
who  do  not  understand  the  present  attitude  of  those 
by  whom  the  reverse  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  seems  to 
be  entertained. 

You  ask  me  how  I  came  to  send  out  my  letters  in 
pamphlet  form. 

I  first  sent  typewritten  letters  only  to  my  students  in 
answer  to  their  questions  as  to  the  meaning  of  the 
seeming  reversal  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  which  was 
greatly  disturbing  them.  Later,  I  was  constantly 
appealed  to  by  Christian  Scientists  throughout  the 
Field  who  were  confused  and  some  even  in  absolute 
darkness  as  to  the  Truth  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  Among 
these  were  authorized  practitioners  who  claim  to  be 
exponents  of  Christian  Science  and  demonstrators  of 
the  Christ-mind  healing.  I  have  letters  now  in  my 
possession  from  these  practitioners  which  would  show 
why  I,  as  a  student  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  having 
associated  with  her  for  twenty-seven  years  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  now  feel 
morally  obligated  to  defend  her  teachings,  and  protect 
the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  against  the  adulteration 
of  Truth. 

Again  you  ask  what  did  I  mean  by  the  expression, 
"The  time  is  not  yet." 

I  referred  to  the  hour  when  consciousness  would  be 


9io  Letters  to  the  Press 

sufficiently  spiritualized  to  admit  the  possibility  of  the 
great  Leader  and  Teacher  of  divine  metaphysics,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  making  a  complete  demonstration  over 
all  mortal  mentality,  thereby  revealing  to  her  followers, 
and  to  the  world,  her  spiritual,  individual  selfhood,  in 
the  same  manner  as  did  Christ  Jesus,  the  first  demon- 
strator of  immortality. 

I  shall  continue  to  refute  all  false  teaching,  or  reversal 
of  divine'metaphysics,  through  whomsoever  it  is  voiced, 
and  shall,  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  defend  and  pro- 
tect the  pure  teaching  of  Christian  Science.  Genuine 
Christian  Scientists  will  "occupy"  till  she  comes,  then 
he  whose  right  it  is  shall  reign  and  there  will  be  no 
successor  to  the  great  Leader  and  Teacher  of  Christian 
Science,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


The  New  York  Times,  January  20,  1912 

MRS.  STETSON  EXPLAINS 

MRS.  EDDY  APPEALED  TO  LAW  OF  GOD 

To  the  Editor  of  The  New  York  Times: — 

Will  you  kindly  permit  me  to  explain  a  statement  in 
my  pamphlet,  which  you  recently  reviewed,  to  which 
you  took  exception?  If  you  will  reread  the  paragraph 
quoted,  you  will  find  that  you  arrived  at  a  conclusion 
before  you  had  finished  the  sentence — which  reads 
thus:" During  Mrs.  Eddy's  personal  work  in  building 
up  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  she  never  appealed 
to  Caesar  (so-called  material  law)  to  protect  her  in  her 
work  of  proving  the  healing  efficacy  of  divine  meta- 
physics."  I  referred  to  the  work  of  demonstrating 
the  power  of  spiritual   thought-force  over  the  false 


Letters  to  the  Press  911 

mentality  which  produces  sin  and  disease.  She  never 
appealed  to  materia  medica  or  to  so-called  material  law 
to  aid  her  in  healing  the  sick,  knowing  spiritual  law  to  be 
omnipotent  and  demonstrable,  when  man  is  governed 
by  his  Maker — God.  She  never  advised  her  students 
to  appeal  to  material  means  to  aid  them  in  proving 
the  healing  influence  of  Christian  Science,  but  required 
of  her  students  absolute  reliance  upon  divine  Mind — 
God,  the  Principle  of  being,  to  demonstrate  the 
metaphysical  system  of  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind 
over  all  manner  of  sin  and  disease. 

Your  reference  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  defense  of  her  rights, 
which  involved  her  in  legal  experiences,  is  well-known 
to  all — and  to  no  one  more  than  to  me,  who  have  stood 
since  1884  in  the  front  of  the  battle,  contending  for 
emancipation  from  bondage  to  materialism  in  religion. 
It  has  been  a  mental  struggle  between  the  spiritual  and 
the  so-called  material  mental  forces — in  an  effort  to 
prove  the  power  of  the  Christ-mind.  Mrs.  Eddy  was 
indeed  a  brave  promulgator  of  Truth  and  its  mighty 
power  to  set  humanity  free  from  materiality,  sin,  and 
suffering.  Armed  with  spiritual  understanding,  she 
met  the  antagonism  of  the  carnal  so-called  mind,  in  its 
resistance  to  spiritual  mental  therapeutics,  as  demon- 
strated by  Christ  Jesus  the  master  Metaphysician. 
She  established,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science,  which  is  the  understanding  of  the 
power  of  the  Christ-mind  over  all  illusions  and  hallu- 
cinations which  compose  the  so-called  mortal  mentality. 

She  never  appealed  to  the  courts  in  vindication 
of  herself,  during  forty-five  years  of  bitter  persecu- 
tion, cruel  wrongs,  indignities,  and  misrepresentations. 
She  never  demanded  protection  for  herself.  She 
meekly  submitted  to  the  opposition  of  her  opponents 


912  Letters  to  the  Press 

and  immolated  personal  self,  that  she  might  benefit 
suffering  humanity.  But,  when  her  book,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  her  system  of 
spiritual  healing  and  teaching,  were  assailed,  she 
hesitated  not  to  protect  Christ's  method  of  destroying 
sin  and  sickness.  Mrs.  Eddy  protested  against  any 
invasion  upon  her  divine  rights  to  follow  Christ  in  his 
demonstration  of  spiritual  therapeutics  and  always 
appealed  to  the  law  of  God — which  is  manifested 
through  what  is  called  material  law.  There  is  but  one 
God,  therefore  there  is  but  one  law  and  one  law-giver, 
which  humanity  interprets  according  to  the  good  or 
evil  which  obtains  in  the  human  interpreter. 

In  the  Reformation,  Martin  Luther  was  a  protest-ant 
against  materialism  in  religion.  Genuine  Christian 
Scientists  protest  against  materialists  masquerading 
as  Christian  Scientists,  and  demand  Christ's  Christ- 
ianity and  the  demonstration  of  spiritual  mental 
therapeutics. 

I  have  no  contention  with  personalities.  I  am 
defending  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Bible,  as  spiritually 
interpreted  in  the  text-book,  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  am  protesting  against  the 
dark  cloud  of  materialism,  which  appears  to  envelop 
many,  and  would  obscure  the  light  of  pure  Christian 
Science  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

January  31,  1912. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  New  York  Press:— 

There  recently  appeared  in  several  of  the  New  York 
papers  an  article  which  alluded  to  a  Christian  Science 
church  in  Orange,  New  Jersey,  which  had  withdrawn 


Letters  to  the  Press  913 

from  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston. 
My  name  was  associated  with  the  occurrence  and  the 
concluding  remarks  read  thus:  "Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stet- 
son, the  most  prominent  opponent  of  church  organiza- 
tion," etc. 

I  wish  to  say  through  your  columns,  which  are  open 
to  justice,  that  I  do  not  oppose  material  organization; 
I  oppose  the  material  interpretation  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teachings.  I  have  never  engaged  in  a  schism  during 
the  twenty-seven  years  of  my  work  in  Christian  Science. 
I  have  always  deplored  separation,  and  advised  my 
church  to  dwell  in  unity  in  the  bonds  of  Spirit.  Those 
who  rose  to  spiritual  character  building,  and  demon- 
stration of  the  Mind  of  Christ,  remained  together  in 
my  church,  and  the  edifice  was  built  by  the  faithful 
united  efforts  of  the  members  who  dwelt  in  spiritual 
unity. 

All  who  resisted  the  increasing  demands  of  Truth  to 
rise  to  spiritual  understanding,  or  the  Mind  of  Christ, 
from  time  to  time  formed  schisms  and  left  the  church. 
Thus  the  chaff  and  the  wheat  were  separated,  until 
the  time  arrived  when  those  who  had  demonstrated 
a  perfect  material  organization  and  church  edifice 
were  obliged  to  preen  their  mental  wings  for  the  Church 
Triumphant  and  begin  to  build  from  a  "wholly  spirit- 
ual" consciousness  a  "wholly  spiritual"  character. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

.  .  .  organization  is  requisite  only  in  the  earliest  periods 
in  Christian  history.  After  this  material  form  of  cohesion 
and  fellowship  has  accomplished  its  end,  continued  organiza- 
tion retards  spiritual  growth,  and  should  be  laid  off, — even 
as  the  corporeal  organization  deemed  requisite  in  the 
first  stages  of  mortal  existence  is  finally  laid  off,  in  order 
to  gain  spiritual  freedom  and  supremacy. 

58 


9H  Letters  to  the  Press 

From  careful  observation  and  experience  came  my  clue 
to  the  uses  and  abuses  of  organization  (Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  page  45). 

This  transitional  period  was  an  era  in  my  experi- 
ence and  in  that  of  all  who  rose  to  Truth's  demands. 
It  has  been  recorded  in  the  annals  of  history,  and,  as 
the  days  go  by,  will  be  understood  by  all  as  the  de- 
velopment or  unfolding  of  a  higher  degree  of  spiritual 
power  in  the  Science  of  Christianity.  They  who  have 
risen  out  of  material  organization  are  engaged  in  dem- 
onstrating the  supremacy  of  spiritual  over  material 
sense.  This  was  not  a  schism  from  the  church  militant, 
which  is  governed  by  material  organization  and  which 
must  go  on  until  those  who  are  members  of  the  material 
organization  have  made  a  scientific  demonstration,  but 
it  was  an  emergence,  by  divine  impulsion,  into  a  higher 
realm  of  spiritual  consciousness.  "...  progress  is  the 
law  of  God,"  says  Mrs.  Eddy,  on  page  233  of  Science 
and  Health. 

Whenever  this  hour  of  spiritual  regeneration  comes 
to  an  individual,  there  is  a  Gethsemane,  and  a  Calvary. 
The  Christian  Scientist  who  has  advanced  Spirit-ward 
is  thrust  out  of  material  organization  by  the  impelling 
force  of  Spirit,  even  as  the  butterfly  bursts  the  cocoon 
and  learns  to  use  its  wings  in  a  rarefied  atmosphere. 
I  have  repeatedly  stated  that  I  am  not  opposing  ma- 
terial organization  which  "is  requisite  only  in  the 
earliest  periods  in  Christian  history,"  but  I  am  con- 
tending with  all  my  spiritual  understanding  against  the 
reversal  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings.  I  have  fulfilled 
the  requirements  of  church  organization  in  the  building 
of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
and  have  a  large  body  of  students  and  church  members 
who  have  been  able  to  rise  with  me  to  the  demands  of 


Letters  to  the  Press  915 

our  Leader  to  begin  to  build  on  a  "wholly  spiritual" 
foundation.  ^ 

We  know  that  many  have  failed  to  follow  the  re- 
quest of  our  Leader  and  even  are  not  demonstrating 
true  Christian  Science  in  the  material  organization. 
We  do  not  oppose  persons;  we  oppose  false  teaching 
of  Christian  Science  and  the  reversal  of  Christian 
Science  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy.  It  matters  not  who 
materially  interprets  divine  metaphysics,  whether  it 
be  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  the  Publica- 
tion Committee,  or  the  layman;  I  shall  uncover  and 
denounce  the  materialism  which  attempts  to  hide  the 
spiritual  animus — the  healing  efficacy  of  genuine  Christ- 
ian Science.  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.  Neither 
is  the  Christian  Scientist  who  knows  the  true  from  the 
false  teaching.  I  dare  not  remain  silent  when  I  see  the 
efforts  of  some  to  explain  spiritual  facts  from  a  material 
concept.  I  must  be  true  to  God,  to  my  Leader,  and  to 
mankind.  If  I  seem  to  oppose,  let  it  be  understood 
that  I  oppose  false  teaching.  If  this  includes  the 
persons  who  are  agents  for  materialism  I  must  condemn 
both  the  error  and  the  mouthpiece  for  error.  Christian 
Science,  in  its  spiritual  mental  influence,  is  Immanuel, 
or  the  Son,  or  idea, — God  with  us. 

If  in  the  future  I  feel  that  the  hour  has  struck  for  me 
to  defend  more  authoritatively  our  beloved  Leader's 
writings  and  teachings,  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  show 
her  written  directions  to  me  to  defend  the  Cause  of 
Christian  Science  against  material  interpretations  of 
Science  and  Health.  "All  true  Christian  Scientists 
are  vindicating,  fearlessly  and  honestly,  the  Principle 
of  this  grand  verity  of  Mind-healing"  (No  and  Yes, 

P- 5). 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


916  Letters  to  the  Press 

The  New  York  Press,  February  2, 1912 

To  the  Editor  of  The  New  York  Press: — x 

One  of  the  New  York  papers  of  January  twenty- 
seventh  contained  a  letter  signed  Arthur  Farlow,  in 
which  the  writer  assumes  to  explain  the  duty  and 
office  of  a  Christian  Science  practitioner  in  his  relation 
to  his  patient,  and  to  disease  in  general.  Mr.  Farlow's 
statements  are  so  manifestly  devoid  of  any  apprecia- 
tion or  understanding  of  the  infinite  supreme  intelli- 
gence that  governs  man  and  reveals  his  oneness  with 
God,  that  I  cannot  quietly  submit  to  such  a  perversion 
of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings  as  those  statements  convey. 
In  his  letter  Mr.  Farlow  says: 

It  should  be  understood  that  Christian  Scientists  do  not 
assume  the  responsibility  of  cases,  contagious  or  otherwise. 

This  is  not  true  of  genuine  Christian  Scientists. 
Professional  authorized  practitioners  of  divine  Mind- 
healing,  who  adhere  to  the  teachings  of  Mrs.  Eddy  as 
found  in  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  do  assume  the 
responsibility  of  cases  which  are  intrusted  to  their 
care.  The  President  of  the  Massachusetts  Metaphys- 
ical College  in  Boston,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  for  many 
years  taught  the  Science  of  divine  Mind-healing,  the 
power  and  supremacy  of  spiritual  thought-force  over 
all  mortal  mentality,  and  graduated  from  that  College 
teachers  and  practitioners  with  diplomas.  She  sent 
them  into  the  world  with  instructions  to  follow  Christ, 
the  master  Metaphysician,  and  to  preach  and  demon- 
strate the  gospel  of  Truth  over  error, — sin  and  dis- 
ease.    Mrs.  Eddy  says:     "The  Christian  Scientist  has 

1  This  article  appeared  only  in  part. 


Letters  to  the  Press  917 

enlisted  to  lessen  evil,  disease,  and  death  "  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  450). 

When  a  man  enlists  in  an  army  to  defend  his  coun- 
try, he  assumes  a  responsibility.  He  knows  that  in  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  he  must  encounter  ob- 
stacles, and  he  prepares  himself  for  the  battle.  Mrs. 
Eddy  says  to  the  Christian  Science  soldier:  "Never 
was  there  a  more  solemn  and  imperious  call  than  God 
makes  to  us  all,  right  here,  for  fervent  devotion  and  an 
absolute  consecration  to  the  greatest  and  holiest  of  all 
causes"  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  177). 

Christian  Scientists  understand  this  Cause  to  be  the 
establishment  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  and 
the  destruction  of  sin,  in  all  its  forms  of  disease  and 
death.  Mrs.  Eddy  goes  on  to  say  to  her  students 
and  followers: 

Will  you  doff  your  lavender-kid  zeal,  and  become  real  and 
consecrated  warriors?  Will  you  give  yourselves  wholly 
and  irrevocably  to  the  great  work  of  establishing  the 
truth,  the  gospel,  and  the  Science  which  are  necessary  to 
the  salvation  of  the  world  from  error,  sin,  disease,  and 
death?  Answer  at  once  and  practically,  and  answer  aright! 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  177.) 

Christian  Scientists  see  the  necessity  of  qualifying 
themselves  for  the  healing  work  in  which  they  are  en- 
gaged. A  teacher  of  mathematics  first  prepares  him- 
self to  teach  others,  then  assumes  the  responsibility  of 
correctly  imparting  his  knowledge.  A  physician,  after 
long  years  of  application  to  the  study  of  material 
therapeutics,  acquires  a  knowledge  of  material  medi- 
cine and  its  application  to  the  needs  of  humanity. 
When  he  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  his  work  and 
receives  his  diploma,  he  is  authorized  to  practise  what 


9*8  Letters  to  the  Press 

he  has  learned,  and  is  recommended  to  the  confidence 
of  the  people. 

Then  he  assumes  the  responsibility  of  applying  his 
knowledge  to  cases  that  come  under  his  personal 
charge.  The  conscientious,  honest  physician  devotes 
himself  untiringly  and  unselfishly  to  the  relief  of 
suffering  humanity,  whose  needs  demand  and  receive 
his  first  attention.  Every  one  who  has  had  experi- 
ence in  the  past  knows  what  comfort  and  assurance 
the  family  doctor  always  brought,  and  the  care  and 
responsibility  he  assumed  in  his  efforts  to  relieve 
his  patient  and  restore  health.  They  also  remember 
how  his  knowledge  of  materia  medica  and  his  patience 
and  affection  were  often  tested  to  the  utmost  in  his 
practice.  This  is  true  of  all  conscientious  teachers 
and  demonstrators  in  every  department  of  educa- 
tion. 

I  speak  from  long  experience  as  a  Christian  Scien- 
tist, both  as  a  teacher  of  divine  metaphysics  and  as  a 
practitioner  of  the  Science  of  mental  therapeutics,  as 
taught  and  demonstrated  by  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  in 
this  generation  by  my  revered  Leader  and  Teacher, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  required  of  her  students,  a 
knowledge  of  the  Principle  of  being  which  can  be 
obtained  only  by  a  thorough  study  of  the  Bible,  the 
Word  of  God,  and  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures.  During  the  three  class  terms  in  which  it 
was  my  privilege  to  sit  under  the  personal  instruction 
of  Mrs.  Eddy,  she  showed  her  students  the  necessity 
of  gaining  an  understanding  of  the  Science  of  being, 
and  of  the  power  and  supremacy  of  spiritual  thought- 
force  over  seeming  physical  discord  and  disease.  She 
impressed  each  with  the  solemn  responsibility  which 
he  must   assume  when  he  undertook  to  heal  the  sick 


Letters  to  the  Press  919 

after  the  method  that  Jesus  employed — the  power  of 
the  Christ -mind.  rf  rtoirfw  $ 

I  have  always  felt  morally  obligated  to  demonstrate 
for  the  patients  who  placed  themselves  in  my  care, 
the  potency  of  spiritual  thought  which  every  child  of 
God  possesses,  and  will  finally  demonstrate  for  him- 
self. 

Mr.  Farlow's  next  statement  reads : 

I 
When  a  patient  turns  to  Christian  Science  he  practically 

turns  away  from  man  to  God.     He  takes  his  case  in  his  own 

hands  and   determines  to   trust  divine   power  instead   of 

trusting  man,  while  the  Christian  Scientist  is  simply  em- 

ployed  to  pray  for  him. 

When  a  patient  turns  to  Christian  Science  he  turns 
to  God  and  also  to  a  Christian  Scientist,  and  expects 
this  Scientist  to  prove  his  ability  to  make  good  his 
claim  to  demonstrate  the  healing  power  of  divine 
metaphysics,  or  the  Christ-mind  power  over  disease. 

When  the  centurion  appealed  to  Jesus  on  behalf  of 
his  servant,  the  great  master  Metaphysician  said,  "I 
will  come  and  heal  him."  He  did  not  say,  God  will 
come  and  heal  him.  He  understood  the  meaning  of 
his  words,  "I  and  my  Father  are  one."  He  under- 
stood his  relation  to  the  Father,  the  Principle  of  be- 
ing, and  exercised  the  power  of  his  God-consciousness 
which  was  effectual  in  the  destruction  of  disease. 
Jesus  taught  his  followers  the  healing  power  which 
God  bestows  upon  man,  when  man  assimilates  himself 
to  God  and  reflects  the  qualities  of  divine  Mind  which 
nullifies  disease, — so-called  mortal  mentality. 

The  world  to-day  is  demanding  of  Christian  Scien- 
tists that  they  substantiate  their  claim  to  spirituality 
by  reflecting  Life,  Truth,  and  Love  so  far  as  they  are 


920  Letters  to  the  Press 

able,  or,  admit  their  inability  to  rise  to  the  Mind  of 
Christ  which  heals  all  manner  of  disease. 

Mr.  Farlow  says,  the  patient  "takes  his  case  in  his 
own  hands  and  determines  to  trust  divine  power  in- 
stead of  trusting  man."  If  the  patient  has  determined 
"to  trust  divine  power  instead  of  trusting  man,"  why 
does  he  employ  a  man  to  "simply"  pray  for  him?  If 
a  man  "is  simply  employed  to  pray  for  him,"  why 
engage  a  Christian  Scientist  more  than  any  good, 
earnest,  prayerful  man?  "The  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much"  (James 
v.,  16). 

Whoever  employs  a  Christian  Scientist  has  some 
faith  in  the  power  of  spiritual  thought,  and  believes 
that  the  practitioner  understands  the  Christly  method 
of  healing  the  sick. 

Blind  faith  without  spiritual  understanding  is  the 
prayer  which  does  not  heal  the  sick.  Mrs.  Eddy  holds 
her  students  responsible  for  the  cases  committed  to 
their  care.     She  says: 

In  order  to  cure  his  patient,  the  metaphysician  must 
first  cast  moral  evils  out  of  himself  and  thus  attain  the 
spiritual  freedom  which  will  enable  him  to  cast  physical 
evils  out  of  his  patient;  but  heal  he  cannot,  while  his  own 
spiritual  barrenness  debars  him  from  giving  drink  to  the 
thirsty  and  hinders  him  from  reaching  his  patient's  thought, 
— yea,  while  mental  penury  chills  his  faith  and  understand- 
ing (Science  and  Health,  p.  366). 

Mrs.  Eddy  continues:  "I  long  to  see  the  consum- 
mation of  my  hope,  namely,  the  student's  higher  at- 
tainments in  this  line  of  light"  (Science  and  Health, 
P-367). 

The  different  degrees  of  spiritual  power  which  the 


Letters  to  the  Press  921 

Christian  Scientist  possesses  are  described  by  Mrs. 
Eddy  in  the  following  words: 

The  manifestation  of  God  through  mortals  is  as  light 
passing  through  the  window-pane.  The  light  and  the 
glass  never  mingle,  but  as  matter,  the  glass  is  less  opaque 
than  the  walls.  The  mortal  mind  through  which  Truth  ap- 
pears most  vividly  is  that  one  which  has  lost  much  materi- 
ality— much  error — in  order  to  become  a  better  transparency 
for  Truth.  Then,  like  a  cloud  melting  into  thin  vapor, 
it  no  longer  hides  the  sun  (Science  and  Health,  p.  295). 

People  who  employ  Christian  Scientists  assume  that 
they  have  attained  more  or  less  the  Mind  of  Christ, 
and  that  the  Truth  reflected  by  the  practitioner  will 
free  the  patient  from  the  so-called  false  mentality 
expressed  on  the  physical  body  which  mirrors  the 
thought.  The  Christian  Scientist,  understanding  that 
"all  causation  was  Mind,  and  every  effect  a  mental 
phenomenon"  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p. 
24),  assumes  the  responsibility  of  demonstrating  the 
rule  of  scientific  being,  and,  so  far  as  he  possesses  the 
Christ-consciousness,  restores  health  and  harmony  to 
his  patient.  The  healing  is  sooner  demonstrated  if 
the  patient  cooperates  with  the  healer. 

Again  we  quote  Mr.  Farlow's  statement: 

The  Christian  Science  practitioner  assumes  no  responsi- 
bility with  regard  to  the  material  care  of  his  patient  except 
such  as  would  be  undertaken  by  any  friend  who  was 
called  upon  to  render  comfort  in  time  of  sickness. 

A  genuine  Christian  Scientist  assumes  responsibility 
and  ministers  both  to  the  spiritual  and,  if  necessary, 
to  the  human  needs  of  his  patient.     Mrs.  Eddy  says: 


922  Letters  to  the  Press 

"Divine  Love  always  has  met  and  always  will  meet 
every  human  need"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  494). 
Again  she  says: 

The  physician  who  lacks  sympathy  for  his  fellow-being 
is  deficient  in  human  affection,  and  we  have  the  apostolic 
warrant  for  asking:  "He  that  loveth  not  his  brother 
whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he  love  God  whom  he  hath 
not  seen?"  Not  having  this  spiritual  affection,  the 
physician  lacks  faith  in  the  divine  Mind  and  has  not  that 
recognition  of  infinite  Love  which  alone  confers  the  heal- 
ing power  {Science  and  Health,  p.  366). 

Mrs.  Eddy  continues: 

If  we  would  open  their  prison  doors  for  the  sick,  we  must 
first  learn  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted.  If  we  would 
heal  by  the  Spirit,  we  must  not  hide  the  talent  of  spiritual 
healing  under  the  napkin  of  its  form,  nor  bury  the  morale 
of  Christian  Science  in  the  grave-clothes  of  its  letter.  The 
tender  word  and  Christian  encouragement  of  an  invalid, 
pitiful  patience  with  his  fears  and  the  removal  of  them,  are 
better  than  hecatombs  of  gushing  theories,  stereotyped 
borrowed  speeches,  and  the  doling  of  arguments,  which 
are  but  so  many  parodies  on  legitimate  Christian  Science, 
aflame  with  divine  Love  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  366,  367). 

Let  us  further  consider  Mr.  Farlow's  statement: 

It  is  understood  that  whatever  advice  he  may  give  his 
patient  with  regard  to  the  management  of  his  case  is  given 
from  the  standpoint  of  the  layman  and  as  a  mere  matter 
of  neighborly  kindness. 

Mr.  Farlow  says,  "When  a  patient  turns  to  Christ- 
ian Science  he  practically  turns  away  from  man  to 
God,"  and  "takes  his  case  in  his  own  hands."  The 
reader  would  be  at  a  loss  to  know  who  is  supposed 


Letters  to  the  Press  923 

to  be  influencing  the  case,  God,  to  whom  the  patient 
turns,  or  the  patient  who  "takes  his  case  in  his  own 
hands"  and  turns  away  from  man,  or  the  Christian 
Scientist  who  "is  simply  employed  to  pray  for  him." 
If  the  Christian  Scientist  "is  simply  employed  to  pray 
for  him,"  what  does  Mr.  Farlow  mean  by  saying  that 
he  advises  in  the  "management  of  the  case"?  The 
question  recurs,  Who  is  "managing"  the  case? 

Mr.  Farlow  further  states  that  the  advice  of  the 
practitioner  "is  given  from  the  standpoint  of  the  lay- 
man and  as  a  mere  matter  of  neighborly  kindness." 
Does  a  professional  Christian  Scientist  occupy  the 
same  platform  as  the  layman,  who  may  not  have  un- 
dertaken the  study,  practice,  and  demonstration  of 
the  power  of  spiritual  thought  over  so-called  mortal 
thought  and  its  effects  on  the  physical  body? 

The  definition  of  "  Layman  "  as  given  in  the  Standard 
Dictionary  reads  in  part  as  follows: 

A  man,  especially  a  church-member,  who  is  not  a  clergy- 
man ;  one  of  the  laity ;  a  man  not  a  member  of  a  particular 
profession,  nor  skilled  in  a  particular  pursuit. 

When  humanity  understands  and  accepts  the  spirit- 
ual fact  that,  "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite 
manifestation"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468),  the 
demand  will  be  made  upon  the  Christian  Scientist,  just 
as  to-day  it  is  made  of  the  mathematician,  who  is 
expected  from  a  correct  premise  to  bring  out  a  correct 
conclusion. 

Mr.  Farlow  goes  on  to  say  of  the  practitioner: 
"His  sole  responsibility  is  to  be  faithful  in  his  treat- 
ment of  the  case  from  the  Christian  Scientist's  point 
of  view." 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  Mr.  Farlow  uses  the  word 


924  Letters  to  the  Press 

"treatment."  Between  the  simple  prayer  which  he 
is  employed  to  offer  God,  and  the  word  "treatment" 
as  used  in  Christian  Science,  there  is  a  wide  differ- 
ence. The  Christian  Scientist's  treatment  is  faith  in 
the  power  of  God  to  heal  through  man,  and  an  under- 
standing of  man's  responsibility  to  demonstrate  the 
potency  of  spiritual  thought  which  destroys  disease. 

The  scholastic  prayer  is  a  belief  that  God  knows 
about  discord  and  disease,  and  that  man  implores 
God  to  relieve  the  patient.  This  is  like  standing 
before  a  blackboard  and  imploring  the  principle  of 
mathematics  to  solve  the  problem.  Prayer,  as  used 
in  Christian  Science,  is  a  mighty  power,  and  to  use 
the  word  "simply"  in  relation  to  prayer  shows  a  lack 
of  realization  of  its  potency  or  harmonious  Mind- 
action  through  spiritual  man. 

Mr.  Farlow  continues:  "In  the  case  of  strange  or 
suspicious  diseases  the  Christian  Scientist  acts  exactly 
as  those  laymen  do  who  are  not  Christian  Scientists." 

Does  the  expert  mathematician  act  exactly  as  the 
"unskilled  layman"  or  neophyte?  Mr.  Farlow  states 
"  The  Christian  Scientist  acts  exactly  "  in  the  handling 
of  what  he  terms,  "strange  and  suspicious  diseases " 
as  those  do  who  are  not  Christian  Scientists.  Do  we 
understand  that  Mr.  Farlow  assumes  to  represent  the 
body  of  Christian  Scientists? 

Every  one  who  has  risen  to  obey  Mrs.  Eddy's 
injunction  "to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion" {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  and 
who  apprehends  immortality  as  the  basis  of  divine 
metaphysics;  every  alert,  active  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Science  body,  who  has  attained  to  this  degree  of 
spiritual  character  building,  will  protest  with  me 
against  any  such  attempt  to  so  depreciate  the  "  Spirit- 


Letters  to  the  Press  925 

ual  attainments"  which  Mrs.  Eddy  says  "open  the 
door  to  a  higher  understanding  of  the  divine  Life" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  10). 

Genuine  Christian  Scientists  regard  all  so-called  dis- 
eases as  illusions  and  hallucinations  of  a  false  so-called 
mentality  to  which  they  apply  the  power  of  spirit- 
ual thought — spiritual  understanding.  They  adhere 
strictly  to  the  teaching  and  demonstration  of  Christ 
Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  never  admit,  as 
real,  physical  sense  testimony. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

We  never  read  that  Luke  or  Paul  made  a  reality  of 
disease  in  order  to  discover  some  means  of  healing  it. 
Jesus  never  asked  if  disease  were  acute  or  chronic,  and  he 
never  recommended  attention  to  laws  of  health,  never  gave 
drugs,  never  prayed  to  know  if  God  were  willing  that 
a  man  should  live.  He  understood  man,  whose  Life  is 
God,  to  be  immortal,  and  knew  that  man  has  not  two 
lives,  one  to  be  destroyed  and  the  other  to  be  made  inde- 
structible {Science  and  Health,  p.  369). 

A  patient  is  always  permitted  to  continue  or  dis- 
continue Christian  Science  treatment.  A  Christian 
Scientist  or  metaphysician  makes  a  mental  diagnosis 
of  a  case,  while  a  matter-physician  makes  a  physical 
diagnosis.  Christian  Scientists  know  that  all  so-called 
disease  is  mental  in  causation,  and  the  treatment 
which  is  applied  to  the  false  mentality  is  the  power 
of  Truth  which  casts  out  error  and  sets  the  mental 
captive  free.  A  Christian  Scientist  never  admits 
so-called  disease  as  real;  never  admits  that  the  power 
of  spiritual  thought-force  is  not  equal  to  the  de- 
struction of  physical  discord;  never  makes  a  mental 
concession  to  the  claims  of  "strange  and  suspicious 


926  Letters  to  the  Press 

diseases;"  and  never  attempts  to  demonstrate  Truth 
from  a  material  basis.  This  would  be  confusion  worse 
confounded  and  is  not  Christian  Science  as  taught 
by  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Christian  Scientists  do  not 
hide  behind  the  word  "prayer"  in  order  to  escape 
the  law.  When,  through  a  lack  of  spiritual  power, 
they  fail  to  heal  the  sick,  they  trust  God,  the  strong 
deliverer,  and  re-consecrate  themselves  to  Christ, 
that  they  may  rise  to  higher  realization  and  demon- 
stration of  their  divine  mission,  the  Christ-mind 
healing. 

Permit  me  to  quote  Mr.  Farlow  again:  "Christian 
Scientists  do  not  ignore  disease  but  give  it  a  most 
careful  and  painstaking  consideration." 

Christian  Scientists  give  it  an  immediate  and  most 
emphatic  denunciation  as  a  false  claim,  and  as  no  part 
of  man.  They  recognize  its  pretense  to  reality,  and 
witness  the  effect  of  this  false  mentality  in  its  dire 
effects  on  humanity.  They  do  not  call  it  by  the  "same 
name  as  others  employ."  They  give  it  its  rightful  name, 
— a  belief,  a  false  claim,  a  lie  from  the  beginning,  having 
no  right  to  existence  or  manifestation.  They  apply 
to  it  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word  of  God,  which 
decapitates  error  and  demonstrates  the  supremacy 
of  Mind  over  mortal  mentality  and  its  false  phenomena. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "Christian  Scientists  should  be- 
ware of  unseen  snares,  and  adhere  to  the  divine  Prin- 
ciple and  rules  for  demonstration"  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  307).     Mrs.  Eddy  also  tells  us: 

If  you  fail  to  succeed  in  any  case,  it  is  because  you  have 
not  demonstrated  the  life  of  Christ,  Truth,  more  in  your 
own  life, — because  you  have  not  obeyed  the  rule  and 
proved  the  Principle  of  divine  Science"  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  149). 


Letters  to  the  Press  927 

Let  all  Christian  Scientists  work,  watch,  and  pray- 
that  they  be  not  led  astray  by  the  reversal  of  Mrs. 
Eddy's  teachings,  and  so  fail  to  "perceive  the  nature 
and  methods  of  error  of  every  sort,  especially  any 
subtle  degree  of  evil,  deceived  and  deceiving"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  451). 

Again  our  Leader  tells  us : 

It  should  seem  rational  that  the  only  perfect  religion 
is  divine  Science,  Christianity  as  taught  by  our  great 
Master;  that  which  leaves  the  beaten  path  of  human 
doctrines  and  is  the  truth  of  God,  and  of  man  and  the 
universe.  The  divine  Principle  and  rules  of  this  Christian- 
ity being  demonstrable,  they  are  undeniable;  and  they 
must  be  found  final,  absolute,  and  eternal. 

Not  madness,  but  might  and  majesty  attend  every  foot- 
step of  Christian  Science.  There  is  no  imperfection,  no 
lack  in  the  Principle  and  rules  which  demonstrate  it. 
Only  the  demonstrator  can  mistake  or  fail  in  proving  its 
power  and  divinity  (Message  to  The  Mother  Church,  igoo, 
pp.  22,  23,  24). 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


New  York  Herald,  March  26,  19 12 

To  the  Editor  of  the  New  York  Herald: —  « 

In  your  issue  of  March  twenty-fifth  I  note  an  article 

by  Mr.  Alfred  Farlow.2     Will  you  kindly  permit  me 

to  reply? 

Mr.  Farlow  evidently  does  not  understand  divine 

metaphysics  or  Christian  Science  when  he  mistakes 

1  This  article  appeared  only  in  part. 

3  Mr.  Farlow  is  the  Committee  on  Publication  appointed  by  the 
Directors  of  The  Mother  Church. 


928  Letters  to  the  Press 

it  for  spiritualism,  and  characterizes  me  as  a  spiritualist. 
Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings  have  never  been  comprehended 
by  the  materially  minded.  She  says  in  Retrospection 
and  Introspection,  page  28: 

I  had  learned  that  thought  must  be  spiritualized,  in 
order  to  apprehend  Spirit.  It  must  become  honest, 
unselfish,  and  pure,  in  order  to  have  the  least  understand- 
ing of  God  in  divine  Science. 

Mrs.  Eddy  was  frequently  charged  with  being  a 
spiritualist,  as  all  know  who  are  familiar  with  her  life 
and  writings.     In  Christian  Healing,  page  6,  she  says: 

When  I  was  told  the  other  day,  "People  say  you  are  a 
medium, "  pardon  me  if  I  smiled.  The  pioneer  of  something 
new  under  the  sun  is  never  hit:  he  cannot  be;  the  opinions 
of  people  fly  too  high  or  too  low.  ...  I  saw  the  impossi- 
bility, in  Science,  of  intercommunion  between  the  so-called 
dead  and  the  living.  When  I  learned  how  mind  produces 
disease  on  the  body,  I  learned  how  it  produces  the  mani- 
festations ignorantly  imputed  to  spirits. 

I  have  never  been  in  any  way  associated  with  so- 
called  spiritualists.  I  do  not  recall  one  acquaintance 
of  that  belief,  and  never  have  I  attended  one  of  their 
meetings.  Nothing  could  be  more  foreign  to  me  than 
their  theories.  In  answer  to  the  imputation  that  I  am 
a  spiritualist,  I  will  reply  in  my  Leader's  words: 

I  believe  in  no  ism.  This  is  my  endeavor,  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian, to  assimilate  the  character  and  practice  of  the 
anointed;  and  no  motive  can  cause  a  surrender  of  this 
effort.  ...  I  esteem  all  honest  people,  and  love  them, 
and  hold  to  loving  our  enemies  and  doing  good  to  them 
that  " despitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you"  {Retrospec- 
tion and  Introspection,  pp.  28,  29). 


Letters  to  the  Press  929 

Mr.  Farlow  continues,  "We  believe  in  progression 
after  death,  but  we  do  not  understand  that  a  person 
once  dead  will  return  to  the  world."  It  is  apparent 
that  Mr.  Farlow  does  not  understand  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teachings  on  this  subject,  that  "man  is  not  material; 
he  is  spiritual"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  468)  and  that 
there  is  but  one  God,  ever-present,  eternal  Life,  ex- 
pressed in  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe, — 
the  only  world;  that  no  one  dies,  therefore  no  one 
leaves  the  world;  that  a  matter  belief  or  physical 
personality  is  an  illusion  which  never  had  life  but 
vanishes  like  a  dream,  leaving  the  spiritual  individuality 
to  manifest  itself  through  process  of  spiritual  progress. 

All  that  is  unlike  God,  Spirit,  or  the  creative  Prin- 
ciple of  being,  is  the  phenomena  of  the  belief  of  life 
in  matter,  which  the  understanding  of  immortal  being 
destroys. 

Mr.  Farlow  further  affirms,  "We  do  not  believe 
that  Mrs.  Eddy  will  return  to  earth,  and  no  Christian 
Scientist  who  understands  the  teachings  of  our  re- 
ligion will  advance  any  such  beliefs."  Mrs.  Eddy  never 
died,  therefore  never  left  the  earth.  Spiritualization 
of  thought  will  reveal  her  divine  individuality  to  all 
who  rise  to  the  demands  and  demonstration  of  her 
teaching,  viz.:  "The  great  spiritual  fact  must  be 
brought  out  that  man  is,  not  shall  be,  perfect  and 
immortal"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  428). 

Here  is  where  Mr.  Farlow  and  I  differ  in  the  in- 
terpretation of  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science. 
Christian  Scientists  accept  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings  as 
demonstrable  Truth  and  the  power  of  the  Mind  of 
Christ  over  all  mortal  mentality,  sin,  disease,  and 
death. 

The  religion  to  which  Mr.  Farlow  refers  as  "our 
59 


930  Letters  to  the  Press 

religion,"  I  do  not  accept,  for  it  contradicts  both  the 
teachings  and  the  demonstrations  of  Christ  Jesus  and 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  the  possibility  of  the  demonstration 
of  Christ's  second  appearing  through  woman,  whose 
spiritual  power  will  enable  her  to  manifest  her  spirit- 
ual individuality,  representing  ideal  womanhood,  just 
as  Christ  Jesus  demonstrated  his  individual  spiritual 
identity,  and  vanquished,  for  himself,  the  claim  of 
death.  What  has  been  possible  to  the  man,  Christ 
Jesus,  will  be  possible  to  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  woman 
whom  God  has  endowed  with  spiritual  power  to  over- 
come, for  herself,  the  "last  enemy,"  and  to  leave  the 
rich  legacy  of  her  demonstration  to  those  of  her  followers 
who  rise  with  her  to  spiritual  apprehension  of  man  in 
God's  image  and  likeness. 

I  understand  the  demonstration  of  the  master 
Metaphysician,  Christ  Jesus,  over  so-called  death,  and 
his  reappearance,  in  proof  of  the  supremacy  of  his 
divinity  over  the  belief  or  experience  called  death. 
Mrs.  Eddy  is  a  follower  of  Christ  Jesus,  the  great 
demonstrator  of  spiritual  man's  dominion  over  seem- 
ing death,  and  the  possibility  of  her  demonstration  is 
not  questioned  by  her  faithful  followers  who  under- 
stand divine  metaphysics. 

Jesus  said  to  Lazarus,  who  appeared  to  be  dead: 

Lazarus,  come  forth. 

And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth,  bound  hand  and  foot 
with  graveclothes.  .  .  .  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Loose  him, 
and  let  him  go  (John  xi.,  43,  44). 

Mrs.  Eddy,  referring  to  this  experience  of  Lazarus, 
says: 

Jesus  restored  Lazarus  by  the  understanding  that  Lazarus 


Letters  to  the  Press  931 

had  never  died,  not  by  an  admission  that  his  body  had 
died  and  then  lived  again.  Had  Jesus  believed  that 
Lazarus  had  lived  or  died  in  his  body,  the  Master  would 
have  stood  on  the  same  plane  of  belief  as  those  who  buried 
the  body,  and  he  could  not  have  resuscitated  it  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  75). 

Mr.  Farlow  asserts  that  Mrs.  Eddy  has  left  the 
world,  and  will  never  "return  to  earth."  Again  I 
differ  from  Mr.  Farlow.  Mrs.  Eddy's  last  words  were 
"God  is  my  life."  As  God  occupies  all  space,  and  as 
there  is  but  one  God,  and  one  spiritual  universe,  one 
world,  Mrs.  Eddy  has  never  left  the  earth,  and  to  those 
who  look  for  the  demonstration  of  her  teachings  of 
eternal  Life,  as  the  great  verity  of  God  and  the  uni- 
verse, including  man,  she  will  reappear.  Spiritual 
growth  in  divine  Science  will  enable  her  followers  to 
apprehend  the  possibility  of  her  final  demonstration — 
victory  over  a  material  sense  of  the  world,  the  fleshly 
mind  and  mythological  Adam. 

Christian  Scientists  recall  Mrs.  Eddy's  words  in 
regard  to  her  student,  which  we  quote  from  the  Chris- 
tian Science  Sentinel,  volume  xii.,  page  10: 

My  beloved  Edward  A.  Kimball,  whose  clear,  correct 
teaching  of  Christian  Science  has  been  and  is  an  inspiration 
to  the  whole  Field,  is  here  now  as  veritably  as  when  he 
visited  me  a  year  ago.  If  we  would  awaken  to  this  recogni- 
tion, we  should  see  him  here  and  realize  that  he  never  died ; 
thus  demonstrating  the  fundamental  truth  of  Christian 
Science. 

And  again  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  encourages 
us,  in  the  following  words,  to  strive  for  spirituality: 

When  you  can  waken  yourself  or  others  out  of  the  belief 


932  Letters  to  the  Press 

that  all  must  die,  you  can  then  exercise  Jesus'  spiritual 
power  to  reproduce  the  presence  of  those  who  have  thought 
they  died, — but  not  otherwise  (Science  and  Health,   p.  75). 

True  Christian  Scientists  defend  divine  meta- 
physics or  Christian  Science,  as  taught  by  their  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  will  patiently  wait  for  spiritual 
development  which  ensures  spiritual  power,  and  the 
ability  to  discern  the  phenomena  of  divine  Mind — 
spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe,  the  only 
reality  of  scientific  eternal  being. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  Democrat  (Nashville,  Term.),  April  11, 1912 

MARY   BAKER  EDDY'S  TEACHINGS 

DEFENDED    BY 

AUGUSTA   E.    STETSON. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Democrat: — 

Will  you  permit  me  to  say  a  few  words  in  regard 
to  my  position  in  Christian  Science,  which  has  been 
incorrectly  stated  by  Mr.  H.  .  .  M.  .  .  M.  .  .  in  his 
letter,  published  in  your  columns? 

The  statement  made  in  a  New  York  paper  that  a 
"crisis  is  about  to  occur  in  the  Christian  Science 
Church,"  Mr.  M.  .  .  declares  is  unwarranted.  The 
assertion  referred  to  was  evidently  the  opinion  of  a 
Christian  Scientist  who  sees  the  present  condition  which 
exists  among  Mrs.  Eddy's  followers,  some  of  whom 
stoutly  affirm  the  reality  of  death — that  "Mrs.  Eddy  is 
dead  and  cannot  return  to  earth" — the  impossibility 
of  her  final  demonstration  over  all  mortal  mentality, 
and  her  inability  to  manifest  her  individual  identity 


Letters  to  the  Press  933 

as  did  Jesus.  Others  unhesitatingly  and  understand- 
ing^ defend  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings,  that  God  is  the 
only  Life,  therefore  her  life — that  she  never  lived  nor 
died  in  matter — never  left  the  earth,  and  therefore  will 
not  "return"  to  it,  but  that  she  will  dispel  the  cloud 
of  material  sense  and  reappear  in  demonstration  of 
her  teaching. 

Our  great  Leader  says : 



It   is   unchristian    to   believe   in   the   transition   called 

material  death,  since  matter  has  no  life,  and  such  misbelief 

must  enthrone  another  power,  an  imaginary  life,  above 

the  living  and  true  God  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  38). 

Again  she  says : 

Life  is  the  origin  and  ultimate  of  man,  never  attainable 
through  death,  but  gained  by  walking  in  the  pathway  of 
Truth  both  before  and  after  that  which  is  called  death. 

{Science  and  Health,  p.  487.) 

The  first  group  of  so-called  Christian  Scientists 
seems  to  regard  Mrs.  Eddy  only  as  a  remarkable  wo- 
man, who  has  discovered  Jesus'  method  of  healing 
the  sick  and  reforming  the  sinner,  but  publicly  and 
privately  declare  that  she  is  dead  and  cannot  manifest 
herself  again  to  her  followers  as  did  Jesus  to  his 
disciples. 

The  second  group,  having  attained,  through  the  un- 
derstanding of  her  writings,  the  spiritual  meaning  of 
the  Holy  Bible,  knows  that  she  is  the  God-inspired 
woman  to  convey  to  mankind  in  this  generation  the 
message  of  Truth,  and  that  having  taken  up  to  the 
present  hour,  "the  human  footsteps  leading  to  per- 
fection" {Science  and  Health,  p.  254),  she  has  at  last 
entered   upon   her  final  demonstration.     This   group 


934  Letters  to  the  Press 

understands  that  her  divine  individuality  will  be 
sustained  and  demonstrated  by  the  reappearance  or 
visible  manifestation  of  the  ideal  woman,  as  was 
proved  by  the  reappearance  of  the  ideal  man,  Christ 
Jesus. 

Divine  metaphysicians  realize  that  Christ,  Truth, 
must  come  the  second  time  in  fulfilment  of  prophecy, 
and  that,  to  those  who  "look  for  him,"  he  will  appear 
without  sin,  the  fleshly  mind,  unto  salvation. 

True  Christian  Scientists  who  are  spiritualizing 
their  thoughts,  that  the  things  of  Spirit  may  be  dis- 
cerned, are  looking  for  Truth's  second  appearing,  and 
are  joyous  in  anticipation  of  the  potency  of  the  law 
of  Love,  which  will  destroy  all  evil,  and  will  reveal 
God's  universe  peopled  with  spiritual  beings  of  His 
creating,  thus  disclosing  the  reality  of  the  one  God, 
man,  and  the  spiritual  universe. 

At  Christ's  first  appearing,  the  head  of  the  serpent, 
sin,  was  bruised,  and  to  those  materialists  who  did  not 
rise  to  spiritual  apprehension  of  Christ  Jesus'  demon- 
stration and  reappearance,  the  serpent,  sin,  continued 
its  argument  of  belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  the  claim 
of  death  has  continued  to  hold  humanity  in  bondage 
for  centuries. 

The  second  and  final  appearance  of  Christ,  Truth, 
through  woman,  will  crush  the  serpent's,  sin's,  head, 
and  the  false  concept  called  death  will  be  found  power- 
less to  prevent  the  visible  manifestation  of  Truth,  in 
its  image  or  form,  "the  spiritual  idea  of  God's  mother- 
hood" {Science  and  Health,  p.  562). 

Mr.  M.  .  .  could  never  have  read  any  of  my 
writings  or  he  would  have  seen  therein  my  repeated 
declaration  that  Mrs.  Eddy  can  have  no  successor. 
She  is  our  forever   Leader.     She  exists  eternally  as 


Letters  to  the  Press  935 

an  individual  idea  of  divine  Principle.  So  do  I,  as 
God's  child,  and  so  do  all.  We  have  each  our  own 
place  in  the  body  of  Christ,  and  no  one  can  take  it. 

I  do  not  know  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  students  who 
has  so  continuously  affirmed  this  fact,  the  impossibility 
of  a  successor  to  Mrs.  Eddy,  as  I  have  done;  and  of 
the  possibility  of  her  spiritual  power  to  dispel  the  mist 
of  belief,  or  corporeality,  and  reveal  her  ideal  self- 
hood. This  was  once  accomplished  by  man,  Christ 
Jesus.  Christian  Scientists  understand  that  it  will 
again  be  demonstrated  through  their  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

No  greater  cross  could  be  borne  by  the  spiritually 
minded,  who  discern  and  declare  for  the  spiritual  facts 
of  being,  and  resurrection,  or  reappearance,  as  a  pres- 
ent possibility,  than  is  given  in  the  opposition  of  those 
who  should  unite  in  proclaiming  the  oneness  of  God 
and  man,  as  the  divine  reality  of  existence.  Those  who 
persist  in  using  every  material  argument  to  prove  the 
reality  of  death,  and  the  inability  of  the  great  Leader 
and  Teacher  of  eternal  Life,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  to 
prove  her  teaching  and  manifest  herself  in  image,  idea, 
are  denying  the  teachings  which  they  claim  to  accept. 

The  expression,  u  reappear  in  material  form,"  seems 
to  offend  in  some  cases,  where  spiritual  phenom- 
ena are  not  comprehended.  A  divine  metaphysician 
understands  that  Jesus,  at  his  reappearance  to  his 
disciples,  seemed  material.  This  was  because  Christ 
Jesus  had  not  risen  to  his  wholly  spiritual  consciousness. 
Had  he  at  that  time  risen  beyond  their  material  vision 
he  would  not  have  been  appreciable  to  those  who  were 
still  limited  by  material  sense,  and  the  world  would 
have  lost  the  benefit  of  his  teaching  and  demonstration. 

Throughout    the    Scriptures   are    accounts    of    the 


936  Letters  to  the  Press 

result  of  spiritual  thought  or  the  exaltation  of  the 
Christ,  Truth,  consciousness.  When  Christ  Jesus  was 
on  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration,  with  "Peter  and  John 
and  James,"  the  Master  saw  Moses  and  Elias,  who 
talked  with  him.  The  three  disciples  were  "asleep," 
unconscious  of  the  presence  of  others.  Scripture 
relates  that  when  they  awoke,  that  is,  rose  to  an  exal- 
tation of  their  spiritual  sense,  or  sight,  they  beheld 
"two  men"  talking  with  Jesus  (Luke  ix.,  28-32). 
This  proves  that  these  men,  Moses  and  Elias,  were 
present,  though  the  world  had  for  ages  regarded  them 
as  dead.  This  is  not  spiritualism,  or  the  return  'of 
mortals,  but  the  phenomena  of  Spirit  and  spiritual 
ideas,  the  real  indestructible  man  of  God's  creating,  the 
substance-idea.  This  proves  that  what  is  invisible  to 
material  sense,  to  spiritual  sense  becomes  apparent. 

Let  those  calling  themselves  Christian  Scientists 
awake,  and  at  least  encourage  the  hope  in  the  faint- 
hearted that  their  revered  Leader  may  be  again  mani- 
fested to  her  people. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  will  become  visible  to  all  who 
will  awaken  out  of  the  mesmerism  of  sensuous  belief 
that  man  is  both  material  and  spiritual.  Evil  of  what- 
ever name  or  nature  however,  is  powerless  to  prevent 
the  demonstration,  in  this  age,  of  "the  deathless  reality 
of  Life,  its  almightiness  and  immortality  "  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  487). 

Man  is  Life's  immortal  idea,  and  spiritual  con- 
sciousness only  will  finally  reveal  the  real  man  and  the 
real  universe. 

Mr.  M.  .  .  says  that: 

His  [Jesus]  disciples  understood  the  principle  of  His 
teachings  sufficiently  to  do  the  works  He  did,  even  to  rais- 


Letters  to  the  Press  937 

ing  the  dead,  in  one  instance,  yet  they  were  so  hampered 
by  former  beliefs  in  material  life  as  to  be  unable  to  emulate 
their  Master  in  His  wonderful  crowning  demonstrations 
known  as  the  resurrection  and  the  ascension. 

Mr.  M.  .  .  continues  by  admitting  that  Mrs.  Eddy 

.  .  .  understood  Christ  Jesus'  teaching  and  presented  it 
through  a  book,  "  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  in  demonstrable  form,  and  she  demonstrated 
this  revelation  in  a  degree. 

Divine  metaphysics  shows  us  that  Christ  Jesus 
demonstrated  his  teachings  "in  a  degree,"  until  the 
time  came  when  he  "knew  that  his  hour  was  come," 
when  he  must  enter  upon  his  final  demonstration  over 
the  "last  enemy" — the  claim  of  death — and  present 
himself,  his  divine  individuality,  in  visible  form  to  his 
disciples. 

During  his  three  days  in  the  tomb,  his  disciples 
regarded  him  as  dead;  but  his  understanding  of  the 
allness  of  Life,  and  man's  real  oneness  with  God, 
dispelled  for  him  the  mists  of  belief  of  a  physical 
personality,  and  revealed  the  spiritual  individual 
Christ  Jesus,  who  had  declared,  "Before  Abraham  was, 
lam." 

It  is  natural,  logical,  and  Christianly  scientific,  to 
assume  that  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  the  Science  of  spiritual  being,  who  has  fol- 
lowed so  closely  in  the  footsteps  of  her  great  Exemplar, 
Christ  Jesus,  will  continue  to  follow  him  up  to  the 
very  throne  of  his  crowning  demonstration  of  spiritual 
dominion  over  the  material  world,  the  fleshly  so-called 
mind  and  the  claim  of  evil. 

Mr.  M.  .  .  points  out  that,  "For  nearly  fifty  years 
before  Mrs.  Eddy  rediscovered  the  truth,  taught  and 


938  Letters  to  the  Press 

demonstrated  by  Christ  Jesus,  she  was  trained  in  the 
thought  of  death  as  being  inevitable." 

Does  Mr.  M.  .  .  offer  this  as  a  reason  for  believ- 
ing that  Mrs.  Eddy  cannot  make  a  final  demonstration 
over  the  belief  of  life  in  matter?  Could  that  belief, 
which  he  says  she  entertained  for  years,  prevent  her 
progress  under  the  ever-active,  ever-present  law  of 
God,  or  hinder  her  spiritual  development  in  the  Truth 
which  makes  free?  Had  not  the  impersonal  Christ 
been  operating  in  her  thought  during  those  years, 
dispelling  the  human  concepts  through  the  suffering 
which  destroys  the  fleshly  mind?  Can  it  be  possible 
that  any  Christian  Scientist  thinks  that  the  shadow  of 
old  beliefs  now  holds  her  to  the  false  mentality  which 
for  years  she  has  repudiated? 

Only  the  blindness  of  materialism  now  hides  her 
from  view.  Spiritual  sense,  or  sight,  alone  will  re- 
veal her.  There  is  not  one  line  in  any  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
writings  to  prove  that  she  regarded  death  as  real.  She 
antedated  her  own  existence,  and  knew  that  she  co- 
existed with  God,  who  is  her  life.  This  she  under- 
stood to  be  the  real  existence  of  every  one.  She  taught 
her  students  to  "cling  steadfastly  to  God  and  His  idea" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  495),  and  that,  "no  divine  fiat 
commands  us  to  believe  in  aught  which  is  unlike  God  " 
( Unity  of  Good,  p.  38) . 

The  mistake  with  many,  who  call  themselves 
Christian  Scientists,  is  that  they  are  willing  to  acknow- 
ledge God,  but  refuse  to  admit  His  idea.  Jesus  said, 
"Follow  me,"  meaning  his  unseen,  spiritual  individu- 
ality, the  manifestation  of  God,  not  his  physical 
personality. 

The  impersonal  idea,  the  real  man,  is  inseparable 
from  God,  and  must  be  understood  and  recognized  as 


Letters  to  the  Press  939 

the  spiritual  individual  who  manifests,  executes,  the 
law  of  the  supreme,  infinite  God.  God  and  man 
cooperate.  One  cannot  say,  "I  follow  Principle  but 
I  refuse  to  follow  the  idea."  "  Principle  and  its  idea 
is  one"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  465), — God  and  His 
Christ  or  manifestation.  Each  is  an  individual 
member  or  idea  composing  the  body  of  Christ.  To 
understand  the  spiritual  idea  enables  one  to  apprehend 
the  allness  of  Life,  God,  and  the  nothingness  of  .death. 
This  is  the  point  of  divergence  between  what  the 
world  to-day  terms  the  "material  Christian  Scientists" 
and  the  "spiritual  Christian  Scientists." 

This  is  confirmed  by  Mrs.  Eddy's  words,  "Igno- 
rance of  the  divine  idea  betrays  at  once  a  greater 
ignorance  of  the  divine  Principle  of  the  idea — igno- 
rance of  Truth  and  Love  ■ '  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  560, 
56i). 

The  statement,  that  Mrs.  Eddy  only  demonstrated 
to  a  certain  "degree,"  does  not  prevent  her  from  con- 
tinuing and  completing  her  demonstration.  Woman, 
the  type  of  God's  motherhood,  through  our  great 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  will  finish  her  problem  and 
prove  the  supremacy  of  spiritual  thought-force  over 
material  sense.  The  time  has  arrived  when  many 
understand  that  this  demonstration,  in  Mrs.  Eddy's 
own  words,  may  be  a  "present  possibility"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  574).     She  says: 

The  hour  has  struck  for  Christian  Scientists  to  .  .  . 
demonstrate,  as  this  period  demands,  over  all  sin,  disease, 
and  death  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  317). 

We  look  to  Mrs.  Eddy  as  the  first  to  make  this 
scientific  demonstration  over  the  claim  of  death,  since, 
as  she  says  ' '  this  period  demands  "it.   Science  has  made 


94<>  Letters  to  the  Press 

rapid  strides  since  Mrs.  Eddy  first  discovered  the 
grand  verities  of  spiritual  being,  and  we  believe  that 
she  arrived  at  the  moment  when  she  was  ready  to  lay 
down  her  temporal  sense  of  life,  that  she  "might  take 
it  again,"  and  reappear  to  her  people  in  such  a  form 
as  will  convince  them  it  is  the  "self -same"  Mary, 
as  it  was  formerly  termed  the  "self -same  Jesus" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  317). 

At  Christ  Jesus'  ascension,  his  disciples  could  not 
rise  correspondingly  with  him,  and  therefore  could 
not  retain  his  presence,  which  never  left  the  earth,  the 
ever-present  spiritual  universe.  He  confirmed  this  in 
his  own  words  to  his  disciples,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world"  (Matt,  xxviii., 
20).  As  there  is  but  one  world,  God's  universe, 
and,  as  there  is  no  death,  neither  Christ  Jesus  nor 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  ever  left  the  world,  therefore  it  is 
unscientific  to  use  the  term  "return"  in  regard  to 
them.     They  will  reappear. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says  it  "requires  time  and  immense 
spiritual  growth"  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  43)  before  uni- 
versal mankind  accepts  this  Science  of  being,  but 
individuals  may  and  will  rise  to  such  spiritual  power 
as  will  destroy  the  belief  called  death.  The  Discoverer 
and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  must  have  attained 
to  "immense  spiritual  growth"  to  have  written  the 
text-book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
which  is  her  spiritual  consciousness  externalized  in 
the  form  of  a  book. 

The  mission  of  Christ  Jesus,  the  masculine  repre- 
sentative of  God,  was  to  abolish  death  and  bring  Life 
and  immortality  to  light  for  himself,  and  also  to  show 
humanity  the  way  of  escape  from  sin,  disease,  and 
death.     We  understand  that  Mrs.  Eddy's  mission,  as 


Letters  to  the  Press  941 

the  woman,  the  type  of  God's  motherhood,  is  not  only 
to  bruise  the  serpent's, — sin's, — head,  in  fulfilment  of 
the  power  or  law  of  Love,  but  to  make  for  herself 
a  final  disposition  of  the  "talking,  lying  serpent" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  529),  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
by  crushing  out  its  claim  to  life,  truth,  substance,  and 
intelligence  in  matter,  and  thus  forever  silence  its  ar- 
guments of  pain  and  pleasure  in  matter,  and  the  fear  of 
death. 

Paul  understood  the  nothingness  of  fear  and  death, 
when  he  said:  "And  deliver  them  who  through  fear 
of  death  were  all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bondage" 
(Heb.  ii.,  15). 

Mr.  M.  .  .  states  that  Jesus  never  "yielded  to  sin 
which  alone  brings  death."  Jesus  never  yielded  to  the 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  sin,  yet  he  did  not  escape  the 
experience  which  mortals  call  death.  In  his  final  de- 
monstration over  the  "last  enemy"  he  tasted  "death 
for  every  man, "  to  show  them  the  way  out  of  the  fleshly 
mind,  but  not  to  do  their  work  for  them.  He  proved 
the  power  of  the  Christ-consciousness;  triumphed  over 
the  claim  of  suffering,  death,  and  the  grave,  and  mani- 
fested himself  to  his  disciples. 

Thus  the  spiritual  Christ  Jesus  proved  his  divine 
dominion.  He  appeared  in  a  material  form,  that  is, 
he  had  not  put  off  material  sense  entirely,  or  those 
who  were  in  material  belief  would  not  have  recognized 
him.  When  he  overcame  all  physical  mentality  he  was 
not  visible  to  his  disciples. 

"God  is  no  respecter  of  persons."  A  large  body 
of  Christian  Scientists  believe  that  the  hour  has  struck 
when  our  revered  Leader,  in  following  her  Master, 
will  make  her  crowning  demonstration  over  death  and 
the  grave. 


942  Letters  to  the  Press 

It  is  time  for  the  doubting  and  shrinking  in  the 
faith,  if  they  would  escape  the  experience  of  the  foolish 
virgins,  who  have  "no  oil"  (spiritual  understanding) 
in  "  their  lamps, "  to  awake.  Let  them  cease  to  admit 
both  good  and  evil,  life  and  death,  and  follow  the  wise 
virgins  who  acknowledge  but  one  power,  God  and  His 
idea,  spiritual  man.  Let  them  begin  to  build  on  a 
"  wholly  spiritual  foundation"  {Christian  Science  Senti- 
nel, vol.  xi.,  p.  390)  which  alone  will  reveal  spiritual 
individual  identities,  which  are  ever-present  to  spiritual 
sight. 

Let  Mary  Baker  Eddy  be  heard  in  the  following 
words: 

. 

Jesus  declares  that  they  who  believe  his  sayings  will 
never  die ;  therefore  mortals  can  no  more  receive  everlasting 
life  by  believing  in  death,  than  they  can  become  perfect 
by  believing  in  imperfection  and  living  imperfectly. 

{Unity  of  Good,  p.  40.) 

Mrs.  Eddy,  in  speaking  of  Jesus'  bodily  resurrection, 
and  of  his  statement  that  he  would  reproduce  his  body, 
says  it  was  not  understood.     She  says: 

To  such  materialists,  the  real  man  seemed  a  spectre, 
unseen  and  unfamiliar,  and  the  body,  which  they  laid  in 
a  sepulchre,  seemed  to  be  substance.  This  materialism 
lost  sight  of  the  true  Jesus ;  but  the  faithful  Mary  saw  him, 
and  he  presented  to  her,  more  than  ever  before,  the  true 
idea  of  Life  and  substance. 

Because  of  mortals'  material  and  sinful  belief,  the 
spiritual  Jesus  was  imperceptible  to  them.  .  .  . 

That  saying  of  our  Master,  "I  and  my  Father  are  one," 
separated  him  from  the  scholastic  theology  of  the  rabbis. 
{Science  and  Health,  pp.  314,  315.) 


Letters  to  the  Press  943 

In  reply  to  the  question,  "Do  you  believe  in  transla- 
tion?" Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

If  you  refer  to  the  removal  of  a  person  to  heaven,  without 
his  subjection  to  death,  ...  I  believe  in  this  removal 
being  possible  after  all  the  footsteps  requisite  have  been 
taken  up  to  the  very  throne,  up  to  the  spiritual  sense 
and  fact  of  divine  substance,  intelligence,  Life,  and  Love. 
...  It  means  more  than  mere  disappearance  to  the  human 
sense ;  it  must  include  also  man's  changed  appearance  and 
diviner  form  visible  to  those  beholding  him  here  (Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  pp.  67,  68). 

We  believe  that  Mary  Baker  Eddy  took  every 
footstep  requisite,  "up  to  the  spiritual  sense  and  fact 
of  divine  substance,"  and  that  she  will  be  visible  in 
a  "diviner  form"  to  those  who  have  spiritual  sense  to 
behold  her  here. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  Democrat  (Nashville,  Term.),  April  21,1912 

MRS.  STETSON  EXPLAINS  EMERGENCE  FROM  MATERIAL 
ORGANIZATION 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Democrat: — 

I  beg  you  will  grant  me  space  to  explain  a  letter 
which  Mr.  M.  .  .  has  published  in  his  reply  to  my 
article.  While  declaring  that  he  does  not  "pass 
judgment  upon  any  one,"  he  immediately  proceeds  to 
judge  me  in  the  following  words: 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Mrs.  Stetson  did  not  heed  this 
timely  warning,  for  it  is  this  mistaken  thought  which  she 
holds  about  Mrs.  Eddy  which  prompts  her  to  declare,  in 
substance,  that  Mrs.  Eddy  will  make  the  crowning  demon- 


944  Letters  to  the  Press 

stration  over  death  and  reappear  to  her  students,  just 
as  Jesus  came  forth  from  the  tomb  and  established  his 
identity  to  his  disciples. 

The  letter  to  which  Mr.  M.  .  .  refers  was  preceded 
by  one  from  Mrs.  Eddy  to  me  also  published  in  the 
Christian  Science  Sentinel,  volume  xi.,  page  910,  from 
which  I  quote  the  following : 

Beloved!  you  need  to  watch  and  pray  that  the  enemy  of 
good  cannot  separate  you  from  your  Leader  and  best 
earthly  friend. 

This  came  to  me  during  my  first  trial  in  Boston. 
Later  the  following  letter  to  which  Mr.  M.  .  .  refers 
was  sent  me  by  Mrs.  Eddy: 

Brookline,  Mass.,  July  23,  1909. 
My  Dear  Student: — 

Awake  and  arise  from  this  temptation  produced  by 
animal  magnetism  upon  yourself,  allowing  your  students 
to  deify  you  and  me.  Treat  yourself  for  it  and  get  your 
students  to  help  you  rise  out  of  it.  It  will  be  your  de- 
struction if  you  do  not  do  this.  Answer  this  letter  imme- 
diately. 

As  ever,  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  130. 

This  letter  had  the  effect  to  arouse  me  to  renewed 
endeavor  to  free  myself  from  the  effort  of  the  "enemy 
of  good"  to  separate  me  from  my  "Leader  and  best 
earthly  friend,"  by  holding  me  to  finity  and  a  ma- 
terial organization.  I  resigned  from  the  material 
organization,  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New 
York  City,  and  began  to  build,  as  my  Leader  had  re- 
quested, on  a  "  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which 


Letters  to  the  Press  945 

there  is  no  other."  Thus  I  separated  myself  from 
those  students  who  heretofore  had  clung  to  my 
physical  personality.  Had  I  remained  longer  with 
them  and  continued  in  the  material  organization  it 
would  have  been  my  destruction.  It  would  have  pre- 
vented me  from  rising  to  a  higher  degree  of  spiritual 
consciousness,  and  would  have  separated  me  from  my 
beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  replied  to  this  letter  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  the  day  I 
received  it,  and  sent  my  answer  by  special  messenger, 
who  delivered  it  the  next  morning  to  her  secretary. 
She  sent  me  a  loving  reply  with  definite  directions 
as  to  the  course  I  should  pursue  in  coming  out  from 
the  material  organization,  separating  myself  from  those 
students  who  would  have  held  me  to  earthward 
gravitation,  because  they  could  not  rise  to  see  the 
divine  individuality  of  their  Leader,  of  their  teacher, 
or  of  themselves  and  of  all  mankind. 

Later,  Mrs.  Eddy  published  her  letter  to  me  of 
July  23,  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel.  It  served 
as  a  test  for  my  students  whether  they  would  cling  to 
the  physical  personality  or  to  the  spiritual  individuality 
of  our  great  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  rise  with 
her  into  a  diviner  consciousness  of  God  and  man,  and 
the  nothingness  of  all  material  phenomena,  including 
so-called  mortal  man  and  the  mythical  material 
universe. 

I  have  Mrs.  Eddy's  views,  in  her  own  handwriting, 
in  regard  to  her  final  demonstration  or  resurrection, 
also  her  teaching  of  the  motherhood  of  God.  I  shall 
continue  to  declare  that  Mrs.  Eddy,  with  all  other 
women,  typifies  the  motherhood  of  God.  Christian 
Scientists  believe  that  she  will  be  the  first  to  demon- 
strate over  the  illusion  called  death.  I  shall  continue 
60 


946  Letters  to  the  Press 

to  correct  every  reversal  of  her  teachings,  and  shall 
trust  God  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  to  protect  me 
from  the  "enemy  of  good." 

This  is  my  answer  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  letter 
which  Mr.  M.  .  .  has  published: 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
July  24,  1909. 
Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Chestnut  Hill,  Brookline,  Mass. 

My  precious  Leader: — 

Your  dear  letter  of  to-day  is  before  me.  I  thank  you  for 
your  continued  watch-care  during  this  perilous  passage 
(through  material  sense  to  Soul)  from  the  will  of  the  flesh, 
or  human  energy,  which  embodies  itself  in  physical  person- 
ality, to  the  will  of  God,  or  divine  energy,  which  dissolves 
finite  personality  together  with  all  the  phenomena  of  the 
carnal  mind,  and  reveals  Spirit,  God,  as  the  only  creator, 
and  man  as  His  image  and  likeness,  the  compound  idea 
or  divine  personality,  the  reflection  of  the  infinite  Person. 

In  your  Message  to  The  Mother  Church  for  iqoi,  page 
41 ,  I  read :  "  Do  Christian  Scientists  believe  in  personality? 
They  do,  but  their  personality  is  defined  spiritually,  not 
materially — by  Mind,  not  by  matter.  We  do  not  blot 
out  the  material  race  of  Adam,  but  leave  all  sin  to  God's 
fiat — self -extinction,  and  to  the  final  manifestation  of  the 
real  spiritual  man  and  universe.  We  believe,  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  that  God  is  infinite  Spirit  or  Person, 
and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness:  therefore  man  reflects 
Spirit,  not  matter." 

I  have  always  tried  to  teach  my  students  to  differentiate 
between  finite  and  infinite  personality,  between  the  physical 
personality,  which  is  the  image  of  the  beast  or  so-called 
mortal  mind,  specifically  named  animal  magnetism,  and 
the  divine  personality,  which  is  the  image  of  God — the  spir- 
itual idea  or  Christ.  By  failing  to  discern  this  difference 
some  of    my  students  in  the  past  have  lost    "the  way." 


Letters  to  the  Press  947 

"Jesus  demonstrated  Christ"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  332). 
He  showed  the  way  by  which  humanity  could  escape 
from  the  bondage  of  fleshly  personality;  he  designated  the 
Christ  as  "the  way"  when  he  said,  "No  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father,  but  by  me,"  and  "he  that  hath  seen  me  [the 
spiritual  idea  or  my  individuality]  hath  seen  the  Father." 

The  sensuous  world  refused,  and  continues  to  refuse,  to 
follow  and  obey  the  impersonal  Christ  which  Jesus  and  you, 
my  beloved  Leader,  have  declared.  They  held  him  in  the 
bonds  of  personal  sense.  The  wise  see  you  to-day  as 
the  Messiah,  or  the  Anointed  of  God  to  this  age,  fulfilling 
the  law  of  Love.  They  do  not  deify  your  human  person- 
ality, but  will  not  lose  sight  of  your  spiritual  individuality, 
or  God  with  us.  Although  all  of  my  students  have  been 
taught  this,  doubtless  some  have  not  assimilated  it. 

In  your  letter  to  me,  which  was  published  in  the  Sentinel 
of  July  17th,  you  thanked  me  for  acknowledging  you  as 
my  Leader.  I  have  always  delighted  to  revere,  follow,  and 
obey  you  as  my  Leader,  to  whom  I  pay  loving,  loyal 
allegiance.  I  am  abiding  by  the  divine  rules  laid  down  in 
your  writings,  and  am  following  your  Christly  example 
so  far  as  Love  reflected  in  love  illumines  the  way.  This 
sincere  endeavor  to  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ  must  bring 
its  blessing.  Your  comforting  assurance  that  I  am  "aware 
that  animal  magnetism  is  the  opposite  of  divine  Science" 
(Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  313)  gives  me  re- 
newed courage  to  wield  the  two-edged  sword  of  Truth  and 
Love  with  intent  to  decapitate  this  opponent,  the  beast  and 
false  prophet;  for  the  lie,  lust,  and  hypocrisy,  which  contend 
against  innocence  and  truth — the  Lamb  of  Love,  shall  not 
continue  to  engender  and  develop,  for  God  worketh  with  us. 

Precious  Leader,  I  am  watching  and  praying  that  "the 
enemy  of  good"  cannot  "separate"1  me  from  you,  my 
Leader  and  Teacher.  "For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither 
death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers, 

1  See  letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy,  p.  223. 


948  Letters  to  the  Press 

nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor 
depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us 
[me]  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord" — and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  my  beloved  Leader,  "  and 
best  earthly  friend." 

I  have  always  taught  my  students  to  love  and  reverence 
you  as  the  one  whom  God  has  appointed  to  voice  His 
word  to  this  age. 

My  students  know  that  I  am  endeavoring  to  obey 
your  teaching  and  demonstrate  Christ,  and  for  this 
reason  they,  in  turn,  have  confidence  in  me  as  a 
teacher  and  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science.  For 
twenty -five  years,  "the  enemy  of  good"  has  been  using 
every  subtle  suggestion  to  separate  me  from  the  Christ 
which  you  represent,  and  are  demonstrating,  but  it  has 
signally  and  utterly  failed.  If  my  students  have  shown 
more  zeal  than  wisdom  in  expressing  their  love  for  their 
Leader,  and  for  their  teacher,  I  will  try  still  further  to 
warn  them  of  the  danger  of  deifying  physical  personality. 
I  believe,  however,  that  they  are  clear  on  the  fact  that 
"none  is  good,  save  one,  that  is,  God,"  and  His  idea,  and 
that  "I  can  of  mine  own  self  [material  self]  do  nothing," 
"But  the  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me  [in  my  spiritual 
individuality],  He  doeth  the  works." 

As  you  continue  to  demonstrate  the  "infinite  calculus 
defining  the  line,  plane,  space,  and  fourth  dimension  of 
Spirit"  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  22),  may  wisdom  enable 
me  to  maintain,  through  you,  God's  idea,  the  conscious- 
ness of  my  unity  with  Him.  This  I  believe  I  have 
always  done  in  the  letter,  and  in  an  ever  increasing  de- 
gree in  the  spirit.  I  have  taught  my  students  to  look 
straight  at  and  through  the  brazen  serpent  of  false  per- 
sonality, and  to  behold  the  immortal  idea,  man,  where 
the  mortal  seems  to  be.  Malicious  animal  magnetism 
still  persists  in  its  efforts,  by  its  indiscriminate  denunciation 
of  personality  in  general,  to  slay  the  spiritual  idea,  Chris- 
tian Scie  ce,  to  which  you  have  given  birth.     I  understand 


Letters  to  the  Press  949 

your  teachings  to  mean  that  we  must  judge  righteous 
judgment,  and  discern  between  the  false  and  the  true, 
so  that,  when  bidden  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  we  may 
bind  the  tares  into  bundles  to  be  burned,  while  we  gather 
the  wheat  into  the  garner.  No  man  can  serve  two  masters, 
but  every  man  must  serve  one  master,  Christ. 

The  Scriptures  show  us  that  in  every  age  God  has  spoken 
through  a  person.  Abraham,  Moses,  Samuel,  David, 
Jesus,  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  are  some  of  the  human 
names  by  which  God's  chosen  representatives  have  been 
known  in  history.  You  refer  to  this  fact  in  Miscellaneous 
Writings,  page  308,  "personal  revelators  will  take  their 
proper  place  in  history,  but  will  not  be  deified." 

Beloved  Leader,  you  -  are  ever  speaking  to  my  heart, 
"Awake!"  and  I  reply, 

I  will  listen  for  Thy  voice, 

Lest  my  footsteps  stray; 
I  will  follow  and  rejoice 

All  the  rugged  way.1 


Your  loving  child, 


Augusta. 


(Exact  copy.) 

The  Post-Standard    (Syracuse,  N.  Y.),  April  17, 1912 

LEGITIMATE  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  AND  ITS  TRUE 
REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUSTA  E.  STETSON   OF  NEW  YORK  CITY  MAKES  VIGOROUS 
REPLY    TO    C.    .   .  I.    .    .   O.    .    .   OF    SYRACUSE 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Post-Standard: — 

Since  you  published  in  the  columns  of  your  paper 
the  opinion  of  Mr.  C.  .  .  I.  .  .  O.  .  .  in  regard  to  me, 
will  you  kindly    permit  me    to  make    the   following 

1  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  398. 


950  Letters  to  the  Press 

statement?    My  former  acquaintance  with  Mr.  0.  .  . 
forbids  me  to  believe  that  he  would  knowingly  wrong 
me,  or  so  publicly  denounce  any  woman. 
The  first  paragraph  of  his  letter  reads: 

It  should  be  understood  that  Mrs.  Stetson  was  excom- 
municated from  the  Christian  Science  denomination  be- 
cause she  had  for  years  misrepresented  Mrs.  Eddy  and 
perverted  and  mistaught  her  doctrine.  This  should  make 
it  conclusively  evident  that  her  utterances  are  not  to  be 
taken  as  representative  of  legitimate  Christian  Science. 

Because  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church 
dropped  my  name  from  the  membership  roll,  and  I  am 
no  longer  a  member  of  the  material  organization,  is 
no  proof  that  my  utterances  are  not  "representative 
of  legitimate  Christian  Science,"  or  that  I  am  not  a 
member  of  the  spiritual  organization,  and  building 
on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation,"  in  response  to 
Mrs.  Eddy's  counsel  in  the  following  words: 

When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher,  .  .  .  they  must  begin  on  a.  wholly  spiritual 
foundation,  than  which  there  is  no  other  .  .  . 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all  (Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390). 

I  had  built  and  perfected  the  material  organization, 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
and  was  ready  "to  build  higher," — "to  leave  all  for 
Christ"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  9) — to  fulfil  the  law 
of  Love,  and  to  continue  my  ministrations  of  love 
from  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation." 

In  regard  to  the  question  of  spiritual  development, 
Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

After  this  material  form  of  cohesion  and  fellowship  has 


Letters  to  the  Press  951 

accomplished  its  end,  continued  organization  retards 
spiritual  growth,  and  should  be  laid  off,  ...  in  order  to 
gain  spiritual  freedom  and  supremacy  (Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  45). 

This  statement  applies  only  to  those  who  have 
demonstrated  up  to  the  point  of  emergence  out  of 
material  organization  by  having  taken  every  step 
necessary  to  the  achievement  of  a  perfect  demon- 
stration. Then  rising  to  a  higher  spiritual  basis  is 
inevitable  in  the  order  of  divine  Science. 

It  is  evident  to  the  reader,  who  spiritually  inter- 
prets Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
that  my  utterances  are  in  strict  accord  with  the  text- 
book of  Christian  Science,  and  with  Mrs.  Eddy's 
other  writings.  The  criterion  by  which  a  Christian 
Scientist's  words  and  works  should  be  judged  is  the 
Bible  and  the  Christian  Science  text-book. 

Mr.  O.  .  .  impugns  the  wisdom,  justice,  and  divine 
love  of  the  great  Leader  of  Christian  Science,  when 
he  publicly  and  unhesitatingly  states  that,  "Mrs. 
Stetson.  .  .  had  for  years  misrepresented  Mrs.  Eddy 
and  perverted  and  mistaught  her  doctrine." 

Mr.  0.  .  .'s  words  imply  that  Mrs.  Eddy  either 
had  not  the  wisdom  to  detect  that,  for  years,  I,  her 
student,  had  "misrepresented"  her,  and  "perverted 
and  mistaught  her  doctrine, "  or  that  she  permitted  me 
to  remain  in  a  large  city  as  an  exponent  of  Christian 
Science,  with  her  commendation  and  public  approval. 

I  cannot  allow  Mrs.  Eddy's  wisdom,  justice,  and 
divine  love  to  be  questioned,  without  a  protest.  She 
was,  and  is,  the  great  spiritual  Leader,  God's  Messenger 
to  this  age,  to  guide  His  people  to  an  understanding 
of  eternal  Life.  I  have  always  stood,  and  now  stand, 
fearlessly   and   understandingly,   for   the   doctrine   of 


952  Letters  to  the  Press 

Christian  Science  as  taught  in  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures. 

During  twenty-seven  years  I  have  defended  my 
Leader  and  Teacher,  Mrs.  Eddy,  against  those  who 
opposed  her  and  her  teachings — students  who  could 
not  grasp  the  spiritual  interpretation  of  divine  meta- 
physics, and  the  materialists,  who,  throughout  the  ages, 
have  resisted  Truth's  demands. 

Mr.  O.  .  .  says : 

While  Mrs.  Eddy  recognized  that  it  should  not  "be  a 
strange  thing  with  you  that  God  should  raise  the  dead," 
she  never  claimed  this  power  for  herself  and  certainly  no 
one  has  any  right  to  claim  it  for  her. 

Mrs.  Eddy  certainly  did  claim  this  power  for  her- 
self. She  claimed  her  spiritual  identity  as  God's  idea, 
or  child,  which  could  never  be  separated  from  God, — 
divine  Mind, — therefore  could  not  forever  be  invisible, 
concealed  behind  the  mask  called  mortal  mind  and  its 
false  embodiment,  matter.  She  understood  and  taught 
that  "Principle  and  its  idea  is  one"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  465),  and  that  this  one  is  God  and  His  Christ 
— the  spiritual  universe.  She  understood  her  one- 
ness with  God,  and  that  she  was  an  individual  idea, 
or  member  of  the  body  of  Christ,  inseparable  from 
Principle,  God.  This  she  claimed  for  herself,  and 
taught  others  to  claim  for  themselves.  She  said  to 
her  followers: 

You  can  never  demonstrate  spirituality  until  you  declare 
yourself  to  be  immortal  and  understand  that  you  are  so.  .  .  . 
Unless  you  fully  perceive  that  you  are  the  child  of  God, 
hence  perfect,  you  have  no  Principle  to  demonstrate  and 
no  rule  for  its  demonstration.     By  this  I  do  not  mean  that 


Letters  to  the  Press  953 

mortals  are  the  children  of  God, — far  from  it  (Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  io). 

■ 

She  never  admitted  death  as  real.  It  is  evident, 
then  that  she  claimed  for  herself  the  power  to  demon- 
strate eternal  Life.  I  claim  it  for  her.  All  who 
understand  the  allness  of  Life,. and  Life's  idea,  as  the 
only  reality  of  being,  claim,  sooner  or  later,  a  visible 
manifestation  of  Truth,  or  the  second  appearing  of 
Christ,  and,  in  fulfilment  of  prophecy,  through  woman. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  rose  to  spiritual  apprehension  of 
her  oneness  with  eternal  Life,  and,  like  her  Master, 
Christ  Jesus,  will  come  forth  victor  over  the  illusion 
of  death  and  the  grave. 

She  was  not  in  the  "sensual  age,"  viz.:  material 
consciousness.  She  dwelt  in  spiritual  consciousness 
with  God  and  His  Christ — therefore  this  reference 
does  not  apply  to  her.  The  sinner  and  the  sensualist 
may  remain  for  ages  subject  to  death, — the  wages  of  sin, 
— and  according  to  Scripture  the  millennium  will  give 
all  mankind  ample  time  in  which  to  understand  and 
demonstrate  absolute  Christian  Science.  Individuals, 
however,  need  not  wait  for  universal  consciousness 
to  become  permeated  with  Truth  before  they  can 
make  their  demonstration.  Christ  Jesus  did  not  tarry 
until  his  disciples  attained  to  his  spiritual  status,  and 
could  comprehend  the  possibility  of  his  reappearance; 
neither  can  Mrs.  Eddy  be  hindered  by  her  faithless 
followers  in  her  demonstration  over  the  "last  enemy," 
death. 

Those  calling  themselves  Christian  Scientists  should 
not  so  persistently  affirm  the  impossibility  and  im- 
probability of  the  fulfilment  of  Scripture,  and  a  scien- 
tific  individual  demonstration,  in  this  age,  over   the 


954  Letters  to  the  Press 

experience  of  so-called  death.  They  should  not  remain 
in  the  grave  of  belief,  and  thus  aid  the  "enemy  of 
good"  {Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  313) 
to  hold  others  in  bondage. 

It  is  not  a  question  with  Mrs.  Eddy's  true  followers 
whether  she  will  continue  to  unfold  in  spiritual  power, 
and  finally  dispel  the  cloud  of  belief  which  now  con- 
ceals her,  the  impersonal  idea,  from  their  view,  but 
it  is  of  paramount  importance  that  they  should  be 
watching,  working,  and  praying  for  the  Mind  of  Christ 
— spiritual  apprehension — that  they  may  behold  their 
beloved  Leader  and  Teacher  at  her  reappearing,  and 
receive  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  Truth 
and  Love  will  reflect,  through  the  ideal  woman,  to  all 
who  rise  with  her. 

In  directing  her  students  to  Principle,  Mrs.  Eddy 
never  turned  them  away  from  the  idea  which  is  insep- 
arable from  Principle,  and  is  the  reality  of  every  man. 
When  she  directed  Mr.  O.  .  .  to  Principle,  she  doubt- 
less thought  he  understood  that  "Principle  and  its 
idea  is  one"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  465) — God  and 
the  real  man,  and  that  she  was  one  with  Principle. 
When  her  followers  clung  to  her  physical  personality 
she  turned  them  away  from  physicality,  matter,  to 
Principle,  and  to  her  spiritual  individuality,  the  im- 
personal idea,  which  is  invisible  to  physical  sense,  but 
which  spiritual  sense  reveals.  To  deny  the  spiritual 
individuality  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  or  of  any  one,  is  to  deny 
Principle  and  its  idea.  This  is  true  of  all,  for  God  is 
the  Father  of  all  that  is  real — the  spiritual  man  and 
universe.  Jesus  said,  "He  that  hath  seen  me  [hath 
discerned  my  individual  selfhood,  my  Christ-conscious- 
ness] hath  seen  the  Father,"  for,  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one."     This  is  the  individuality  of  every  man. 


Letters  to  the  Press  955 

John  says: 

Whosoever  denieth  the  Son  [the  individual  idea],  the 
same  hath  not  the  Father  [Principle] :  [but]  he  that  acknow- 
ledged the  Son  hath  the  Father  also  (i  John  ii.,  23). 

Christian  Scientists  do  not  admit  that  a  physical 
personality  is  man.  Physicality  is  a  mortal  belief  pos- 
sessing neither  life,  truth,  intelligence,  nor  substance. 
All  the  phenomena  of  a  so-called  mortal  mind  are 
myths,  illusions,  nothingness. 

The  faithful  Marys  of  old  went  to  the  sepulchre 
with  spices  to  anoint  their  Master  and  Teacher.  Their 
experience  is  graphically  portrayed  in  the  four  gospels. 
It  is  recorded  that  they  went  from  the  sepulchre  and 
told  the  apostles  that  Jesus  had  risen;  that  they  had 
seen  him,  and  that  he  had  talked  with  them.  But 
the  women's  words  seemed  to  these  men  "as  idle  tales, 
and  they  believed  them  not."  Later  the  men,  Jesus' 
disciples,  were  talking  together  on  the  way  to  Emmaus, 
and  were  recounting  what  had  happened  to  Jesus, 
whom  they  thought  "should  have  redeemed  Israel," 
when  Jesus  himself  drew  near  and  went  with  them, 
but  their  "eyes  were  holden, "  and  they  did  not  see  nor 
know  him.  He  was  walking  and  talking  with  them, 
but  their  spiritual  sight  and  hearing  had  not  been 
sufficiently  developed  to  recognize  their  spiritual 
Teacher,  Christ  Jesus. 

The  story  as  told  by  Luke  shows  that  Jesus  was 
visible  to  the  women,  but  that,  although  Peter  and 
other  men  went  to  the  sepulchre,  and  found  that  the 
material  body  of  their  Master  was  not  there,  they 
failed  to  recognize  the  spiritual  man — "  Him  they  saw 
not."  Then  Jesus  rebuked  them  with,  "O  fools,  and 
slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  prophets  have 


956  Letters  to  the  Press 

spoken."  This  indicates  that  Jesus  was  apparent  to 
his  disciples  long  after  his  three  days'  experience  in 
the  tomb ;  that  he  tarried  in  a  visible  material  form  with 
them,  until  they  were  convinced  that  he  had  triumphed 
over  the  illusions  of  death  and  the  grave.  Could 
they  have  risen  spiritually  with  their  Master,  they 
would  have  continued  to  walk  and  talk  with  him. 
Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  Science  and  Health  (pp.  44,  45) : 

His  disciples  believed  Jesus  to  be  dead  while  he  was 
hidden  in  the  sepulchre,  whereas  he  was  alive,  demonstrat- 
ing within  the  narrow  tomb  the  power  of  Spirit  to  overrule 
mortal,  material  sense. 

.         .         . 

Even  his  disciples  .  .  .  believed  his  body  to  be  dead.  .  .  . 
The  reappearing  of  Jesus  was  not  the  return  of  a  spirit. 
He  presented  the  same  body  that  he  had  before  his  cruci- 
fixion, and  so  glorified  the  supremacy  of  Mind  over  matter. 

From  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  volume  ii.,  page 
104,  we  quote  Mrs.  Eddy's  words: 

Neither  the  Old  nor  the  New  Testament  furnishes  reasons 
or  examples  for  the  destruction  of  the  human  body,  but 
its  restoration  to  life  and  health,  as  the  scientific  proof  of 
"God  with  us."  The  power  and  prerogative  of  Truth 
are  to  destroy  all  disease  and  to  raise  the  dead — even  the 
self-same  Lazarus.  The  spiritual  body  came  with  the 
ascension. 

Jesus  demonstrated  the  divine  Principle  of  Christian 
Science  when  he  presented  his  material  body  absolved 
from  death  and  the  grave. 

Hundreds  of  faithful  Marys  are  in  this  hour  anoint- 
ing the  ideal  ever-presence  of  their  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  with  loyal  allegiance  to  Principle 
and  idea,  God,  universal  and  individual  man.     Again 


Letters  to  the  Press  957 

they  may  fail  to  open  the  eyes  of  some  to  see  the 
"highest  visible  idea"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  560) 
of  God  with  men.  Again,  woman's  understanding  of 
the  inevitable  demonstration,  in  these  latter  days, 
may  seem  to  men  as  "idle  tales,"  which  they  believe 
not.  Yet  this  will  not  prevent  both  the  men  and  the 
women  who  are  spiritually  illumined,  at  this  second 
appearing  of  Christ,  Truth,  from  keeping  their  lamps 
filled  with  the  oil  of  inspiration,  divine  love,  which 
will  reveal  the  substance-idea,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Referring  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  sense  of  the  motherhood 
of  God,  permit  me  to  quote  her  words: 

St.  John  saw  the  vision  of  life  in  matter;  and  he  saw  it 
pass  away, — an  illusion.  The  dragon  that  was  wroth  with 
the  woman,  and  stood  ready  "to  devour  the  child  as  soon 
as  it  was  born,"  was  the  vision  of  envy,  sensuality,  and 
malice,  ready  to  devour  the  idea  of  Truth.  But  the  beast 
bowed  before  the  Lamb :  it  was  supposed  to  have  fought  the 
manhood  of  God,  that  Jesus  represented ;  but  it  fell  before  the 
womanhood  of  God,  that  presented  the  highest  ideal  of  Love. 
Let  us  remember  that  God — good — is  omnipotent;  there- 
fore evil  is  impotent  (Christian  Healing,  pp.9,  10). 

If  Mr.  O.  .  .  wishes  to  inform  himself  in  regard 
to  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  as  to  her  final  demonstration, 
or  "resurrection,"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  show  him  her 
views,  in  her  own  handwriting.  Also,  if  the  editor 
who  has  published  in  the  columns  of  The  Post-Standard 
Mr.  O.  .  .'s  communication,  would  know  the  truth 
of  my  statements,  he  may  avail  himself  of  the  same 
privilege.  I  feel  justified  in  doing  this,  in  vindication 
of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings,  the  ignorant  perversion  of 
which  would  mislead  the  people. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


958  Letters  to  the  Press 

June  5,1912. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  New  York  Herald: — 

The  statement  in  your  issue  of  to-day,  that  I  am 
"to  begin  a  religious  campaign  in  the  autumn,"  is  a 
misunderstanding  of  anything  I  may  have  said  to 
a  press  representative.  I  have  no  idea  of  beginning 
a  "religious  campaign"  now  or  "in  the  autumn." 

I  began  this  religious  warfare  against  materialism, 
so-called  hypnotism,  mesmerism,  and  the  claim  of 
evil,  when  I  enlisted  as  a  Christian  Science  soldier 
under  the  leadership  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  twenty- 
seven  years  ago.  I  am  continuing  in  the  battle  of 
Truth, — constantly  wielding  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, — 
the  Word  of  God, — against  the  (material)  world,  the 
fleshly  so-called  mind,  and  all  mortal  mentality  or 
evil.  The  Mind  of  Christ  is  as  potent  to-day  as  in  the 
days  of  prophets,  and  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  Chris- 
tian Scientist  who  has  armed  himself  with  the  Mind 
of  Christ  is  God-impelled  to  continue  the  Christian 
Science  warfare  against  all  so-called  evil,  until  victory 
rests  on  the  side  of  eternal  Truth  and  Love. 

True  Christian  Scientists  obey  the  scriptural  words, 
"Ye  shall  not  need  to  fight  in  this  battle:  .  .  .  stand 
ye  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord."  They 
stand  still  in  the  invincible  fortress  of  the  Truth- 
consciousness  and  from  the  vantage  ground  of  spiritual 
understanding,  they  discern  the  on-coming  Christ, 
the  ideal  man  of  God's  creating,  who  at  his  second 
appearing  will  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet,  will 
destroy  the  claim  of  sin,  disease,  and  death,  and  will 
establish  the  reign  of  righteousness,  "On  earth  peace, 
good  will  toward  men." 

A  new  era  in  religious  history  is  evident  to  all  who 
read  the  signs  of  the  times.     Christian   Science  has 


Letters  to  the  Press  959 

come  to  mankind  as  a  permanent  dispensation.  Spirit- 
ually interpreted  the  words  of  Sacred  Writ  are  being 
fulfilled.  "I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn,  it:  and 
it  shall  be  no  more,  until  he  come  whose  right  it  is; 
and  I  will  give  it  him"  (Ezek.  xxi.,  27). 
Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says : 

Spiritual  rationality  and  free  thought  accompany  approach- 
ing Science,  and  cannot  be  put  down.  They  will  eman- 
cipate humanity,  and  supplant  unscientific  means  and 
so-called  laws.  .  .  . 

Marvels,  calamities,  and  sin  will  much  more  abound  as 
truth  urges  upon  mortals  its  resisted  claims;  but  the  awful 
daring  of  sin  destroys  sin,  and  foreshadows  the  triumph  of 
truth.  God  will  overturn,  until  "He  come  whose  right 
it  is."  Longevity  is  increasing  and  the  power  of  sin 
diminishes,  for  the  world  feels  the  alterative  effect  of  truth 
through  every  pore  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  223,  224). 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


The  Boston  Herald,  January  4,  1913 
HAS  NOT  RECANTED,  SAYS  MRS.  STETSON 

DEPOSED  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  TEACHER  SAYS  SHE  HOLDS 
TO  ATTITUDE  AT  TRIAL 

[Special  Dispatch  to  The  Herald.] 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  3. — Emphatic  denial  of  the  charge 
that  she  had  recanted  the  attitude  assumed  by  her  in  her 
trial  before  the  Christian  Science  Directors  in  Boston  was 
made  to-day  by  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  who  was  deposed 
as  a  Christian  Science  teacher  following  the  trial. 


960  Letters  to  the  Press 

In  her  statement  Mrs.  Stetson  said: 

"I  have  never  for  one  moment  changed  my  convic- 
tions in  regard  to  my  spiritual  interpretation  of  the 
Holy  Bible  according  to  divine  metaphysics  as  taught 
by  Mary  Baker  Eddy  in  the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures. 
I  stand,  as  I  have  stood  since  1884,  when  I  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College 
under  the  personal  instruction  of  Mrs.  Eddy. 

"As  fast  as  I  progress  in  spiritual  understanding 
I  am  demonstrating  the  Principle  of  Christian  Science, 
the  superiority  of  spiritual  thought-force  over  material 
conditions. 

"I  have  made  no  contention  for  my  right  to  be 
recognized  by  those  in  authority  in  the  material 
organization  as  a  teacher  and  practitioner  of  Christian 
Science.  I  have  never,  on  the  other  hand,  given  up 
these  rights.  I  retain,  as  ever,  both  the  spiritual 
right  and  the  spiritual  power  to  practice  true  Christian 
Science. 

"The  Christian  Science  Church  will  always  be  to 
me  'The  structure  of  Truth  and  Love'  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  583),  of  which  the  material  edifice  is  merely 
a  symbol.  This  symbol,  as  we  rise,  dissolves  from 
view,  revealing  the  \  house  [or  image  of  thought]  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal '  in  Mind. 

"The  right  to  demonstrate  the  immutable  law  of 
health,  holiness,  and  immortality,  as  revealed  through 
the  life  and  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ  and  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  can  never  be  taken  from  any  one  who  is 
able  to  defend  them  against  human  agencies.  Dem- 
onstration of  Truth  and  not  merely  profession  of  it 
is  what  the  world  demands  to-day." 


Letters  to  the  Press  961 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  13,  1913. 

Editor  of  the  Century — 

In  the  February  issue  of  the  Century,  under  the 
heading  "National  Health  and  Medical  Freedom, 
Both  Sides  of  a  Question  of  Public  Interest,"  there 
appears  a  letter  by  B.  O.  Flower,  President  of  the 
National  League  for  Medical  Freedom,  defending  the 
League's  opposition  to  the  so-called  Owen  Bill  and 
"the  motives  of  many  thousands  of  intelligent  and 
conscientious  citizens  other  than  Christian  Scientists 
who  belong  to  that  league." 

I  note  also  another  letter  by  Irving  Fisher,  Professor 
of  Political  Economy  in  Yale  University,  President  of 
the  Committee  of  One  Hundred  on  National  Health, 
which  states  that  "The  plain  truth  is  that  the  'League 
for  Medical  Freedom'  is  a  misnomer.  Its  real  object 
is  to  prevent  health  legislation,  lest  the  result  should 
be  to  discredit  Christian  Science  and  other  sects  of 
practitioners  represented  in  the  league." 

Will  you  kindly  permit  me  to  correct  the  assumption 
in  these  two  communications  and  also  in  the  Editor's 
Note  in  relation  thereto, — that  genuine  Christian 
Scientists  are  members  of  the  League  referred  to? 

Christian  Scientists  occupy  no  place  in  the  contro- 
versy between  the  different  schools  of  materia  medica, 
osteopathy,  eclectics,  etc.  It  is  a  position  which  no 
genuine  Christian  Scientist,  faithfully  and  intelli- 
gently following  the  teaching  and  example  of  their 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  can  fill.  I  understand  that 
some  members  of  the  material  organization  of  The 
Mother  Church  have  given  their  weight  to  that 
League's  efforts, — they  have  united  with  material  law, — 
have  encouraged  its  purpose  and  aims  and  contri- 
buted money  to  further  its  ends.  But  no  Chris- 
61 


962  Letters  to  the  Press 

tian  Scientist,  having  attained  to  the  spiritual  in- 
terpretation of  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science, 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
other  inspired  writings  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  which  unseal  the 
hitherto  hidden  treasures  of  the  Holy  Bible, — no  one 
who  has  risen  from  the  material  sense  of  existence  to 
the  spiritual,  is  to  be  found  within  the  ranks  of  that, 
or  any  other  kindred  league.  To  be  there  would  be  in 
direct  disobedience  to  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit 
of  these  teachings. 

I  stated  in  an  article,  which  I  wrote  at  the  time  this 
action  of  the  Medical  League  was  brought  to  my 
attention,  that  Christian  Scientists  are  under  the  law 
of  Spirit.  They  claim  God  as  their  defense  against 
the  seeming  power  of  evil.  During  Mrs.  Eddy's 
personal  work  in  building  up  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  she  never  appealed  to  Caesar,  so-called  material 
law,  to  protect  her  in  her  work  in  proving  the  healing 
efficacy  of  divine  metaphysics  or  the  potency  of  spiritual 
thought-force  to  destroy  the  material  phenomena  of 
sin,  the  manifestation  of  which  is  disease  and  discord. 

Her  only  appeal  was  to  God,  the  great  Physician, 
and  her  ability  to  reflect  God's  presence  and  power  to 
heal  the  sick  and  reform  the  sinner.  Her  only  and  all- 
sufficient  defense  was  the  law  of  Spirit.  The  following 
quotation  from  her  Message  to  The  Mother  Church  for 
1902,  page  89,  confirms  this: 

In  the  eighties,  anonymous  letters  mailed  to  me  con- 
tained threats  to  blow  up  the  hall  where  I  preached;  yet 
I  never  lost  my  faith  in  God,  and  neither  informed  the 
police  of  these  letters  nor  sought  the  protection  of  the  laws 
of  my  country.     I  leaned  on  God,  and  was  safe. 

Her  followers  must  "lean  on  God"  and  demonstrate 


Letters  to  the  Press  963 

God's  power  to  "heal  the  sick  through  man,  whenever 
man  is  governed  by  God  "  {Science  and  Health,  p.  495). 
They  must  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ  if  they  would 
heal  the  sick  as  did  Jesus  and  his  disciples,  who  never 
took  refuge  under  material  law. 

They  must  use  "the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is 
the  word  of  God,"  and  prove  their  claim  to  the  effi- 
cacy of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  on  a  spiritual 
foundation.  They  must  trust  the  law  of  God  to  de- 
liver them  from  so-called  material  law.  The  genuine 
Christian  Scientist,  working  from  the  basis  of  divine 
metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  sees  the  danger 
which  threatens  those  calling  themselves  Christian 
Scientists,  who  have  not  the  spiritual  discernment 
to  detect  this  most  subtle  attempt  of  the  enemy  of 
good,  the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  to  lure  and  ensnare 
into  the  ranks  of  materia  medica,  the  innocent  and  the 
ignorant. 

If  these  reasons  against  a  Christian  Scientist's 
uniting  with  the  League  in  question,  are  not  sufficiently 
clear,  permit  me  to  quote  from  Mr.  Flower  as  follows: 
"Our  league  contains  thousands  of  earnest,  conscien- 
tious, scholarly,  and  successful  physicians.  .  .  .  These 
men  well  know  that  the  healing  art  is  an  art  rather 
than  an  exact  science." 

Christian  Scientists  agree  with  Mr.  Flower  in  his 
appreciation  of  the  men  who  compose  the  body  of 
physicians.  All  true  Christian  Scientists  have  great 
respect  for  the  cultured  and  conscientious  medical 
men.  Their  system  of  material  therapeutics  appeals 
to  all  who  trust  in  material  aid.  The  demands  of  such 
should  be  met  by  the  honest,  conscientious  physician, 
who  is  as  necessary  to-day  to  relieve  suffering  humanity, 
as  is  the  Christian  Scientist  to  heal  those  who  demand 


964  Letters  to  the  Press 

spiritual  Mind-healing.  Christian  Science  should  not 
be  forced  upon  any  one  to  whom  it  does  not  appeal  as 
a  remedial  agency;  neither  should  any  one  who  has 
lost  faith  in  drugs  be  compelled  to  accept  them. 

I  have  heard  that  there  are  prominent  physicians 
who  declare  that  the  stand  which  is  being  taken  by 
some  Christian  Scientists  in  uniting  with  the  League 
in  question,  is  proof  positive  that  they  have  forfeited 
their  right  to  practise  under  the  name  of  Christian 
Science,  which  purports  to  use  only  spiritual  means, 
and  who  claim  Christ  as  able  to  deliver  them  in  every 
hour  of  trial. 

Mr.  Flower  states  that  "the  healing  art  is  an  art 
rather  than  an  exact  science."  His  statement  should 
read,  materia  medica  "is  an  art  not  an  exact  science." 
Christian  Science  Mind-healing  is  an  exact  Science, 
and,  like  the  science  of  mathematics,  is  demonstrable 
by  all  who  rise  to  spiritual  attainment  of  the  Mind  of 
Christ. 

Let  us  hear  Mrs.  Eddy's  declaration  on  this  point: 

Christian  Science  Mind-healing  rests  demonstrably  on 
the  broad  and  sure  foundation  of  Science;  and  this  is  not 
the  basis  of  materia  medica,  as  some  of  the  most  skilful  and 
scholarly  physicians  openly  admit  (Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, pp.  80,  81). 

With  these  two  clear  and  concise  statements  before 
all  who  are  seeking  to  follow  the  light  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teachings,  what  should  be  their  rule  of  action?  Her 
answer  is  clear  and  direct. 

If  ecclesiastical  sects  or  medical  schools  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
the  teachings  of  Christian  Science,  then  part  from  these 
opponents  as  did  Abraham  when  he  parted  from  Lot,  and 


Letters  to  the  Press  965 

say  in  thy  heart:  "Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee, 
between  me  and  thee,  and  between  my  herdmen  and  thy 
herdmen;  for  we  be  brethren."  Immortals,  or  God's 
children  in  divine  Science,  are  one  harmonious  family; 
but  mortals,  or  the  "children  of  men"  in  material  sense, 
are  discordant  and  ofttimes  false  brethren  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  444). 

In  the  sense  here  used  those  calling  themselves 
Christian  Scientists,  who  are  members  of  the  League 
have  returned  to  materialism,  and  have  united  with 
those  who  stand  for  the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence 
in  matter  and  are  "false  brethren."  No  true  Christian 
Scientist  has  united  with  the  League  for  Medical 
Freedom. 

Those  who  have  followed  material  leaders  and  now 
find  themselves  in  the  fold  of  materialists  are  simply 
ignorant  seekers  for  Truth,  and  not  Christian  Scientists, 
while  those  in  material  authority  who  have  led  them 
there  must  have  been  spiritually  blind,  and  cowards, 
seeking  protection  of  material  laws  against  their 
inability  to  understand  and  demonstrate  the  law  of 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

Christian  Scientists  must  fearlessly  and  under- 
standing^ defend  and  demonstrate  the  teachings  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  regardless  of  the  cost — the  loss  of 
human  approval,  and  the  antagonism  and  persecution 
of  the  materialists.  A  wide  mental  gulf  separates  the 
matter-physicians  from  the  divine  metaphysicians. 
A  wider  mental  gulf  separates  the  so-called  materially 
minded  Christian  Scientists  from  the  spiritually  minded 
demonstrators  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing. 
The  first  should  be  known  as  mental  healers  on  a 
material  basis  under  the  protection  of  the  law  of 
materia    medica.     The  latter    as    demonstrators  of 


966  Letters  to  the  Press 

Christian  Science  Mind-healing  as  taught  and  demon- 
strated by  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  under  the  protection 
of  the  law  of  God  or  Spirit. 

Hear  our  Leader's  counsel  in  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
pages  79  and  80 : 

Beware  of  joining  any  medical  league  which  in  any  way 
obligates  you  to  assist — because  they  chance  to  be  under 
arrest — vendors  of  patent  pills,  mesmerists,  occultists, 
sellers  of  impure  literature,  and  authors  of  spurious  works 
on  mental  healing.  By  rendering  error  such  a  service,  you 
lose  much  more  than  can  be  gained  by  mere  unity  on  the 
single  issue  of  opposition  to  unjust  medical  laws. 

Our  Leader  continues  her  admonition  and  advice, 
which  genuine  Christian  Scientists  obey: 

To  prevent  all  unpleasant  and  unchristian  action — as 
we  drift,  by  right  of  God's  dear  love,  into  more  spiritual 
lines  of  life — let  each  society  of  practitioners,  the  matter- 
physicians  and  the  metaphysicians,  agree  to  disagree,  and 
then  patiently  wait  on  God  to  decide,  as  surely  He  will, 
which  is  the  true  system  of  medicine. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


The  New  York  Sun,  April  5,  191 3. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Sun: — 

In  compliance  with  your  request  to  "favor  you  with 
the  titles  of  five  or  six  of  my  favorite  books"  I  will 
say  that  I  consider  the  Holy  Bible  the  greatest  of  all 
inspired  literary  productions;  the  study  of  which  devel- 
ops the  divine  nature  and  unfolds  the  latent  possibili- 
ties and  infinite  capacities  of  man  when  governed  by 


Letters  to  the  Press  9°7 

the  law  of  God,  eternal  Mind,  Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

Down  through  the  ages,  prophets  and  seers — God- 
inspired  men — have  chronicled  the  mental  conflict 
between  the  human  and  divine  elements,  or  mental 
forces  which  sway  mankind  in  the  inevitable  progress 
out  of  the  carnal  mentality  into  the  Christ-conscious- 
ness, which  is  the  origin  and  ultimate  of  man.  The 
God-impelled  have  given,  in  this  book,  a  chart  to 
eternal  Life  and  man's  dominion  over  all  things,  which 
God  gave  him,  when  He  made  him  in  His  own  image 
and  likeness.  Christ  Jesus  spiritually  interpreted  and 
scientifically  demonstrated  the  power  of  his  divine 
consciousness,  and  left  his  example  as  a  rich  legacy  to 
all  who  would  follow  him. 

The  next  equally  great  book  is  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  This 
"Key  "  or  spiritual  interpreter  of  the  Bible,  unlocks  the 
heretofore  hidden  riches  contained  in  the  Word  of  God, 
and  enables  the  searcher  for  Truth  to  grasp  the  life-line 
and  prove,  according  to  Jesus'  teaching  and  demon- 
stration, the  fact  of  scientific  being. 

Miscellaneous  Writings  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  other  works 
come  next  in  value  to  me.  Shakespeare  follows  as  a 
great  literary  masterpiece.  His  delineation  of  mental 
qualities  and  characteristics  embodied  in  mankind, 
which  divine  metaphysics  enables  all  to  appreciate,  re- 
veals him  as  a  metaphysician  and  gives  great  significance 
to  his  work. 

Whittier,  Longfellow,  and  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  I 
regard  among  the  best  American  poets.  I  have  per- 
sonally met  them  in  their  homes  and  at  their  firesides. 
It  seems  ungracious  in  me  to  favor  Whittier, — yet  he, 
of  all  poets,  sweeps  his  hand  across  the  heart's  harp- 
strings,  and  awakens  the  chords  of  Soul,  till  they  play 


968  Letters  to  the  Press 

upon  the  "harp  of  a  thousand  strings"  unwritten  an- 
thems of  love  and  peace,  which  flow  from  a  life  conse- 
crated to,  and  in  unison  with  the  source  of  being,  Spirit, 
God,  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


■ 


- 


• 


- 
CHAPTER  XVII 

FRUITS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

For  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  in  all  goodness  and  righteousness  and 
truth; 

Proving  what  is  acceptable  unto  the  Lord. — Ephesians  v.,  9,  10. 

.  .  .  whenever  they  are  equal  to  the  march  triumphant,  God  will 
give  to  all  His  soldiers  of  the  cross  the  proper  command,  and  under  the 
banner  of  His  love,  and  with  the  "still,  small  voice"  for  the  music  of 
our  march,  we  all  shall  take  step  and  march  on  in  spiritual  organization. 

Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  138. 

THE  DEMONSTRATION  OF  MARY  BAKER  EDDY  • 

BY  AUGUSTA  E.  STETSON 

[There  are  abundant  documentary  evidences  which  prove  that  Mrs. 
Eddy  held  Mrs.  Stetson  in  the  highest  and  most  affectionate  esteem 
and  considered  her  a  most  precious  student  and  faithful  Christian 
Scientist.  Since  the  passing  of  Mrs.  Eddy  there  has  been  among  her 
followers  in  the  Christian  Science  Church  much  questioning  as  to 
whether  she  would  not  appear  in  the  flesh,  as  did  Jesus  after  His  burial. 
Among  those  to  whom  this  expectation  has  been  attributed  is  Mrs. 
Stetson,  the  founder,  pastor,  reader  and  spiritual  head  of  First  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  New  York  City  during  twenty-three  consecu- 
tive years.  Accordingly  we  have  asked  Mrs.  Stetson  to  prepare 
the  following  article,  tho,  of  course,  it  will  be  understood  that  The 
Independent  does  not  indorse  the  Christian  Science  philosophy.  Mrs. 
Stetson  is  the  most  distinguished  of  the  followers  of  that  faith  and  for 
many  years  has  been  on  terms  of  affectionate  intimacy  with  Mrs.  Eddy. 
In  the  following  article  Mrs.  Stetson  declares  her  belief  that 
Mrs.  Eddy  "  will  walk  and  talk  with  her  disciples  until  she  has  given  final 
proof  of  her  teachings."  This  article  is  evidence  of  Mrs.  Stetson's 
loyalty  to  the  doctrines  of  her  Teacher  as  to  the  "  illusion  of  death." 

1  This  article  appeared  in  The  Independent  of  January  26,  191 1. 

969 


97°  Fruits  of  Experience 

.and  we  are  glad  to  present  it  as  an  important  statement  of  the  belief 
of  Christian  Science. — Editor]. 

YOUR  request'  for  my  reasons  for  believing  in  the 
possibility  of  a  demonstration  of  life  over  death, 
or  the  reappearance  of  our  revered  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  affords  me  an  opportunity  to  reaffirm  my 
unswerving  and  uncompromising  conviction  in  the 
power  of  the  Christ-mind  to  conquer  sin,  sickness,  and 
death.  As  I  understand  the  teachings  of  Jesus,  the 
omnipotence  and  omnipresence  of  God  are  as  demon- 
strable to-day  as  they  were  two  thousand  years  ago, 
when  the  meek  and  mighty  Nazarene,  Jesus  the  Christ, 
our  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life,  came  forth  victor  over 
death  and  the  tomb. 

Mrs.  Eddy  has  for  forty-four  years  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  great  master  Metaphysician,  Christ 
Jesus,  even  to  the  belief  of  a  tomb,  through  and  be- 
yond which  she  will  pass  in  her  final  proof  of  the 
teachings  and  demonstration  of  divine  metaphysics — 
the  immortality  of  man  and  the  universe. 

If  the  reader  will  stand  with  me  on  the  platform  of 
divine  metaphysics,  or  Christian  Science,  and  will 
look  through  the  lens  of  spiritual  thought,  he  will 
readily  understand  my  reasons  for  believing  in  the 
potency  of  the  Mind  of  Christ  to  awaken  humanity 
from  the  dream  of  death  and  the  tomb. 

One  of  my  reasons  for  believing  in  the  ability  and 
possibility  of  man  to  demonstrate  eternal  Life  is  that 
I  accept  the  Holy  Bible  as  the  Word  of  God.  This 
book  was  written  by  inspired  men,  and  is  the  record 
of  the  true  creation  and  the  false — the  real  man,  made 
in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  the  Father  (which 
is  found  in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis  and  is  the  record 
of  the  spiritual  fact  of  creation),  and  the  second,  or 


Fruits  of  Experience  971 

mythological  account  of  Adam — the  carnal,  so-called 
man,  in  whom  all  die.  "For  to  be  carnally  minded 
is  death;  but  to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace" 
(Rom.  viii.,6). 

I  reason  from  the  following  postulates  of  Christian 
Science:  "God  is  infinite,  the  only  Life,  substance, 
Spirit,  or  Soul,  the  only  intelligence  of  the  universe, 
including  man"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  330).  Also, 
"that  all  causation  is  Mind,  acting  through  spiritual 
law"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  417).  Therefore  it 
follows  that  every  effect  is  a  mental  phenomenon. 
Accepting  these  hypotheses,  I  admit  but  one  causa- 
tion— eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love;  one  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  the  impersonal  idea;  and  one  universe, 
the  manifestation  of  God  or  Spirit.  Spiritual  man  and 
the  spiritual  universe  are  the  expression  of  infinite 
Spirit — God  and  His  Christ,  manifested  in  His  infinite 
ideas. 

Acknowledging  but  one  cause — Spirit,  Mind — Jesus 
evolved  spiritual  phenomena,  and  by  his  reflection 
of  the  power  of  God  he  demonstrated  the  omnipotence 
of  Spirit,  which  destroys  the  phenomena  of  material 
belief,  with  its  effects,  sin,  disease,  and  death.  Thus  he 
proved  the  supremacy  of  spiritual  consciousness  over 
the  belie"  of  the  material  senses. 

From  Moses  to  Jesus,  humanity  had  been  calling 
for  a  deliverer  from  suffering,  sorrow,  and  death.  The 
people  of  God  had  cried  out  for  a  Messiah,  a  Re- 
deemer, until  the  individual  and  universal  longing 
and  yearning  for  something  better  than  sin  and  death 
exalted  the  Wise  Men  to  behold  and  follow  the  star 
of  hope  and  faith,  which  led  them  to  the  place  where 
the  young  child  lay  who  was  to  redeem  them  from 
servitude  to  a  tyrannous  master — a  false  mentality, 


972  Fruits  of  Experience 

or  belief  in  matter  as  sentient  substance,  possessing 
life  and  intelligence. 

The  cradle  song  of  Christ  Jesus  was  not  sung  in 
vain.  The  anthem  of  immortality  rang  out  from  the 
heavenly  choir:  "  Unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son 
is  given :  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder : 
and  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
The  mighty  God,  The  everlasting  Father,  The  Prince 
of  Peace."  Down  through  the  centuries  the  great 
organ  of  eternity  has  reverberated  this  anthem:  "The 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder:  and  his  name 
shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  The  mighty 
God,  The  everlasting  Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace." 

I  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  so-called  dead 
(either  here  or  hereafter)  from  the  belief  that  man  is 
material — composed  of  flesh,  blood,  and  bones — to 
the  understanding  that  Mind  is  the  standard  of  man, 
and  that  man  is  the  emanation  of  the  one  Mind  or 
Spirit,  perfect  and  immortal  as  his  Principle,  God. 

From  this  vantage  ground  of  spiritual  understanding, 
Christian  Scientists  discern  the  spiritual  facts  of  being. 
Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says  in  Unity  of  Good,  page 
46: 

I  do  not  deny,  I  maintain,  the  individuality  and  reality 
of  man;  but  I  do  so  on  a  divine  Principle,  not  based  on  a 
human  conception  and  birth.  The  scientific  man  and 
his  Maker  are  here;  and  you  would  be  none  other  than 
this  man,  if  you  would  subordinate  the  fleshly  perceptions 

to  the  spiritual  sense  and  source  of  being. 

■ 

Jesus'  teaching  and  demonstration  in  the  healing  of 
the  sick,  the  raising  of  the  dead,  and  the  proof  of  the 
omnipotence  of  the  Christ-mind  over  the  tempestuous 
waves,  when  he  commanded,  "  Peace,  be  still, "  aroused 


Fruits  of  Experience  973 

the  antagonism  of  the  materialists,  who  resisted  the 
law  of  God  as  enforced  by  Jesus.  This  compelled 
Jesus,  the  master  Metaphysician,  to  rise  to  the  heights 
of  spiritual  supremacy  in  the  demonstration  of  Truth 
over  error,  Mind  over  matter,  and  Life  over  death, 
thus  proving  that  the  law  of  spiritual  life  annuls  the 
so-called  law  of  sin  and  death.  Let  me  quote  from 
Science  and  Health,  pages  314  and  315: 

Because  of  mortals'  material  and  sinful  belief,  the 
spiritual  Jesus  was  imperceptible  to  them.  The  higher 
his  demonstration  of  divine  Science  carried  the  problem 
of  being,  and  the  more  distinctly  he  uttered  the  demands 
of  its  divine  Principle,  Truth  and  Love,  the  more  odious 
he  became  to  sinners  and  to  those  who,  depending  on 
doctrines  and  material  laws  to  save  them  from  sin  and 
sickness,  were  submissive  to  death  as  being  in  supposed 
accord  with  the  inevitable  law  of  life.  Jesus  proved  them 
wrong  by  his  resurrection,  and  said:  "Whosoever  liveth 
and  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die." 

Jesus'  spiritual  origin  and  understanding  enabled  him 
to  demonstrate  the  facts  of  being, — to  prove  irrefutably 
how  spiritual  Truth  destroys  material  error,  heals  sickness, 
and  overcomes  death. 

Jesus  left  this  inspirational  promise  to  his  followers: 
"Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  believeth  on 
me,  the  works  that  I  do  he  shall  do  also;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do;  because  I  go  unto  my 
Father"  (John  xiv.,  12). 

Again  I  quote  from  Mrs.  Eddy: 

The  history  of  Jesus  shows  him  to  have  been  more  spiritual 

than  all  other  earthly  personalities.  .  .  . 

From  him  mortals  may  learn  how  to  escape  from  evil.  .  .  . 


974  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  Christ-idea,  or  the  Christ-man,  rose  higher  to  human 
view  because  of  the  crucifixion,  and  thus  proved  that  Truth 
was  the  master  of  death.  Christ  presents  the  indestruct- 
ible man,  whom  Spirit  creates,  constitutes,  and  governs 
(Science  and  Health,  pp.  315, 316). 

The  understanding  of  his  spiritual  individuality  makes 
man  more  real,  more  formidable  in  truth,  and  enables 
him  to  conquer  sin,  disease,  and  death.  Our  Lord  and 
Master  presented  himself  to  his  disciples  after  his  resurrec- 
tion from  the  grave,  as  the  self -same  Jesus  whom  they  had 
loved  before  the  tragedy  on  Calvary. 

To  the  materialistic  Thomas,  looking  for  the  ideal 
Saviour  in  matter  instead  of  in  Spirit  and  to  the  testimony 
of  the  material  senses  and  the  body,  more  than  to  Soul, 
for  an  earnest  of  immortality, — to  him  Jesus  furnished  the 
proof  that  he  was  unchanged  by  the  crucifixion.  To 
this  dull  and  doubting  disciple  Jesus  remained  a  fleshly 
reality,  so  long  as  the  Master  remained  an  inhabitant  of 
the  earth.  Nothing  but  a  display  of  matter  could  make 
existence  real  to  Thomas  (Science  and  Health,  p.  317). 

Christian  Scientists  believe  in  and  understand 
Jesus'  reappearance  to  his  disciples,  and  to  five  hundred 
brethren  at  one  time.  He  appeared  to  them  in 
visible  form  until  he  rose  beyond  their  apprehension. 
This  is  no  argument  for  spiritual' sm — the  material 
theory  of  the  intercommunication  of  the  so-called 
dead  and  the  living  (which  is  not  Christian  Science) ; 
but  it  is  a  strong  argument  for  spiritualization  of 
thought  through  which  to  discern  the  real  man  and  the 
real  universe,  and  a  cessation  of  discord,  disease,  and 
death. 

Had  the  faith  and  understanding  of  the  disciples 
risen  with  their  Master  to  a  higher  spiritual  apprehen- 
sion of  the  mental  Messiah,  Jesus  would  longer  have 
been  appreciable  to  them  and  to  the  brethren.     Were 


Fruits  of  Experience  975 

the  faith  and  understanding  of  the  students  of  Christian 
Science — through  demonstration  of  the  Christly  quali- 
ties, chief  among  which  is  divine  love  for  God  and 
man — sufficiently  exalted,  our  great  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  would  appear  in  visible  form  and  with 
audible  speech,  in  verification  of  her  teachings  and 
demonstration  of  the  Science  of  divine  Mind. 

From  the  resistance  of  the  unillumined  human  mind 
to  the  possibilities  of  the  Mind  of  Christ,  one  would 
conclude  that  "  Life  were  a  blessing  not  worth  possess- 
ing, and  death  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished." 

If  humanity  would  struggle  for  recourse  to  the  divine 
Mind,  which  all  possess,  individual  and  universal 
consciousness  would  rise  to  grasp  the  spiritual  reality 
of  existence,  and  would  lose  its  finite  anchorage  to  the 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  its  consequence,  death. 
Then  would  mankind  seize  the  great  possibilities,  the 
living  activities,  and  the  divine  dominion  of  man  in 
the  image  and  likeness  of  his  Maker.  Jesus  demon- 
strated the  eternal  verities  of  his  spiritual  selfhood,  and 
proved  his  mental  ability  to  dispel  the  illusions  of 
belief  in  substance-matter.  He  revealed  the  man  of 
God's  creating,  verified  his  teachings  of  God's  omni- 
potence and  omnipresence  in  manifestation  of  the 
ideal  man,  and  vanquished  the  phenomena  of  so- 
called  mortal  man — death  and  the  tomb. 

I  believe  that  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
was  God-anointed  and  God-inspired  to  write  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  the  text-book 
of  Christian  Science.  Through  spiritual  illumination 
she  discerned  the  might,  majesty,  and  supremacy  of 
the  Christ-mind.  Every  page  of  this  text-book  is 
luminous  with  the  substance  and  reality  of  God  and 
His  spiritual  universe,  including  man. 


976  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  radium  of  Spirit  penetrates,  dissolves,  and 
disperses  the  substanceless  shadows  or  images  of  the 
mortal  concept — the  counterfeit  man  and  the  counter- 
feit universe,  and  discloses  the  divine  reality  and 
spiritual  verities  of  being. 

Throughout  her  writings  Mrs.  Eddy  teaches  that 
there  is  but  one  God,  one  Christ — the  impersonal 
idea  or  Son  of  God — and  one  universe,  the  body  or 
expression  of  creative  Principle.  Every  object  in 
the  spiritual  universe,  from  the  infinitesimal  to  the 
infinite,  is  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ. 

Jesus  understood  and  demonstrated  Truth.  Mrs. 
Eddy  follows  Christ's  teachings,  and  enjoins  her  follow- 
ers to  adhere  strictly  to  his  instructions  in  the  way  to 
eternal  Life. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  the  most  scientific  man  that  ever 
trod  the  globe.  He  plunged  beneath  the  material  surface 
of  things,  and  found  the  spiritual  cause.  To  accommodate 
himself  to  immature  ideas  of  spiritual  power, — for  spirit- 
uality was  possessed  only  in  a  limited  degree  even  by  his 
disciples, — Jesus  called  the  body,  which  by  spiritual  power 
he  raised  from  the  grave,  "flesh  and  bones."  To  show 
that  the  substance  of  himself  was  Spirit  and  the  body  no 
more  perfect  because  of  death  and  no  less  material  until 
the  ascension  (his  further  spiritual  exaltation) ,  Jesus  waited 
until  the  mortal  or  fleshly  sense  had  relinquished  the 
belief  of  substance-matter,  and  spiritual  sense  had  quenched 
all  earthly  yearnings.  Thus  he  found  the  eternal  Ego, 
and  proved  that  he  and  the  Father  were  inseparable  as 
God  and  His  reflection  or  spiritual  man  (Science  and 
Health,  pp.  313,  314). 

On  the  cross,  Jesus  met  the  mockery  of  his  enemies, 
who  said,  "He  saved  others;  himself  he  cannot  save" 


Fruits  of  Experience  977 

(Matt,  xxvii.,  42).  Even  his  disciples  believed  he 
had  yielded  to  death,  and  did  not  look  for  his  demon- 
stration of  eternal  Life;  yet  he  was  working  out 
in  the  dreary  tomb,  the  scientific  facts  of  being,  that 
"man  is  not  material;  he  is  spiritual"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  468). 

In  Jesus'  walk  to  Emmaus  he  found  his  disciples 
discussing  his  death.  Not  recognizing  the  Master, 
they  said: 

Art  thou  only  a  stranger  in  Jerusalem,  and  hast  not 
known  the  things  which  are  come  to  pass  there  in  these 
days? 

And  he  said  unto  them,  What  things?  And  they  said 
unto  him,  Concerning  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  which  was  a 
prophet  mighty  in  deed  and  word  before  God  and  all 
the  people: 

But  we  trusted  that  it  had  been  he  which  should  have 
redeemed  Israel  (Luke  xxiv.,  18,  19,  21). 

To-day  history  repeats  and  resembles  itself.  Eleven 
times  Jesus  appeared  to  his  disciples  after  he  had 
risen  from  the  dead.  The  first  time,  at  the  resur- 
rection morn,  he  appeared  to  Mary,  who 

.  .  .  stood  without  at  the  sepulchre  weeping:  and  as  she 
wept,  she  stooped  down,  and  looked  into  the  sepulchre, 

And  seeth  two  angels  in  white  sitting,  the  one  at  the  head, 
and  the  other  at  the  feet,  where  the  body  of  Jesus  had 
lain. 

And  they  say  unto  her,  Woman,  why  weepest  thou? 
She  saith  unto  them,  Because  they  have  taken  away  my 
Lord,  and  I  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him. 

And  when  she  had  thus  said,  she  turned  herself  back, 
and  saw  Jesus  standing,  and  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 

Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Mary.  She  turned  herself,  and 
62 


978  Fruits  of  Experience 

saith  unto  him,  Rabboni;  which  is  to  say,  Master  [Teacher]. 
Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Touch  me  not;  for  I  am  not  yet 
ascended  to  my  Father:  but  go  to  my  brethren,  and  say 
unto  them,  I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father; 
and  to  my  God,  and  your  God  (John  xx.,  11-14,  16,  17). 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  "when  the  doors 
were  shut  where  the  disciples  were  assembled  for 
fear  of  the  Jews,  came  Jesus  and  stood  in  the  midst, 
and  saith  unto  them,  Peace  be  unto  you"  (John 
xx.,  19). 

This  is  the  third  time  that  Jesus  appeared  to  his 
disciples  in  a  form  which  they  recognized,  and  he 
spoke  audibly  to  them. 

And  after  eight  days  again  his  disciples  were  within, 
and  Thomas  with  them :  then  came  Jesus,  the  doors  being 
shut,  and  stood  in  the  midst,  and  said,  Peace  be  unto  you. 

Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  Reach  hither  thy  finger,  and 
behold  my  hands;  and  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  thrust 
it  into  my  side:  and  be  not  faithless,  but  believing. 

And  Thomas  answered  and  said  unto  him,  My  Lord  and 
my  God. 

Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thomas,  because  thou  hast  seen 
me,  thou  hast  believed:  blessed  are  they  that  have  not 
seen,  and  yet  have  believed  (John  xx.,  26-29). 

There  are  those  in  this  hour  who,  not  having  seen, 
yet  believe.  The  omnipotence  of  eternal  Life  Jesus 
recognized,  obeyed,  and  demonstrated.  The  law  of 
omnipotent,  ever-present  Truth  and  Love,  manifested 
in  spiritual  man  through  the  resurrection  of  Jesus 
the  Christ,  Mrs.  Eddy  acknowledged,  obeys,  and  will 
demonstrate  to  all  who  have  spiritual  vision  and  who 
patiently  wait  for  her  reappearance. 

Humanity  has  always  been  impatient  of  final  evi- 


Fruits  of  Experience  979 

dence.     The  law  of  nature  is,  "  First  the  blade,  then  the 
ear,  then  the  full  grain  in  the  ear." 

With  the  stupendous  task  before  Jesus  of  reversing 
the  testimony  of  the  so-called  mortal  mind;  trusting 
the  Principle  and  rule  of  his  divine  being,  he  began  his 
demonstration  of  the  law  of  Spirit  over  the  claim  of 
a  pseudo-material  law.  Mrs.  Eddy  refers  to  him  in 
Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  162: 

He   must   stem   these  rising  angry   elements,  and  walk 
serenely  over  their  fretted,  foaming  billows.  .  .  . 

Clad  with  divine  might,  he  was  ready  to  stem  the  tide 
of  Judaism,  and  prove  his  power,  derived  from  Spirit,  to 
be  supreme ;  lay  himself  as  a  lamb  upon  the  altar  of  material- 
ism, and  therefrom  rise  to  his  nativity  in  Spirit. 

Thus  we  faintly  apprehend  the  responsibility  which 
Jesus  assumed  when  he  grasped  the  right  hand  of 
God  and  went  forth  to  conquer  evil  in  the  fleshly 
mind,  and  to  prove  the  power  of  man  when  governed 
by  God.  Our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  whom 
I  believe  to  be  God-appointed  and  God-anointed, 
repeats  the  history  of  Jesus,  our  Way-shower,  and 
is  the  first  to  discover  the  Science  of  being  which  Jesus 
taught,  proved,  and  left  to  the  world  as  a  divine  be- 
quest. When  her  mission  dawned  upon  her  she 
clasped  the  hand  of  omnipotent  Love,  and  humbly, 
obediently  accepted  the  cross,  that  she  might  fulfil 
the  law  of  love,  which  annihilates  all  that  is  unlike 
Christ.  In  regard  to  this  hour  of  her  experience  in 
spiritual  development,  let  me  quote  her  own  words: 

I  saw  before  me  the  sick,  wearing  out  years  of  servitude 
to  an  unreal  master  in  the  belief  that  the  body  governed 
them,  rather  than  Mind. 


980  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  lame,  the  deaf,  the  dumb,  the  blind,  the  sick,  the 
sensual,  the  sinner,  I  wished  to  save  from  the  slavery  of 
their  own  beliefs  and  from  the  educational  systems  of  the 
Pharaohs,  who  to-day,  as  of  yore,  hold  the  children  of 
Israel  in  bondage.  I  saw  before  me  the  awful  conflict, 
the  Red  Sea  and  the  wilderness;  but  I  pressed  on  through 
faith  in  God,  trusting  Truth,  the  strong  deliverer,  to  guide 
me  into  the  land  of  Christian  Science,  where  fetters  fall 
and  the  rights  of  man  are  fully  known  and  acknowledged 
(Science  and  Health,  pp.  226,  227). 

The  great  moral  and  spiritual  work  that  Mrs.  Eddy 
has  done  and  is  doing  for  herself  and  for  humanity  in 
following  and  obeying  the  law  of  God  and  the  teachings, 
life,  example,  and  demonstration  of  Jesus  the  Christ, 
our  Way-shower;  her  mighty  wrestlings  to  overcome 
and  rise  superior  to  the  false  belief  of  mind  in  matter; 
the  continual  persecution  which  followed  her  spiritual 
evolution  as  she  aroused  and  met  the  enmity  of  the 
carnal  mind,  which  opposes  itself  to  Spirit;  her  un- 
ceasing prayers  for  more  of  the  qualities  of  Christ,  and 
spiritual  love,  which  alone  destroy  the  claim  of  fear, 
malice,  hatred,  envy,  revenge,  lust,  and  hypocrisy, 
termed  in  Christian  Science  animal  magnetism, 
mesmerism,  hypnotism — all  these  qualities  of  the 
carnal  mind,  the  effects  of  which  are  death,  and  which 
Mrs.  Eddy  met  with  dauntless,  demonstrable  faith 
and  understanding  during  forty-four  years, — all  these 
experiences,  through  which  she  passed  to  lift  herself 
and  humanity  to  discern  and  demonstrate  the  spiritual 
facts  of  being,  are  priceless  blessings  to  humanity. 

The  battle  between  Truth  and  error,  the  irresistible 
conflict  between  Spirit  and  flesh,  impelled  her  and  still 
impels  her  to  rise  to  the  zenith  of  demonstration  of 
the  law  of  God — eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  and  to 


Fruits  of  Experience  981 

manifest  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  in  proof  of  the 
Scripture,  "Unto  them  that  look  for  him  [Christ] 
shall  he  appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto 
salvation." 

The  great  spiritual  blessings  which  flow  from  her 
unselfed  life,  and  love  for  God  and  humanity,  the 
Christly  example  and  teaching  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
if  but  partially  comprehended,  would  place  her  in 
the  very  heart  of  hearts  of  mankind  as  a  loving  friend, 
an  emancipator  from  the  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir,  and 
would  endear  her  to  the  entire  world  as  a  universal 
benefactor,  who  has  revived  the  waning  faith  of  thou- 
sands in  a  God  of  Love,  who  is  an  ever-present  help 
to  His  children. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  lives  and  reflects  the  omnipotence 
of  ever-present  Love.  Paul  asked:  "Why  should 
it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible  with  you,  that  God 
should  raise  the  dead?"  (Acts  xxvi.,  8.)  Mrs.  Eddy 
does  not  believe  in  the  phenomenon  of  the  fleshly 
mind  termed  death. 

I  believe  in  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ  and  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy;  therefore  I  believe  that  "Life 
is  real,  and  death  is  the  illusion"  {Science  and  Health, 
page  428) . 

In  a  letter  written  in  1909,  and  published  in  the 
Christian  Science  Sentinel  (vol.  xii.,  p.  10),  under  the 
heading,  "There  Is  No  Death,"    Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

My  beloved  Edward  A.  Kimball,  whose  clear,  correct 
teaching  of  Christian  Science  has  been  and  is  an  inspiration 
to  the  whole  Field,  is  here  now  as  veritably  as  when  he 
visited  me  a  year  ago.  If  we  would  awaken  to  this  recogni- 
tion, we  should  see  him  here  and  realize  that  he  never 
died;  thus  demonstrating  the  fundamental  truth  of  Christ- 
ian Science. 


982  Fruits  of  Experience 

Christian  Scientists  are  striving  to  awaken  to  this 
recognition  by  possessing  and  radiating  the  qualities 
of  Spirit.  I  believe  implicitly  in  the  Holy  Bible,  and 
in  the  life  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  believe 
in  our  Leader's,  Mrs.  Eddy's,  spiritual  interpretation 
of  the  Word  of  God  in  her  book,  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science,  and  in  her  other  writings.  As  taught  by 
Mrs.  Eddy,  I  admit  but  one  premise:  "Spirit  is 
infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  'There  is  no  matter' 
is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science,  but 
it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated"  {Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvi., 
p.  697). 

In  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  of  September 
3,  1910,  is  a  letter  of  inquiry  addressed  to  Mrs.  Eddy, 
and  her  reply,  which  I  give  in  full : 

"Last  evening  I  was  catechized  by  a  Christian  Science 
practitioner  because  I  referred  to  myself  as  an  immortal 
idea  of  the  one  divine  Mind.  The  practitioner  said  that 
my  statement  was  wrong,  because  I  still  lived  in  my  flesh. 
I  replied  that  I  did  not  live  in  my  flesh,  that  my  flesh  lived 
or  died  according  to  the  beliefs  I  entertained  about  it; 
but  that,  after  coming  to  the  light  of  Truth,  I  had  found 
that  I  lived  and  moved  and  had  my  being  in  God,  and  to 
obey  Christ  was  not  to  know  as  real  the  beliefs  of  an  earthly 
mortal.  Please  give  the  truth  in  the  Sentinel,  so  that  all 
may  know  it." 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

You  are  scientifically  correct  in  your  statement  about 
yourself.  You  can  never  demonstrate  spirituality  until 
you  declare  yourself  to  be  immortal  and  understand  that 
you  are  so.     Christian  Science  is  absolute;  it  is  neither 


Fruits  of  Experience  983 

behind  the  point  of  perfection  nor  advancing  toward  it; 
it  is  at  this  point  and  must  be  practised  therefrom.  Unless 
you -fully  perceive  that  you  are  the  child  of  God,  hence 
perfect,  you  have  no  Principle  to  demonstrate  and  no  rule 
for  its  demonstration.  By  this  I  do  not  mean  that  mortals 
are  the  children  of  God, — far  from  it.  In  practising  Christ- 
ian Science  you  must  state  its  Principle  correctly,  or  you 
forfeit  your  ability  to  demonstrate  it. 

The  mental  atmosphere  of  to-day  is  pregnant  with 
the  query,  What  is  Truth? 

"Truth's  mighty  arguments  are  rolling  down 
From  inland  mountain  to  seaboard  town." 

The  question  confronting  the  twentieth-century 
thinker  is,  Shall  we  continue,  from  material  concepts, 
to  evolve  material  phenomena — discord,  disease,  and 
death — or  shall  we  refuse  longer  to  attempt  to  open 
"the  Future's  portal  with  the  Past's  blood-rusted 
key"?  Shall  we  not  rather  accept  Truth — Christ — 
now,  and  find  the  way  to  health,  holiness,  and 
immortality? 

The  timid,  or  the  unillumined  who  desire  popularity, 
and  prefer  the  mesmerism  that  shuns  conflict  for  the 
sake  of  personal  ease,  that  fears  ecclesiastical  authority 
and  materializes  our  Leader's  teaching,  would  relegate 
the  church  to  a  mere  material  organization,  and  would 
rob  it  of  the  power  of  spiritual  healing — the  proof  of 
spiritual  life.  Humanity  demands  the  religion  of 
Love  revealed  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  they  who  admit 
no  compromise  of  her  clear  utterances,  but  maintain 
them  in  their  spiritual  strength  and  integrity,  honor 
her,  and  thus  overthrow  animal  magnetism  in  all  its 
insidious  and  subtle  suggestions  of  a  power  opposed 
to  God. 


984  Fruits  of  Experience 

"God  is  my  life,"  were  the  words  with  which  our 
Leader  trustingly  entered  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
darkness,  to  test  the  light  of  Spirit  to  illumine  her 
through  its  illusion.  The  Psalmist  said:  "In  the  time 
of  trouble  He  shall  hide  me  in  His  pavilion."  The  tomb 
is  not  His  hiding-place.  He  is  Light,  and  is  the  light 
lighting  the  pathway  of  our  Leader  into  the  radiance 
"of  one  endless  day"  {Miscellaneous  Writings  p.  399). 

Christians  of  every  denomination,  and  Christian 
Scientists,  believe  that  Jesus  appeared  to  his  disciples, 
in  a  form  recognizable  to  them,  and  that  he  gradually 
emerged  from  the  human  into  a  wholly  spiritual  state 
of  being.  His  disciples  walked  and  talked  with  him 
until  their  limited,  finite  sense  ceased  to  behold  him. 
They  were  not  able  to  retain  the  visible  presence  of 
their  Master,  which  spiritual  thought  would  have 
enabled  them  to  do: 

Holy  Writ  sustains  the  fact  in  Science,  that  the  heavens 
and  earth  to  one  human  consciousness,  that  consciousness 
which  God  bestows,  are  spiritual,  while  to  another,  the 
unillumined  human  mind,  the  vision  is  material.  This 
shows  unmistakably  that  what  the  human  mind  terms 
matter  and  spirit  indicates  states  and  stages  of  conscious- 
ness {Science  and  Health,  p.  573). 
■ 
The  senses  of  sight  and  hearing  abide  in  Mind,  and 
therefore  cannot  be  lost.  Material  sense  sees  its 
objectified  thought  and  hears  its  mental  impressions. 
Spiritual  sense  sees  spiritual  manifestation  and  hears  the 
language  of  Soul,  expressed  through  its  idea,  man. 
Christian  Scientists  believe  that  they  will  both  see  the 
presence  and  hear  the  voice  of  their  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  and  that  she  will  walk  and  talk  with 
them  until  she  has  given  final  proof  of  her  teachings. 


Fruits  of  Experience  985 

Jesus'  experience  and  instruction  would  have  been 
worthless  to  humanity  had  he  failed  in  his  final  evidence 
of  immortal  manhood.  God  did  not  fail  Jesus,  His 
masculine  representative  of  the  ideal  man;  nor  will  He 
fail  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  feminine  representative 
of  good,  God,  or  the  ideal  woman,  who  has  followed 
the  same  Christ-principle  which  delivered  Jesus. 
Jesus  built  his  Church  on  the  foundation  rock,  Christ. 
Mrs.  Eddy  discovered  the  Science  of  being  which 
Jesus  taught  and  demonstrated,  and  continued  the 
spiritual  building,  "The  structure  of  Truth  and  Love" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  583),  against  which  "the  gates 
of  hell  shall  not  prevail." 

Paeans  of  praise  ascend  continually  to  Almighty 
God  for  the  teachings  of  Jesus  the  Christ  and  of  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  and  for  the  light  of  understanding  of 
the  eternal  purpose  which  is  unfolding  and  revealing 
man  as  immortal,  here,  now,  and  forever. 

New  York  City. 

COULD  YE  NOT  WATCH? 

"Could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour?" 

Jesus. 

Brave  wrestler  for  the  prize  of  Life  eternal, 
Treading  alone  earth's  rugged  paths  to  light, 

Art  thou  so  weary  of  thy  self-denials, 
So  tired  of  thy  crosses  and  thy  trials? 

List !  to  the  voice  of  Christ  across  the  sea, 

Can'st  thou  not  watch  one  hour  more  with  me? 

Can'st  thou  not  suffer,  calm  in  tribulation, 
Knowing  that  Christ  himself  before  thee  goes, 

Leading  thee  to  thy  heavenly  habitation, 

Beyond  this  storm-tossed  dream  of  pain  and  woes? 


986  Fruits  of  Experience 

0  soldier,  sleep  not  on  thy  sword,  but  watch  thee 
One  little  hour,  until  thy  Christ  appears; 

And  the     Well  done  " — ye  faithful,  blessed  are  ye 
Who  steadfast  onward  press, — shall  hush  thy  fears. 

There  is  no  royal  road  to  heavenly  treasure; 

The  pathway  does  not  lead  through   human  pride; 
But  meekness,  faith,  and  love,  must  fill  the  measure 

We  humbly  offer  to  the  Glorified. 

O  patient  watcher  with  thy  heavenly  Leader, 
One  little  hour  longer  pray  and  wait ! — 

And  thou  shalt  find,  the  meek  and  earnest  pleader, 
Faith  crowned,  triumphant,  opens  heaven's  gate. 

A.  E.  S. 


WHAT  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  REALLY  IS  * 

MRS.  EDDY'S  WORK    AND  TEACHINGS  IN   THE  LIGHT  OF   CHRIST'S 
MESSAGE  TO  MANKIND 

DIVINE  LOVE  WHICH  FULFILS  THE   LAW   OF  GOD 

BY 

Augusta  E.  Stetson 

[Note: — What  is  the  religion  of  Christian  Science?  That  question 
has  been  asked  hundreds  of  times  in  the  recent  past,  but  it  has  never 
been  satisfactorily  answered.  In  the  near  future  the  leaders  of  the 
church  will  be  summoned  to  answer  it  in  court,  upon  oath.  The 
Columbian  Magazine,  recognizing  the  universal  desire  for  more  defin- 
ite knowledge  as  to  the  fundamental  purpose  of  the  Christian  Science 
church,  asked  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson  to  prepare  an  exclusive  article 
for  its  readers.  Mrs.  Stetson  has  taught  the  doctrine  of  Christian 
Science  for  twenty-five  years,  and  because  of  her  demonstrations  of 
the  science  of  healing  by  the  power  of  the  spiritual  mind,  and  the 
building  up  of  the  large  church  of  which  she  has  been  spiritual  head 
for  twenty -four  years,  she  is  recognized  to-day  as  the  most  prominent 
figure  in  the  cult  founded  by  Mrs.  Eddy. — Editor.] 

'This  article  appeared  in  the  Columbian  Magazine  for  May,  1911* 


Fruits  of  Experience  987 

IMMORTALITY  AS  UNDERSTOOD  BY  CHRISTIAN  SCIENTISTS 

I  have  been  deeply  interested  in  an  article  which 
appeared  in  the  March  issue  of  the  Columbian  written 
by  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  David  H.  Greer  in  reply  to 
Mr.  Edison's  theory  regarding  immortality.  Bishop 
Greer  says:  "The  power  to  create  Christianity  as 
a  mighty  force  lay  in  the  resurrection."  This  state- 
ment is  the  clarion  voice  of  Truth,  and  must  awaken 
many  to  consider,  in  the  light  of  the  twentieth  century, 
the  resurrection  or  the  reappearance  of  Jesus,  the 
Galilean  Prophet. 

The  Bishop  goes  on  to  say: 

The  power  to  create  Christianity  .  .  .  did  not  lie  in  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount  or  in  the  Golden  Rule.  All  that 
was  in  them,  or  nearly  all,  the  world  had  had  already. 
Many  teachers  had  advanced  the  truths  which  they  con- 
tained— Confucius  had,  and  Moses  had,  and  others  had. 
The  new,  the  great  things  which  Christianity  brought  to 
the  world  were  Love  and  the  Gospel  of  the  Resurrection. 
Humanity  in  all  ages  had  been  seeking  this  great  comfort, 
and  it  was  this  fact,  or  this  alleged  fact,  which  created 
Christendom. 

Humanity  had  for  generations  been  seeking  a  solu- 
tion of  the  problem  of  sin,  disease,  and  death, — but 
until  Jesus  proved  the  law  of  God  or  divine  Mind, 
and  man 's  dominion  over  death,  the  world  lay  in  doubt 
as  to  a  future  existence  beyond  the  grave.  Jesus' 
demonstration  brought  "comfort"  and  established  the 
Christian  era.  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount  teaches 
humanity  the  letter  of  Christianity,  but  Spirit, — Christ, 
Truth,  must  accompany  the  letter  for  man  to  assimi- 
late himself  to  God  and  demonstrate  the  power  of 
divine  manhood. 


988  Fruits  of  Experience 

Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder 
of  Christian  Science,  says: 

The  letter  of  Science  plentifully  reaches  humanity  to-day, 
but  its  spirit  comes  only  in  small  degrees.  The  vital  part, 
the  heart  and  soul  of  Christian  Science,  is  Love.  Without 
this,  the  letter  is  but  the  dead  body  of  Science, — pulseless, 
cold,  inanimate  (Science  and  Health,  p.  113). 

Paul  has  declared  through  the  ages:  "God  .  .  . 
hath  made  us  able  ministers  of  the  new  testament; 
not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the  spirit :  for  the  letter  killeth, 
but  the  spirit  giveth  life"  (2  Cor.  iii.,  5,  6).  It  must 
be  evident  to  all  that  the  letter  of  Christianity  has 
for  generations  resulted  in  death  and  the  grave, — the 
"wages  of  sin."  The  Scriptures  declare,  "As  in  Adam 
all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive" 
(1  Cor.  xv.,  22). 

Progress  is  the  law  of  the  one  infinite  God.  The 
twentieth  century  is  revealing  infinite  Mind,  and  spirit- 
ual man,  as  the  manifestation  of  infinite  Principle, — 
eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  The  twentieth-century 
thinkers  are  awaking  to  Christ's  teachings,  to  his  life, 
and  to  his  demonstration  over  the  Adam  or  mortal, 
so-called  mind  in  which  "all  die,"  and  are  making 
mighty  demands  upon  humanity  to  "Awake  .  .  .  and 
arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light" 
(Eph.  v.,  14). 

The  Sermon  on  the  Mount  has  been  taught  for  ages. 
The  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Nazarene  Prophet, 
have  striven  to  obey  his  precepts  and  example  up 
to  a  certain  point;  but  the  vital  point,  the  final  supre- 
macy of  the  Christ-mind  over  the  human  or  carnal 
mind,  and  victory  over  the  false  mentality  which 
produces  death,  has  never,  during  the  centuries  since 


Fruits  of  Experience  989 

Jesus'  triumphant  resurrection  from  the  grave,  been 
proved  by  his  disciples.  Jesus  taught  and  demon- 
strated how  death  was  to  be  overcome  by  the  ascendency 
of  spiritual  thought-force  over  human  belief.  In 
Science  and  Health,  page  306,  we  read:  "Jesus  taught 
them  how  death  was  to  be  overcome  by  spiritual  Life, 
and  demonstrated  this  beyond  cavil."  Christ  Jesus  is 
Christendom's  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life.  His  under- 
standing of  the  Principle  of  scientific  being, — one  God, 
one  creator,  one  Christ,  one  universe  (spiritual)  including 
every  individual  idea ;  his  resistance  to  a  suppositional 
power  called  mortal  mind,  and  its  phenomena, — 
mortal  man  and  a  material  universe,  which  continually 
express  sin  and  death ;  his  final  demonstration  over  the 
claim  to  a  power  opposed  to  God,  gave  Jesus  the  might 
and  majesty  with  which  God  endowed  man  when  He 
said:  "Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our 
likeness:  and  let  them  have  dominion  .  .  .  over  all 
the  earth"  (Gen.  i.,  26). 

Jesus  taught  and  lived  the  Golden  Rule  and  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount.  He  defeated,  vanquished  the 
belief  of  a  mortal  mind  with  its  suggestions  of  matter 
as  sentient  substance.  He  avowed  his  divine  con- 
sciousness as  the  mental  Messiah,  and  accomplished, 
for  himself,  the  destruction  of  the  works  of  the  devil, 
— disease  and  death.  Mrs.  Eddy  declares  that  "His 
consummate  example  was  for  the  salvation  of  us  all, 
but  only  through  doing  the  works  which  he  did  and 
taught  others  to  do"  {Science  and  Health  p.  51), 
and  on  page  33:  "When  the  human  element  in  him 
struggled  with  the  divine,  our  great  Teacher  said: 
'Not  my  will,  but  Thine,  be  done!' — that  is,  Let  not 
the  flesh,  but  the  Spirit,  be  represented  in  me."  His 
mental  combat  was  against  the  false  physical  creation, 


99°  Fruits  of  Experience 

— the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence  in  matter, — "that 
old  serpent,  called  the  Devil,  and  Satan,  which  de- 
ceiveth  the  whole  world"  (Rev.  xii.,  9) — defined  in 
Christian  Science  as  animal  magnetism,  hypnotism, 
mesmerism,  or  aggressive  suggestions  of  mortal  mind. 

Throughout  Jesus'  earthly  career,  his  example  and 
the  evidence  of  his  spiritual  power  over  all  false 
phenomena,  including  disease,  death,  and  the  grave, 
have  been  an  incentive  to  all  his  followers,  to  put  off 
the  physical,  finite  mentality — "the  old  man"  and  his 
deeds,  and  to  put  on  the  Christ-mind,  the  mental 
Messiah.  Jesus  knew  in  Gethsemane  that  Calvary, 
his  final  demonstration,  awaited  him.  He  was  aware 
that  his  "hour"  was  near,  when  he  must  give  himself 
into  the  hands  of  his  barbarous  foes,  lay  down  his 
temporal  life,  that  he  might  take  it  again,  and  prove 
the  power  of  man  when  governed  by  infinite  Mind. 
He  must  verify  his  teachings  and  his  repeated  affirma- 
tions of  his  oneness  with  the  Father, — or  his  claim  to 
sonship  with  God  would  be  worthless  to  the  world. 

Truly  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  established  Christ- 
ianity.    Mrs.  Eddy  writes: 

If  his  full  recognition  of  eternal  Life  had  for  a  moment 
given  way  before  the  evidence  of  the  bodily  senses,  what 
would  his  accusers  have  said?  Even  what  they  did  say, — 
that  Jesus'  teachings  were  false,  and  that  all  evidence  of 
their  correctness  was  destroyed  by  his  death.  But  this 
saying  could  not  make  it  so  (Science  and  Health,  p.  50). 

Jesus  "Let  men  think  they  had  killed  the  body! 
Afterwards  he  would  show  it  to  them  unchanged" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  42).  Jesus  never  lost  his 
spiritual  consciousness, — his  unity  with  divine  Mind. 
He  finally  came  forth  from  the  tomb  and  established 


Fruits  of  Experience  991 

confidence  in  his  teachings,  and  faith  in  his  demon- 
stration. Down  through  the  centuries  his  voice  has 
reverberated, — "Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away: 
but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away"  (Mark  xiii.,  31), 
and,  "If  a  man  keep  my  saying,  he  shall  never  see 
death"  (John  viii.,  51). 

For  two  thousand  years  Jesus'  followers  have 
believed  in  the  truth  of  his  words,  but  they  have  not 
understood  their  spiritual  significance,  which  divine 
metaphysics  or  Christian  Science  imparts.  They 
have  virtually  denied  the  possibility  of  a  demonstra- 
tion over  death,  in  their  own  experience,  notwith- 
standing Jesus  said:  "He  that  believeth  on  me,  the 
works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do"  (John  xiv.,  12).  For  centuries 
his  followers  have  dwelt  upon  his  struggles  with  the 
seeming  forces  of  evil,  which  opposed  his  teachings 
of  God's  allness,  and  man's  oneness  with  his  creator; 
but  they  have  not  taught  nor  demonstrated  the  possi- 
bility of  the  triumph  of  invincible  Truth  and  Love 
over  the  last  enemy  to  be  overcome, — fear  and  death. 
"  Death  will  be  found  at  length  to  be  a  mortal  dream, 
which  comes  in  darkness  and  disappears  with  the  light " 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  42).  "God  is  light,  and  in 
Him  is  no  darkness  at  all"  (1  John  i.,  5).  God  is 
All,  and  there  is  no  other  presence  nor  power.  "Man 
and  his  Maker  are  correlated  in  divine  Science,  and 
real  consciousness  is  cognizant  only  of  the  things  of 
God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  276).  "God  said, 
Let  there  be  light  [spiritual  understanding]:  and  there 
was  light"  (Gen.  i.,  3).  Spiritual  consciousness, 
or  the  Mind  of  Christ,  evolves  life,  love,  peace,  and 
joy.  Material  sense  is  darkness,  which  is  manifest 
in  discord,  disease,  and  death. 


992  Fruits  of  Experience 

These  are  the  latter  days  and  foreshadow  the  second 
coming  of  Christ  to  rule  the  world  in  equity,  justice, 
righteousness.  Truth  will  not  be  forever  hidden  from 
man.  The  eternal  verities  of  being  have  been  revealed, 
"and  unto  them  that  look  for  him  [Christ]  shall  he 
appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation" 
(Heb.  ix.,  28).  The  follower  of  Christ  is  called  upon 
to-day  to  choose  between  Truth  and  error,  or  between 
the  spiritual  and  the  material  mentality. 

Once  to  every  man  and  nation  comes  the  moment  to  decide, 
In  the  strife  of  Truth  with  Falsehood,  for  the  good  or  evil 

side; 
Some  great  cause,  God's  new  Messiah,  offering  each  the 

bloom  or  blight, 
Parts  the  goats  upon  the  left  hand,  and  the  sheep  upon  the 

right, 
And  the  choice  goes  by  forever  'twixt  that  darkness  and 

that  light.1 

Paul  was  a  divine  metaphysician.  He  said:  "To 
be  carnally  minded  is  death;  but  to  be  spiritually 
minded  is  life  and  peace"  (Rom.  viii.,  6).  Not  death, 
but  the  fear  of  death,  holds  mankind  in  mental  fetters. 
Lowell  continues: 

.  .  .  history's  pages  but  record 

One  death-grapple  in  the  darkness  'twixt  old  systems  and 
the  Word. 

History  in  this  twentieth  century  will  record  the 
second  "death-grapple  in  the  darkness  'twixt  old 
systems  and  the  Word." 

Christians  must  claim  their  divine  birthright.  They 
must  illustrate  the  might  and  majesty  of  man  when 
governed  by  God.     They  must  protest  against  the 

1  Lowell. 


Fruits  of  Experience  993 

carnal  senses  and  refuse  to  pay  the  debt  of  sin, — sick- 
ness and  death.  They  have  been,  in  the  past,  like 
mathematicians  who  commit  the  rules  but  refuse  to 
prove  them.  A  rule  in  mathematics  has  no  value  to 
one  who  has  not  demonstrated  it.  The  science  of 
music  exists  as  a  principle,  but  unless  it  finds  a  dem- 
onstrator, it  remains  silent  and  unexpressed.  Thus 
the  conviction  is  forced  upon  us  that  the  rule  of 
scientific  being  must  finally  be  understood  and  demon- 
strated by  all.  Watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zion  should 
refuse  to  yield  ready  assent  to  the  Adam  argument 
that  death  is  inevitable,  since  two  thousand  years  ago 
death  was  proved  powerless  to  prevent  one  man 
(Jesus)  from  demonstrating  the  omnipotence  of  his 
Christ-mind,    and    the   evidence   of   an   endless   life. 

The  divine  origin  of  Jesus  gave  him  more  than  human 
power  to  expound  the  facts  of  creation,  and  demonstrate 
the  one  Mind  which  makes  and  governs  man  and  the 
universe  (Science  and  Health,  p.  539). 

Already  the  shadow  of  His  right  hand  rests  upon  the 
hour.  Ye  who  can  discern  the  face  of  the  sky, — the  sign 
material, — how  much  more  should  ye  discern  the  sign 
mental,  and  compass  the  destruction  of  sin  and  sickness  by 
overcoming  the  thoughts  which  produce  them,  and  by 
understanding  the  spiritual  idea  which  corrects  and  destroys 
them  (Science  and  Health,  p.  233). 

Also, 

To  hold  yourself  superior  to  sin,  because  God  made  you 
superior  to  it  and  governs  man,  is  true  wisdom.  ...  To 
hold  yourself  superior  to  sickness  and  death  is  equally 
wise,  and  is  in  accordance  with  divine  Science.  .  .  . 

Man,  governed  by  his  Maker,  having  no  other  Mind, — 
planted  on  the  Evangelist's  statement  that  "all  things  were 
63 


994  Fruits  of  Experience 

made  by  Him  [the  Word  of  God] ;  and  without  Him  was  not 
anything  made  that  was  made," — can  triumph  over  sin, 
sickness,  and  death  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  231,  232). 

We  must  learn  that  sin  is  the  testimony  of  the  deceit- 
ful material  senses,  and  that  we  must  meet  and  over- 
come every  quality  of  the  fleshly  mind  with  the  Mind 
of  Christ. 

An  irresistible  battle  is  imminent, — a  struggle  for 
faith  and  understanding  which  will  assert  the  supre- 
macy of  Truth,  and  reveal  man's  immortal  selfhood. 
Materialistic  reasoning  and  false  logic  have  seemed  to 
drive  man  from  God's  earth  at  the  moment  of  apparent 
death.  Blind  belief  has  shut  man  from  visible  ex- 
pression as  God's  representative.  The  Sermon  on 
the  Mount,  if  practised,  the  law  of  God,  if  obeyed, 
divine  metaphysics  or  Christian  Science,  if  spiritually 
understood,  would  give  man  faith  and  understanding 
to  wrestle  with  the  enemy  of  good,  and  to  resist  and 
overcome  the  thoughts  which  produce  the  evidence 
of  death  and  disappearance. 

Clergymen,  occupying  the  watchtowers  of  the  world, 
should  uplift  the  standard  of  Truth.  They  should  so  raise 
their  hearers  spiritually,  that  their  listeners  will  love  to 
grapple  with  a  new,  right  idea  and  broaden  their  concepts. 
Love  of  Christianity,  rather  than  love  of  popularity,  should 
stimulate  clerical  labor  and  progress.  Truth  should  ema- 
nate from  the  pulpit,  but  never  be  strangled  there  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  235). 

We  have  Jesus'  life  and  demonstration  to  incite  us 
to  earnest  endeavor  to  conquer  the  mental  cause  of 
discord,  disease,  and  death.  This  mental  cause,  or 
animal  instinct  of  the  fleshly  mind  which  continually 
wars  with  the  Mind  of  Christ,  is  made  up  of  fear,  envy, 


Fruits  of  Experience  995 

jealousy,  malice,  lust,  hypocrisy, — all  evil  thoughts, 
termed  in  Christian  Science,  animal  magnetism, — 
malicious,  innocent,  or  ignorant, — conscious,  uncon- 
scious, latent,  or  developed.  These  qualities  are  the 
constituent  elements  of  all  the  suffering,  sorrow,  and 
death  in  the  world. 

The  only  antidote  for  these  elements  is  divine 
love, — the  law  of  God  which  must  be  fulfilled  to  bring 
immortality  to  man.  When  humanity  realizes  immortal 
consciousness,  the  Truth  of  being,  the  understanding 
of  Spirit,  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe, — 
the  only  verities  of  God  and  man,  they  will  contend 
for  a  demonstration  of  continual  existence,  and  the 
manifestation  of  the  divine,  indestructible  man  in 
God's  image  and  likeness,  who  was,  is,  and  ever  will 
be  the  ever-present  representative  of  the  ever-present 
creator — Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  This  is  not  an  argu- 
ment for  the  perpetuation  of  matter,  but  a  dissolving 
of  false  mortal  concepts,  and  a  revealing  of  the  real 
man.  "The  divine  Mind  that  made  man  maintains 
His  own  image  and  likeness.  The  human  mind  is 
opposed  to  God  and  must  be  put  off,  as  St.  Paul  de- 
clares" (Science  and  Health,  p.  151). 

Bishop  Greer's  statement  should  resound  through 
Christendom:  Christ  Jesus  "brought  to  the  world 
Love  and  the  Gospel  of  the  Resurrection."  It  was  the 
resurrection,  demonstration  or  reappearance  of  the 
ideal  Christ-man  which  gave  to  Christianity  its  life 
force.  Power  to  create  faith  in  religion  lies  in  demon- 
stration. Power  to  add  to  faith,  understanding,  and 
demonstration,  lies  in  bringing  every  thought  into 
obedience  to  Christ.  "As  soldiers  of  the  cross  we 
must  be  brave,  and  let  Science  declare  the  immortal 
status  of  man,  and  deny  the  evidence  of  the  material 


996  Fruits  of  Experience 

senses,  which  testify  that  man  dies"  {Unity  of  Good, 
page  39).  Let  us  put  our  whole  trust  in  Truth,  and 
lean  more  heavily  upon  infinite  good,  knowing  that: 

Good  [God]  never  fails 
Whoever  trusts  that  Power,  which  alone 
Is  arming,  guiding,  guarding  all  His  own; 

Whoever  thrusts  his  sword  for  right; 
He  only  conquers  in  the  fight. 
He  knows  the  day  is  gained 
Before  the  field  is  stained, — 
But  yet,  the  victory  won 

He  hears  in  mute  surprise 
"Well  done."1 

And  this  is  the  reward  gained  by  the  intrepid  con- 
testant for  immortality.  The  endeavor  to  possess  a 
wholly  spiritual  consciousness  may  seem  to  the  on- 
looker to  be  attended  only  with  strenuous  effort  and 
constant  struggle.  Each  victory  over  physical  per- 
sonality,— the  false  selfhood,  gives  a  clearer  vision  of 
the  eternal  verities  of  spiritual  personality  or  individual 
identity.  As  we  unfold  in  spiritual  understanding  we  re- 
deem our  original  heritage, — strength,  health,  love,  joy, 
dominion  over  the  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir, — a  peace 
that  cannot  be  described  in  human  language,  which 
only  the  Soul-inspired  can  realize,  and  a  love  for  God 
and  man  which  enables  us  to  follow  Christ  in  his 
ministry  of  selfless  service  to  awaken  humanity  to 
man's  divim.  birthright, — sonship  with  God.  The 
acceptance  of  the  spiritual  fact  that  we  possess  "the 
earth  .  .  .  and  the  fulness  thereof,"  because  it  is  the 
Lord's;  that  error,  sin,  and  its  phenomena, — sickness, 
sorrow,  and  death,  are  produced  by  the  carnal  mind 

1  Kains. 


Fruits  of  Experience  997 

and  must  be  driven  out  of  human  experience,  be- 
cause they  are  no  part  of  God's  universe;  and  the  con- 
viction that  the  true  man  and  the  spiritual  universe 
will  be  revealed,  give  a  fearless  wing  on  which  to  soar 
to  spiritual  heights,  and  a  firm  foundation  (the  rock, 
Christ)  upon  which  to  stand. 

If  those  who  are  striving  to  become  followers  of 
Christ  expect  to  be  saved  from  the  dire  effects  of  the 
human  mind,  they  must  realize  the  omnipotence  of 
divine  Mind,  and  rise  with  Christ  until  the  resurrection 
is  seen  as  the  consummating  fact  of  spiritual  experience. 
To  each  of  us,  and  to  all  generations,  Jesus,  the  God- 
anointed,  is  the  original  demonstrator,  by  which  alone 
men  really 

.  .  .  rise  on  stepping-stones 

Of  their  dead  selves  to  higher  things,1 

(their  eternal  spiritual  individuality). 
On  page  279  of  Science  and  Health,  Mrs.  Eddy  states: 

In  proportion  as  the  belief  disappears  that  life  and  in- 
telligence are  in  or  of  matter,  the  immortal  facts  of  being 
are  seen,  and  their  only  idea  or  intelligence  is  in  God. 
Spirit  is  reached  only  through  the  understanding  and 
demonstration  of  eternal  Life  and  Truth  and  Love. 

Also  on  page  281 : 

Divine  Science  contradicts  the  corporeal  senses,  rebukes 
mortal  belief,  and  asks :  What  is  the  Ego,  whence  its  origin 
and  what  its  destiny?  The  Ego-man  is  the  reflection  of  the 
Ego-God ;  the  Ego-man  is  the  image  and  likeness  of  perfect 
Mind,  Spirit,  divine  Principle. 
The  one  Ego,  the  one  Mind  or  Spirit  called  God,  is  in- 

1  Tennyson. 


998  Fruits  of  Experience 

finite  individuality,  which  supplies  all  form  and  comeliness 
and  which  reflects  reality  and  divinity  in  individual  spiritual 
man  and  things. 

St.  John,  the  Revelator,  through  spiritual  illumina- 
tion, left  his  testimony  as  to  the  final  disappearance 
of  mortal  mind  and  its  effects,  and  the  revelation  of 
God  and  His  perfect  man  and  perfect  universe: 

And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of  heaven  saying,  Behold, 
the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men,  and  He  will  dwell  with 
them,  and  they  shall  be  His  people,  and  God  Himself  shall 
be  with  them,  and  be  their  God. 

And  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes;  and 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying, 
neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain:  for  the  former  things 
are  passed  away  (Rev.  xxi.,  3,  4). 

The  scientific  mental  process  by  which  this  proof 
is  reached  has  been  described  by  St.  Paul  as  putting 
off  the  mortal;  but  to  Paul  it  was  a  divine  philosophy 
which  he  knew  must  be  demonstrated,  as  humanity 
rose  to  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ.  It  was  demon- 
strated by  Jesus  who  represented  the  fatherhood  of 
God,  and  it  remained  for  woman — Mary  Baker  Eddy — 
to  grasp  the  spiritual  facts  of  scientific  being,  repre- 
sent the  motherhood  of  God,  and  demonstrate  divine 
Love,  which  fulfils  the  law  of  God.  It  remained  for 
Mrs.  Eddy  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  people  of  God 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  to  call 
the  world  to  understand  the  metaphysical  teaching 
and  demonstration  of  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  to  in- 
spire all  to  attain  spiritual  power  with  which  to  prove 
immortality. 

Christian  Scientists  are  striving  to  rise  to  spiritual 
illumination,  by  which  they  may  behold 


Fruits  of  Experience  999 

.  .  .  that  which  is  invisible  to  the  uninspired  thought  .  .  . 
the  heavens  and  earth  to  one  human  consciousness,  that 
consciousness  which  God  bestows,  are  spiritual,  while  to 
another,  the  unillumined  human  mind,  the  vision  is  ma- 
terial. This  shows  unmistakably  that  what  the  human 
mind  terms  matter  and  spirit  indicates  states  and  stages 
of  consciousness  (Science  and  Health,  p.  573). 

Jesus  took  Peter,  James  and  John  to  the  Mount  of 
Transfiguration  (a  state  of  exalted  spiritual  conscious- 
ness) where  they  saw  Moses  and  Elias,  who  talked 
with  Jesus.  These  prophets  were  believed  to  have 
died,  yet  spiritual  sense  revealed  them,  and  they 
talked  with  Jesus.  Could  Jesus  have  believed  in  the 
reality  of  death  after  this  illumination?  Christians 
have  never  denied  this  account  of  the  reappearance 
of  Moses  and  Elias. 

The  followers  of  Jesus  the  Christ  have  read  the 
story  of  Stephen,  who  "being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
[the  illumination  of  spiritual  sense],  looked  up  sted- 
fastly  into  heaven,  and  saw  the  glory  of  God,  and 
Jesus  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God"  (Acts  vii., 
55) .  Saul  (afterwards  Paul)  also  saw  Jesus  and  heard 
his  voice.     He  said: 

"Who  art  thou,  Lord?  And  the  Lord  said,  I  am  Jesus 
whom  thou  persecutest.  .  .  . 

And  he  trembling  and  astonished  said,  Lord,  what  wilt 
thou  have  me  to  do?  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Arise, 
and  go  into  the  city,  and  it  shall  be  told  thee  what  thou 
must  do"  (Acts  ix.,  5,  6). 

Christians  who  read  the  statement  of  the  phenomena 
which  accompanied  the  crucifixion,  when  the  veil  of 
the  temple  was  rent,  do  not  doubt  the  reappearance 
of  those  who  had  seemed  to  die,  and  had  been  invisible 


iooo  Fruits  of  Experience 

for  many  years.  The  light  of  spiritual  understanding 
disperses  the  clouds  of  material  belief,  as  when  a  flash 
of  lightning  illumines  the  earth  and  reveals  objects 
which  were  hidden  in  the  darkness.  Matthew,  the 
Apostle,  records  this  event,  and  Christians  throughout 
the  ages  have  not  denied  his  report  that  "the  graves 
were  opened;  and  many  bodies  of  the  saints  which 
slept  arose,  and  came  out  of  the  graves  after  his  resur- 
rection, and  went  into  the  holy  city,  and  appeared  unto 
many"  (Matt,  xxvii.,  52,  53). 

John,  the  Revelator,  when  "in  the  Spirit"  (spiritual 
thought)  heard  a  voice  and  saw  "one  like  unto  the 
Son  of  man,"  and  heard  behind  him  a  great  voice 
saying,  "I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last: 
...  I  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was  dead;  and,  behold, 
I  am  alive  for  evermore"  (Rev.  i.,  10-18). 

This  was  the  ideal  Christ-man,  who  forever  reflects 
eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth — the  Principle  of  all 
being.  Thus  we  see  that  Jesus  rose  to  the  height  of 
spiritual  power,  which  burst  the  cloud  of  material 
sense,  overcame  death  and  the  grave,  and  gave  the 
last  and  highest  demonstration  of  his  teachings, — his 
reappearance  after  what  seemed  to  be  death.  He 
proved  what  he  had  taught — the  allness  of  God,  and 
man's  oneness  with  eternal  Life. 

Some  have  asked,  What  advantage  was  it  to  human- 
ity for  Jesus  to  reappear  and  remain  so  short  a  time 
with  his  disciples?  Why  did  he  not  continue  with 
them?  Had  his  disciples  possessed  sufficient  spiritual 
sense  they  would  longer  have  walked  and  talked  with 
their  Master.  Had  they  risen  to  spiritual  life  cor- 
respondingly with  Jesus,  they  would  have  continued 
with  him,  and  would  have  lost  their  material  sense  of 
him  and  of  themselves.     This  spiritual  apprehension 


Fruits  of  Experience  iooi 

would  have  revealed  the  real  man  and  the  real  uni- 
verse. His  reappearance  assured  them  of  his  victory 
over  death  and  the  grave,  and  proved  the  superiority 
of  spiritual  man,  and  the  nothingness  of  the  material 
pigment  called  mortal  man.  Our  beloved  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  says: 

One  moment  of  divine  consciousness,  or  the  spiritual 
understanding  of  Life  and  Love,  is  a  foretaste  of  eternity. 
This  exalted  view,  obtained  and  retained  when  the  Science 
of  being  is  understood,  would  bridge  over  with  life  dis- 
cerned spiritually  the  interval  of  death,  and  man  would  be 
in  the  full  consciousness  of  his  immortality  and  eternal 
harmony,  where  sin,  sickness,  and  death  are  unknown 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  598). 

Every  word  of  God  sown  in  the  soil  of  human 
thought  brings  forth  flowers  whose  perfume  fills  the 
earth  with  the  fragrance  of  love  and  gratitude  to  God 
and  His  Christ — the  source  of  all  beauty,  harmony, 
bliss,  and  immortality. 

Jesus  the  Christ  left  his  teachings  and  example, 
his  cross  and  his  cup,  and  they  who  follow  him  must 
abide  by  his  instructions,  emulate  his  example,  stem 
the  forces  of  material  sense  and  earthward  gravitation, 
and  drink  the  cup  of  opposition  to  the  Science  of 
spiritual  being;  but  the  brave  swimmer  for  the  shore 
of  immortality  keeps  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  goal, — a 
universe  which  is  governed  by  God,  peopled  with  His 
happy  children,  all  obedient  to  the  law  of  eternal  Life 
and  Truth,  and  forever  held  in  the  gospel  of  Love. 
As  he  nears  the  haven  of  eternal  consciousness, — his 
individual  identity,  his  spiritual  vision  increases,  and 
the  echo  of  sin,  sickness,  sorrow,  and  death  is  faintly 
heard  from  time's  receding  shore. 


1002  Fruits  of  Experience 

Inexpressible  gratitude  should  move  Christendom  to 
bow  the  head  and  bend  the  knee  to  the  great  demon- 
strator of  eternal  Life, — Jesus  the  master  Metaphysician, 
and  Christ's  followers  throughout  the  world  should 
unite  in  adoration  for  God  and  His  Christ,  from  whom 
flow  eternal  existence,  love,  joy,  and  peace.  Spiritual 
thought  should  lift  humanity  above  itself  until  it 
grasps  the  right  hand  of  God,  spurns  the  fetters  of 
human  belief,  and  enlists  in  the  spiritual  warfare 
against  the  false  claim  of  sin,  disease,  and  death. 

Unutterable  gratitude  and  voiceless  prayers  ascend 
to  our  God  continually  for  Jesus'  sacrifice  of  himself 
to  free  humanity  from  mental  slavery,  and  for  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science,  who  has  followed  Christ,  and  disclosed  to 
this  age  the  Science  of  being  which  Jesus  taught  and 
demonstrated.  Christian  Scientists  believe  that  their 
revered  Leader  will  appear  to  those  who  possess 
sufficient  spiritual  illumination,  and  that  she  will, 
like  the  first  demonstrator — Jesus  the  Christ  (whom 
she  has  faithfully  and  understanding^  followed), 
prove  her  teaching  that  "  man  is,  not  shall  be,  per- 
fect and  immortal"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  428). 
Her  understanding  of  the  teachings  of  Jesus  is  ex- 
pressed in  her  own  words: 

Another  command  of  the  Christ,  his  prime  command, 
was  that  his  followers  should  "raise  the  dead."  He  lifted 
his  own  body  from  the  sepulchre.  In  him,  Truth  called 
the  physical  man  from  the  tomb  to  health,  and  the  so-called 
dead  forthwith  emerged  into  a  higher  manifestation  of  Life. 

The  spiritual  significance  of  this  command,  "Raise  the 
dead,"  most  concerns  mankind.  It  implies  such  an  ele- 
vation of  the  understanding  as  will  enable  thought  to 
apprehend  the  living  beauty  of  Love,  its  practicality,  its 


Fruits  of  Experience  1003 

divine  energies,  its  health-giving  and  life-bestowing  quali- 
ties,— yea,  its  power  to  demonstrate  immortality.  This 
end  Jesus  achieved,  both  by  example  and  precept  (Retro- 
spection and  Introspection,  p.  88). 

Christian  Scientists  follow  the  example  of  their 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  adhere  strictly  to  the 
teachings  of  Christ  Jesus.  Christ's  promise  to  come 
again  will  be  fulfilled,  and  woman  will  win  her  victory 
over  the  illusion  of  death  and  the  grave.  Only  they 
who  hold  to  this  as  practical  Christianity  can  really 
be  disciples  of  Christ,  and  followers  of  Mary  Baker 
Eddy. 

The  ever-present,  impersonal  Christ  was  never 
absent  from  the  earth.  He  speaks  to  his  followers 
to-day  as  emphatically  as  of  yore:  "Come,  ye  blessed 
of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world."  Christ's  Church, 
the  Church  Triumphant,  is  appearing.  Christ  is  com- 
ing to  his  temple.  "Ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living 
God."  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law,  and  divine 
Love  will  redeem  the  world.  Already  the  mental  at- 
mosphere resounds  with  the  harvest  song. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
April  28,  191 1. 
Dear  Mr.  C  .  .  .  : — 

I  remember  with  pleasure  my  visit  to  your  city  and 
to  your  church  service.  You  say  in  your  letter, ' '  Papers 
have  been  sent  to  me  containing  your  articles  at  differ- 
ent times,  and  those  of  your  attorney."  I  have  never 
sent  you  an  article.  If  any  one,  claiming  to  be  my 
attorney,  has  done  so,  I  am  not  responsible.  I  have 
never  accepted,  nor  for  a  moment  considered,  the 
offers  of  legal  services  which  from  the  first,  and  up 


1004  Fruits  of  Experience 

to  the  present  time,  have  been  urged  upon  me.  The 
world  seems  to  be  aroused  with  a  desire  to  defend  me. 

Clergymen,  editors,  business  men,  leading  and 
influential  women,  took  this  event  as  an  opportunity 
to  show  true  manhood,  Christian  compassion  and 
mercy.  I  have  not  permitted  these  well-meaning 
and  kindly  disposed  persons  to  entertain  the  faintest 
hope  of  serving  me,  except  so  far  as  to  leave  me  with 
God  to  make  my  demonstration  of  the  power  of  the 
Mind  of  Christ  over  so-called  mortal  mind  claiming 
life  and  intelligence,  and  expressing  itself  in  sin,  dis- 
ease, and  all  that  proceeds  from  belief,  or  carnal 
concepts. 

I  am  too  far  advanced  in  divine  metaphysics,  or  the 
spiritual  understanding  of  Christian  Science,  not  to 
discern  clearly  the  mental  warfare  in  this  era  of  human 
progress  out  of  the  material  into  the  spiritual  sense. 
I  am  deeply  grateful  for  the  thousands  of  friends  who 
have  sprung  up  from  among  the  people  and  who  so 
clearly  perceive  the  spiritual  teachings  of  Science 
and  Health  and  our  revered  Leader's  other  writings. 
Mrs.  Eddy's  words  are  to-day  verified — "In  this 
age  the  earth  will  help  the  woman"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  570).  This  spiritualization  of  individual 
and  universal  consciousness  is  the  result  of  forty-five 
years  of  our  Leader's  labor  of  love  for  humanity;  her 
sowing  of  spiritual  thought  in  the  soil  of  material 
sense.  This  seed  of  Truth  and  Love  has  been  leaven- 
ing the  lump  of  materiality  with  the  mighty  power  of 
divine  Love,  dissolving  the  adamant  of  sin,  until 
thousands  to-day  are  reading  and  understanding 
Mrs.  Eddy's  writings  from  a  spiritual  concept  and 
judging  for  themselves  between  the  false  and  true 
conceptions  of  Christian  Science. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1005 

Her  faithful  students  who  have  labored  with  her 
during  all  these  years  of  her  Christly  ministry,  and  who 
have  shared  with  her  the  persecutions  and  contumely 
with  which  the  carnal  mind  opposes  "troublesome 
Truth"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  542)  in  all  ages — these 
faithful  ones  have  now  the  joy  of  realizing  the  fruits 
of  their  tears  and  toils,  their  sacrifices  of  personal 
sense  and  their  unrequited  labors,  as  they  witness  the 
host  that  is  coming  up  to  join  the  ranks  of  Christian 
Science  in  the  spiritual  character-building  which  will 
destroy  all  that  opposes  the  Christ-mind.  They  are 
to  swell  the  Te  Deum  of  praise  for  Jesus  the  Christ 
and  for  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

The  "Word"  is  a  vital  force,  and  reaches  all,  who, 
through  human  experience,  have  risen  to  long  and 
pray  for  Christ,  and  who  have  turned  from  the  human 
to  the  divine  to  attain  their  "spiritual  dominion," 
their  oneness  with  Spirit,  God. 

Permit  me  to  reply  to  your  next  question — "You 
have  stated,  I  believe,  since  Mrs.  Eddy's  passing,  that 
you  loved  her  and  that  you  are  loyal  to  her."  I  have 
repeatedly  stated,  since  Mrs.  Eddy  entered  upon  her 
final  demonstration,  that  I  love  her,  have  always  loved 
her,  have  obeyed,  and  do  now  implicitly  obey  her 
words,  so  far  as  I  spiritually  comprehend  them.  As 
she  rises  higher  and  touches  humanity  with  more 
spiritual  reflection  of  omnipotent  Love,  she  impels 
me,  and  all  who  are  within  the  radius  of  her  thought, 
to  realize  and  reflect  more  divine  Love  for  humanity, 
more  love  for  God  and  for  her,  His  highest  representa- 
tive, who  is  now  making  her  final  demonstration  as 
idea,  and  who  will,  in  the  unfolding  of  infinite  Love 
be  appreciable  to  all  who  have  spiritual  vision.  She 
has  led,  is  now  leading,  and  will  continue  to  lead  on 


ioo6  Fruits  of  Experience 

the  nations  to  final  conquest  over  "the  dragon  .  .  . 
and  his  angels"  (Rev.  xii.,  7). 

My  loyalty  to  her  is  evidenced  in  my  adherence  to, 
and  defense  of  her  teachings,  and  my  demonstration 
before  the  world,  of  absolute  reliance  on  God.  I  have 
proved  my  ability  to  handle  the  claim,  the  "enemy 
of  good,"  and  that  my  life  is  not  at  the  mercy  of  mortal 
mind,  but  is  "hid  with  Christ  in  God."  Love  has 
triumphed.  Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  Miscellaneous  Writings, 
page  19,  in  an  article  entitled,  "The  New  Birth, " 

He  who  has  named  the  name  of  Christ,  who  has  virtually 
accepted  the  divine  claims  of  Truth  and  Love  in  divine 
Science,  is  daily  departing  from  evil;  and  all  the  wicked 
endeavors  of  suppositional  demons  can  never  change  the 
current  of  that  life  from  steadfastly  flowing  on  to  God,  its 
divine  source. 

Watching  and  praying  without  ceasing  have  enabled 
me  to  reflect  continually  the  power  of  Truth  and  Love, 
which  is  the  spiritual  "support"  that  every  Christian 
Scientist  should  extend  to  the  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church.  I  do  not  accept  their  statement  that  they  are 
mortal  or  that  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  "is 
dead."  I  abide  strictly  by  her  teaching,  even  to  the 
plucking  out  of  the  "right  eye  "  and  the  cutting  off  of  the 
"right  hand"  (the  material  senses  which  oppose  the 
spiritual  facts  of  being),  that  "man  is,  not  shall  be, 
perfect  and  immortal"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  428).  I 
do  not  acknowledge  a  mortal  as  the  man  whom  God 
created  in  His  own  image  and  likeness.  I  accept  the 
teachings  of  our  Leader,  in  regard  to  immortality,  as  a 
"  present  possibility"  that  "  Mortals  will  disappear,  and 
immortals,  or  the  children  of  God,  will  appear  as  the 
only  and  eternal  verities  of  man.  .  .  .  They  were,  from 


Fruits  of  Experience  1007 

the  beginning  of  mortal  history,  'conceived  in  sin 
and  brought  forth  in  iniquity.'  "  Mortality  finally  dis- 
appears as  a  shadow,  and  the  real  substance-man  is 
revealed. 

This  realization  is  not  a  question  of  time  but  of 
spiritual  ascendency  of  the  divine  over  the  human. 
Therefore  all  Christian  Scientists  deny  material  sense 
testimony  as  a  lie,  an  illusion,  the  Adam-dream,  and 
strive,  through  spiritual  sense,  to  behold  their  brother 
and  sister  as  "Jesus  beheld  .  .  .  the  perfect  man,  who 
appeared  to  him  where  sinning  mortal  man  appears 
to  mortals.  In  this  perfect  man  the  Saviour  saw 
God's  own  likeness,  and  this  correct  view  of  man  healed 
the  sick"  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  476,  477).  This 
correct  view  of  man,  held  by  the  spiritually  minded, 
will  destroy  the  "enemy  of  good,"  impersonal  evil 
and  its  phenomena,  sin,  sickness,  death,  and  will 
reveal  God's  perfect  man. 

This  teaching  and  the  operation  of  Truth  and  Love 
through  the  demonstrators  of  Christian  Science  are 
supporting  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  and  its 
faithful  adherents.  The  true  followers  of  Mary  Baker 
Eddy  are  "awake"  and  are  "aware"  that  the  "enemy 
of  good"  must  be  met  and  mastered  by  divine  Love, 
and  that  through  the  power  of  Christ  they  will  de- 
stroy the  "beast  and  the  false  prophets"  and  their 
supporters.  Christian  Scientists  find  themselves  gov- 
erned by  the  irresistible  law  of  God,  obeying  divine 
Principle,  united  in  the  one  Mind,  in  "one  accord 
in  one  place,"  held  in  the  bonds  of  spiritual  love, 
where  the  "enemy  of  good"  is  seen  as  nothingness, 
and  its  distant  echoes  are  but  faintly  heard. 

You  ask  me  if  I  am  attacking  the  Directors.  Where 
can  it  be  proved,  even  by  the  distorted  and  garbled 


1008  Fruits  of  Experience 

reports,  that  I  am  attacking  the  Directors?  Will 
you  please,  Mr.  C  .  .  .  ,  read  my  articles  and  ascertain 
the  facts?  I  have  never  attacked  them,  as  the  whole 
world  knows.  I  have  reflected  divine  Love  continu- 
ally to  them  and  to  all.  This  is  the  Christian  Scientist's 
sure  defense  at  all  times.  As  I  have  heretofore  stated 
I  resisted  and  refused  human  sympathy,  legal  and 
financial  aid  to  defend  my  rights  of  conscience  and 
conviction.  I  need  no  defense,  but  the  reflection  of 
Truth  and  Love.  I  must  demonstrate  the  spiritual 
power  of  Christian  Science  over  all  error.  The 
Directors  and  I  are  in  the  public  scales  and  we  are 
being  weighed  before  the  public  eye.  We  have  al- 
ready registered  ourselves,  and  God  holds  the  balances. 

Mrs.  Eddy  teaches,  on  page  419  of  Science  and 
Health,  "Your  true  course  is  to  destroy  the  foe,  and 
leave  the  field  to  God,  Life,  Truth,  and  Love."  It 
remains  for  Christian  Scientists  to  destroy  the  foe,  sin, 
the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  fear,  hate,  malice,  jealousy, 
lust,  revenge,  envy,  hypocrisy,  etc.,  and  to  demon- 
strate Truth  and  Love,  which  disclose  the  nothingness 
of  this  contention  for  two  powers,  evil  and  good, 
mortality  and  immortality,  death  and  life.  I  am 
entrenched  behind  the  breastwork  of  omnipotent 
Life,  and  from  this  stronghold  of  infinite  Love,  I  have 
made  my  demonstration  over  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism. /  love.  I  am  not  separated  from  my  beloved 
Leader,  Teacher,  and  Guide,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  have  made  but  two  concessions  to  the  requests  of 
editors  to  furnish  for  their  magazines  an  article  on 
Christian  Science.  I  notice  in  the  current  issue  of 
the  Columbian  Magazine  the  Editor's  Note  before 
my  article.  It  was  doubtless  this  to  which  you  re- 
ferred when  you  alluded  to  my  "attorney,"  as  the 


Fruits  of  Experience  1009 

editor  refers  to  court  proceedings.  I  was  surprised 
when  I  saw  this,  but  inferred  that  he  had  seen  a  recent 
notice  in  the  secular  press  which  stated  that  I,  with 
sixteen  of  my  practitioners,  and  the  present  First 
Reader  of  my  church,  was  to  be  called  to  testify  in 
court. 

In  your  letter  I  read,  "You  intimate  that  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  have  mistreated 
and  oppressed  you."  Any  one  who  has  a  spark  of 
Christly  compassion,  and  is  not  hardened  by  malice 
and  hate,  jealousy  and  envy  can  appreciate  the  torture 
and  the  agony  which  is  consequent  upon  being  wrong- 
fully, unjustly,  held  up  to  public  condemnation,  but 
Truth  and  Love  make  this  also  unreal  to  the  Christian 
Science  soldier,  after  the  bitter  cup  has  been  quaffed 
to  its  dregs.  The  terrible  conflict  with  material 
mentalities  lifts  one  to  spiritual  vision,  which  effaces 
the  false  images  and  concepts  of  mortal  belief,  and 
exalts  and  purifies  the  demonstrator  of  the  Mind  of 
Christ. 

Watching  and  praying  have  enabled  me  to  reflect 
the  support  which  Truth  and  spiritual  love  afford 
to  all  who  will  receive  their  sustaining  aid.  All  who 
have  stood  for  Principle,  and  have  reflected  infinite 
Spirit  even  in  a  slight  degree,  are  united  in  supporting 
law  and  order,  and  the  rules  and  By-Laws  of  the 
Manual  of  The  Mother  Church.  This  is  to  "Abide 
in  Truth,  in  fellowship  with  and  obedience  to  The 
Mother  Church"  (Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  270).  Truth  and  Love 
reflected  by  the  faithful  followers  of  Christ,  and 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  will  protect  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  against  the  efforts  of  malicious  animal  magnet- 
ism, which  has  been  ineffectually  aroused  to  destroy 
64 


ioio  Fruits  of  Experience 

it.  The  only  "support"  of  a  cause,  or  those  in  author- 
ity, is  that  which  God  sends  through  His  consecrated 
channels  of  Truth  and  Love.  This  radiation  of  light 
and  love  supports  and  strengthens  all  who  will  accept 
it. 

My  students  who  have  followed  Principle  and  the 
teachings  of  our  holy  Leader,  are  in  this  hour  supporting 
all  who  are  united  in  the  demonstration  of  the  unity 
of  good.  The  "enemy  of  good"  must  find  its  support 
from  those  who  unite  in  perpetuating  sin,  sickness, 
and  death,  the  unity  of  evil.  This  is  the  inevitable 
separation  of  good  and  evil  mental  forces  manifest 
in  physical  personalities.  Our  Leader  threw  the 
responsibility  of  individual  interpretation  upon  her 
followers  when  she  wrote,  in  the  Christian  Science 
Sentinel  of  October  16,  1909: 

I  hereby  publicly  declare  that  I  am  not  personally  in- 
volved in  the  affairs  of  the  church  in  any  other  way  than 
through  my  written  and  published  rules,  all  of  which  can 
be  read  by  the  individual  who  desires  to  inform  himself  of 
the  facts. 

Thus  the  individual  is  directed  to  our  Leader's 
written  and  published  words  in  regard  to  the  rules 
and  By-Laws  of  The  Mother  Church,  which  I  interpret 
spiritually,  and  shall  strictly  obey  till  she  appears  to 
judge  her  people.  In  the  meantime  I  feel  that  every 
Christian  Scientist  must  occupy  till  he — she — (the 
compound  idea)  comes.  I  also  have  my  Leader's 
instruction  to  me  in  her  letter  of  August  30,  1909. 
Her  directions  contained  in  that  letter,  particularly 
in  regard  to  the  rules  and  By-Laws  of  the  Manual  of 
The  Mother  Church,  I  shall  continue  to  obey. 

In  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  of  July  17,  1909, 


Fruits  of  Experience  ion 

Mrs.  Eddy  assured  me  that  I  was  "aware  that  animal 
magnetism  is  the  opposite  of  divine  Science,  and  that 
this  opponent  is  the  means  whereby  the  conflict  against 
Truth  is  engendered  and  developed."  This  assurance 
that  she  foresaw  the  conflict  through  which  I  must 
pass,  and  knew  that  I  was  "aware"  of  the  subtle 
workings  of  the  "opponent  ...  of  good"  in  its 
efforts  to  separate  me  from  her,  and  Christian  Science, 
gave  me  renewed  courage  to  continue  to  handle  mali- 
cious animal  magnetism  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
the  Word  of  God,  which  heretofore  had  proved  effectual 
to  deliver  me  from  all  the  forms  and  arguments  of 
this  "opponent."  It  enabled  me  willingly  to  give 
myself  up  to  the  test.  Her  dear  words,  "Beloved! 
you  need  to  watch  and  pray  that  the  enemy  of  good 
cannot  separate  you  from  your  Leader  and  best  earthly 
friend,"  reassured  me  that  I  was  united  with  her  in  this 
defense  of  divine  Science,  and  her  desire  that  I  should 
not  be  separated,  was  my  comfort  and  consolation  in 
that  dark  hour  through  which  I  passed. 

Armed  with  Truth  I  could  not  be  deceived  by  insid- 
ious arguments,  nor  by  reversals  of  the  spiritual 
facts  of  man,  and  I  continued  to  be  a  demonstrator 
of  divine  metaphysics  or  Christian  Science.  I  rejoice 
daily  that  I  have  met  the  test,  the  most  severe  and 
continuous  mental  anguish  ever  inflicted  in  this  age 
on  any  one  except  our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  who  says, 
"The  modern  lash  is  less  material  than  the  Roman 
scourge,  but  it  is  equally  as  cutting"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  224).  I  have  followed  the  example  of  Christ 
and  Mary  Baker  Eddy  and  opened  not  my  mouth 
except  to  defend  the  teachings  of  my  Leader,  and  my 
individual  rights  of  interpretation  of  Christian  Science. 
This  I  shall  continue  to  do  until  all  know  and  acknow- 


ioi2  Fruits  of  Experience 

ledge  that  "the  accuser  of  our  brethren  is  cast  down, 
which  accused  them  before  our  God  day  and  night" 
(Rev.  xii.,  10).  I  am  not  and  can  never  be  separated 
from  my  "Leader  and  best  earthly  friend,"  the  imper- 
sonal idea,  the  individual  identity — Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Again  came  the  Leader's  cry,  as  she  saw  the  effort 
of  malicious  animal  magnetism,  through  some  of  my 
students,  to  hold  her  and  me  to  physical  personality, 
"Awake  and  arise  from  this  temptation  produced  by 
animal  magnetism  upon  yourself,  allowing  your  stu- 
dents to  deify  you  and  me.  Treat  yourself  for  it  and 
get  your  students  to  help  you  rise  out  of  it.  It  will  be 
your  destruction  if  you  do  not  do  this.  Answer  this 
letter  immediately  "  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii., 
p.  1 30) .  My  answer  to  this  letter  reached  her  by  special 
messenger  in  twenty-four  hours.  Again  her  watch-care 
warned  me  of  "  temptation, "  not  fall.  Her  voice  aroused 
me  to  turn  from  all  personal  dependence  upon  my  stu- 
dents, to  put  my  trust  in  Christ  and  have  no  other 
trust,  to  sever  the  mental  bonds  of  physical  personality 
and  rise  with  her  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  hour. 

The  result  of  her  wisdom  soon  became  apparent 
to  me.  Those  students  who  had  not  grasped  the  spir- 
itual meaning  of  her  writings,  had  deified  the  physical 
personality  of  my  Leader  and  myself.  These  either 
turned  bitter  foes  to  me,  or  did  not  follow  me  in  my 
demonstration  towards  wholly  spiritual  consciousness, 
while  my  students  who  had  discerned  the  spiritual 
verities  of  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health,  rose  to 
perceive  my  spiritual  personality,  or  individual  identity 
— my  true  selfhood  as  God's  idea.  It  is  well  for 
Christian  Scientists  occasionally  to  recall  Jesus'  words 
to  Philip,  "  He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen  the  Father" 
(John  xiv.,  9),  meaning,  not  his  corporeality  but  his 


Fruits  of  Experience  1013 

spiritual  individuality — his  Christ  mentality.  This 
clarion  call  of  our  beloved  Leader  found  quick  re- 
sponse in  me,  and  my  students  who  had  understood 
my  teachings,  and  the  "foe"  to  higher  exaltation  above 
the  fleshly  mind  was  again  foiled.  With  faithful 
faith  we  have  followed  our  Leader  through  her  final 
demonstration  up  to  the  present  hour,  and  shall  con- 
tinue to  rise  and  fulfil  Christ's  command,  "Occupy 
till  I  come."  Thus  I  was  delivered  from  all  who  were 
not  ready  to  build  on  a  wholly  spiritual  consciousness. 

Oh!  the  wisdom  and  love  of  our  Christly  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Oh!  the  irresistible  spiritual 
power  that  Love  is  reflecting  to  the  world  through  her 
in  this  age,  as  she  draws  all  who  have  "oil  in  their 
lamps"  into  the  immortal  atmosphere  of  God  and 
His  Christ.  She  lives,  and  is  in  our  midst.  She  was, 
and  is  immortal  consciousness,  never  in  nor  of  matter. 
The  same  Christ-mind  that  has  led  the  world  outward, 
upward,  onward  in  the  line  of  progress,  manifested 
first  by  Jesus  the  Christ,  and  in  this  generation  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  is  leading  and  will  continue  to 
lead,  to  guide,  direct,  and  govern  all  who  respond  to 
Spirit,  Truth,  and  Love. 

The  "gentle  presence"  (Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  389)  of  our  Leader  was  never  more  apparent  than 
now,  in  its  holy  influence  on  the  hearts  of  those  who 
have  followed  her  in  her  demonstration  up  to  this 
hour.  They  will  continue  to  spiritualize  thought,  until 
there  is  no  human  concept  to  conceal  the  visible  mani- 
festation of  our  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  com- 
pound idea,  who  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  our  forever 
Leader  to  eternal  consciousness. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


1014  Fruits  of  Experience 

INTERVIEWS  AND  ANSWERS 

Ques.  The  Boston  papers  state  that  the  Directors 
of  The  Mother  Church  propose  to  erect  a  large 
stone  monument  over  the  grave  where  they  have 
laid  the  body  of  their  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Is  this  action  in  accordance  with  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings? 

Ans.  No,  it  is  in  direct  contradiction  of  the 
teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Ques.  What  were  Mrs.  Eddy's  views  in  regard  to 
death? 

Ans.  She  instructed  her  followers  to  overcome  the 
belief  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  She  continues  in 
her  text-book,  Science  and  Health,  and  in  her  other 
writings,  to  teach  that  there  is  no  death,  that  all  is 
Mind,  there  is  no  matter.  She  teaches  that  there 
is  no  life  in  matter,  no  truth  in  it,  no  intelligence  in  it, 
and  no  substance  in  mortal  thought,  so-called,  nor 
in  its  manifestation,  mortal  man  and  the  material 
universe.  She  says  in  Unity  of  Good,  page  38,  "It 
is  unchristian  to  believe  in  the  transition  called  material 
death,  since  matter  has  no  life."  Also  that  "Death 
is  a  contradiction  of  Life,  or  God;  therefore  it  is  not 
in  accordance  with  His  law."  Again  she  says,  "  Death, 
then,  is  error,  opposed  to  Truth, — even  the  unreality 
of  mortal  mind,  not  the  reality  of  that  Mind  which 
is  Life."  Therefore  Christian  Scientists  do  not  seek 
the  living  among  the  dead.  Truth  and  Love  speak 
as  of  yore,  "He  is  not  here:  for  he  is  risen." 

Ques.  The  Directors  state  that  they  will  erect  a 
monument  to  endure  for  centuries.  Are  they  not  in 
this  act  surrendering  the  Principle  of  Christian  Science  ? 

Ans.  Yes,  this  action  would  imply  that  they  have 
returned  to  their  former  beliefs  of  life  and  substance 


Fruits  of  Experience  1015 

in  matter,  which  will  perpetuate,  for  them,  and  for  all 
who  admit  that  mortality  is  real,  the  false  claim  of 
sin,  sickness,  and  death.  But  I  have  not  seen  this 
statement,  and  I  cannot  believe  that  it  is  true.  Even 
the  progressive  Christian  to-day  will  not  admit  that 
a  friend  has  died.  Longfellow  wrote,  "There  is  no 
Death!  What  seems  so  is  transition;"  and  few  would 
be  willing  to  agree  that  the  belief  in  death  and  ceme- 
teries would  continue  "for  centuries."  All  Christians 
are  looking  for  a  cessation,  through  Christ,  Truth, 
of  the  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir,  and  for  the  passing 
away  of  the  former  things  (thoughts)  which  produced 
them.  The  divine  metaphysician  or  true  Christian 
Scientist  comprehends  (through  spiritual  sense)  the 
words  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  "The  foam  and  fury  of  illegiti- 
mate living  and  of  fearful  and  doleful  dying  should 
disappear  on  the  shore  of  time;  then  the  waves  of  sin, 
sorrow,  and  death  beat  in  vain "  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  203).  Spiritualization  of  thought  will  finally  destroy 
the  false  mentality,  or  the  carnal  thought  which  ex- 
presses itself  in  death. 

Ques.     But  has  not  Mrs.  Eddy  died? 

Ans.  No.  She  is  making  her  final  demonstration 
over  the  forces  of  universal  evil,  the  sin  of  belief  of 
life  in  matter,  which  causes  the  appearance  of  death. 
Just  as  Jesus  met  this  claim  in  the  mental,  and  appeared 
to  his  disciples,  so  will  Mary  Baker  Eddy  destroy  the 
"last  enemy,"  death,  and  reappear  in  justification  of 
her  teaching  that  there  is  no  death. 

Ques.  It  would  be  rather  embarrassing,  Mrs. 
Stetson,  should  Mrs.  Eddy  become  visible  to  her 
people  and  find  some  of  them  locating  her  in  a  cemetery, 
and  erecting  a  monument,  thus  drawing  the  attention 
of  the  world  to  her  as  having  died. 


1016  Fruits  of  Experience 

Ans.  I  trust  she  will  find  some  of  her  students 
watching  with  oil  in  their  lamps  ready  for  the  mid- 
night call.  Upon  Jesus'  return,  in  his  walk  to  Emmaus, 
he  found  his  students  discussing  his  death.  They 
believed  he  had  died.  Had  they  attained  to  spiritual 
apprehension  of  his  teachings,  they  would  have  under- 
stood that  he  was  making  a  final  demonstration  over 
the  powers  of  universal  evil.  "Let  men  think  they 
had  killed  the  body!"  says  our  Leader,  "Afterwards 
he  would  show  it  to  them  unchanged"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  42).  This  he  did,  and  his  followers  must 
accept  his  teaching,  follow  his  example,  and  finally 
make  the  demonstration  of  eternal  Life.  Mary  Baker 
Eddy  caught  the  lost  chord  of  Christ,  swept  her  hand 
over  human  heart-strings,  and  has  attuned  to  the 
anthem  of  eternal  Life,  all  who  are  ready  to  accept, 
and  who  endeavor  to  demonstrate  her  teachings. 

Ques.  Christian  Scientists  seem  to  differ  widely  in 
their  opinion  regarding  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings. 

Ans.  Christian  Scientists  all  agree  in  regard  to 
the  teachings  of  Mrs.  Eddy.  A  mathematician  ob- 
serves the  principle  of  mathematics.  He  does  not 
entertain  an  opinion  regarding  it.  Divine  metaphy- 
sics admits  of  no  opinion.  Students  of  the  Science  of 
Mind, 

Adhere  to  the  divine  Principle  of  Christian  Science  and  fol- 
low the  behests  of  God,  abiding  steadfastly  in  wisdom, 
Truth,  and  Love.  .  .  .  You  will  learn  that  in  Christian 
Science  the  first  duty  is  to  obey  God,  to  have  one  Mind,  and 
to  love  another  as  yourself.  .  .  . 

Hold  perpetually  this  thought, — that  it  is  the  spiritual 
idea,  the  Holy  Ghost  and  Christ,  which  enables  you  to 
demonstrate,  with  scientific  certainty,  the  rule  of  healing, 
based  upon  its  divine  Principle,  Love,  underlying,  overly- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1017 

ing,  and  encompassing  all  true  being  (Science  and  Health, 
PP-  495.  496). 


They  who  follow  these  rules  are  Christian  Scientists. 

Ques. — You  say  that  all  is  Mind,  that  there  is  but 
one  Mind,  and  that  this  Mind  is  God.  How  do  you 
account  for  the  discord,  sin,  and  death  which  are 
apparent  to  all? 

Ans.  You  will  agree  with  me  that  God  is  not  the 
author  of  the  discord  and  death  which  you  say  are 
apparent.  If  God  is  the  great  and  only  cause  and  is 
eternal  Life,  from  whence  come  discord  and  death? 
Christian  Scientists  will  admit  but  one  power,  divine 
Life,  which  is  their  source  of  life,  intelligence,  and  being, 
but  there  is  a  claim  to  another  mind  which  "deceiveth 
the  whole  world."  It  is  the  opposite  of  Truth.  Jesus 
called  it  a  lie.  It  claims  to  be  a  creator  and  opposes 
itself  to  Truth.  This  false  mentality  must  be  destroyed 
by  Christ,  Truth,  and  all  its  claims  of  life  and  intelli- 
gence in  matter  must  be  repudiated.  The  discord 
and  death  which  you  say  are  so  apparent,  proceed 
from  the  materially  minded  who  objectify  their 
thought.  Things  are  thoughts  externalized.  Mortal 
thought  expresses  itself  in  mortality,  sin,  sickness,  and 
death.     Spiritual  thinking  will  change  the  universe. 

Notwithstanding  the  teaching  and  demonstration 
of  Jesus  the  Christ  in  his  victory  over  mortal  thought 
and  its  manifestation,  humanity  has  continued  to 
remain  in  the  Adam -dream,  the  belief  of  life  in  matter. 
Mortal  mind,  so-called,  has  evolved  and  perpetuated 
its  own  sad  phenomena  until,  in  this  hour,  it  has 
objectified  itself  in  concrete,  steel,  iron,  and  sod,  and 
holds  its  illusions,  or  beliefs,  in  suppositional  graves. 
This  carnal,  so-called  mind  will  evolve  and  externalize 


1018  Fruits  of  Experience 

its  sick,  sinful,  and  dying  bodies,  its  funerals  and  tombs, 
cemeteries  and  monuments,  until  the  hypnotism  and 
mesmerism  of  the  mind  of  the  flesh  is  broken,  through 
the  mighty  power  of  the  Mind  of  Christ.  Divine 
Love  will  dissolve  concrete,  steel,  iron,  and  sod  as  the 
sun  disperses  the  mist,  and  will  reveal  man  perfect 
and  immortal  as  his  creator,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love. 

Again  we  repeat  Mrs.  Eddy's  words  in  Unity  of 
Good,  pages  41  and  42,  "to  know  death,  or  to  believe 
in  it,  involves  a  temporary  loss  of  God,  the  infinite 
and  only  Life."     Also, 

In  Christian  Science  there  is  no  matter;  hence  matter 
neither  lives  nor  dies.  .  .   . 

What  then  are  matter,  sin,  and  death?  They  can  be 
nothing  except  the  results  of  material  consciousness ;  but 
material  consciousness  can  have  no  real  existence,  because 
it  is  not  a  living — that  is  to  say,  a  divine  and  intelligent — 

reality. 

■ 

Jesus  taught  this,  and  said,  "Heaven  and  earth 
shall  pass  away,  but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away." 
Mrs.  Eddy's  words  ring  through  human  conscious- 
ness to-day  with  the  mighty  power  of  Truth: 

Man  is  immortal,  and  the  body  cannot  die,  because  matter 
has  no  life  to  surrender  (Science  and  Health,  p.  426). 

The  great  spiritual  fact  must  be  brought  out  that  man 
is,  not  shall  be,  perfect  and  immortal.  .  .  .  The  evidence 
of  man's  immortality  will  become  more  apparent,  as  ma- 
terial beliefs  are  given  up  and  the  immortal  facts  of  being 
are  admitted  (Science  and  Health,  p.  428). 

Ques.  If  this  religion  is  a  process  of  thinking,  I  can 
see  that  the  difference  between  Christian  Scientists 


Fruits  of  Experience  1019 

and  Christian  Scientists  resolves  itself  into  mortal 
thinking  and  immortal  thinking — those  who  are  objecti- 
fying mortal  thought,  and  its  phenomena,  sickness,  and 
death,  and  those,  who  from  the  opposite  standpoint 
of  immortality,  are  evolving  the  results  of  immortal 
thinking.  I  think  the  world  would  prefer  to  unite 
with  the  immortals. 

Ans.  Yes,  the  world  is  aroused  to  choose  between 
the  Christ-mind  and  the  so-called  carnal  mind.  Hu- 
manity desires  the  reward  of  spiritual  thinking  but 
is  not  always  ready  to  make  the  sacrifice  to  attain 
it.  Only  the  bravely  brave,  the  dauntless  Christian, 
will  work  to  overcome  material  self  and  the  carnal 
thoughts  which  compose  material  mentality.  Heaven 
is  a  condition  of  mind,  the  heritage  of  the  spiritually 
minded.  Envy,  jealousy,  fear,  avarice,  greed,  malice, 
revenge,  lust,  hypocrisy,  etc.,  result  in  a  condition 
termed  hell.  A  wide  mental  gulf  separates  these  two 
conditions  of  mind. 

Ques.  From  what  you  say  in  regard  to  the  teachings 
of  Mrs.  Eddy,  I  cannot  see  that  the  action  of  the 
Directors  in  erecting  a  monument  to  be  placed  over 
a  grave  in  which  Mrs.  Eddy  is  supposed  by  some  to 
lie,  can  be  reconciled  in  any  way  with  her  teachings. 
In  this  act  they  again  publicly  acknowledge  that  they 
are  mortal  and  that  Mrs.  Eddy  is  dead.  You  declare 
that  you  are  immortal  and  that  Mrs.  Eddy  lives* 
You  have  also  stated  publicly  that  you  expect  Mrs. 
Eddy  to  reappear.  Here  are  two  views  of  Christian 
Science  diametrically  opposed  to  each  other. 

Ans.  Yes,  they  are  diametrically  opposed,  but 
I  shall  continue  to  proclaim  my  convictions,  based 
upon  my  spiritual  understanding  and  demonstration 
of  Christian  Science  as  taught  me  by  Mrs.   Eddy. 


1020  Fruits  of  Experience 

I  am  continually  spiritualizing  my  thought  by  over- 
coming the  mind  of  the  flesh,  and  by  assimilating  my- 
self to  God.  This  I  shall  continue  to  do  until  I  fulfil 
His  law  of  perfect  love.  The  "stones  would  immedi- 
ately cry  out"  if  I  did  not  aver  that  I  am  immortal, 
that  Mrs.  Eddy  lives,  that  she  is  a  mental  being,  spirit- 
ual and  not  material,  and  that  consciousness  cannot  be 
buried  under  concrete  nor  steel  (material  thought).  If 
I  am  a  Christian  Scientist,  and  I  am,  if  I  obey  the  in- 
structions of  Jesus  the  Christ  and  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
in  her  writings,  which  I  do,  so  far  as  I  spiritually 
understand  them,  I  am  confident  that  when  she  has 
made  her  demonstration  and  reappears,  my  thought, 
and  the  thoughts  of  her  faithful  students,  will  be 
sufficiently  spiritualized  to  behold  her,  and  witness 
her  proof  of  her  teachings. 

Ques.  Would  not  this  action  of  building  for  Mrs. 
Eddy  a  monument  indicate  that  the  Directors  do  not 
expect  Mrs.  Eddy  to  confirm  her  own  teaching?  Does 
it  not  also  hold  the  attention  of  the  world  to  the 
cemetery  and  the  grave,  and  thereby  perpetuate  the 
thought  of  disease  and  death?  As  it  appears  to  me, 
if  one  accepts  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science  as 
taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  the  conduct  of  the  Directors 
denotes  a  lack  of  understanding  of  what  they  profess. 

Ans.  It  certainly  betrays  a  lamentable  lack  of 
Christian  Science,  and  a  reversal  of  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teachings  that  "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite 
manifestation,  for  God  is  All-in-all.  Spirit  is  immortal 
Truth;  matter  is  mortal  error.  Spirit  is  the  real  and 
eternal;  matter  is  the  unreal  and  temporal.  Spirit 
is  God,  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness.  Therefore 
man  is  not  material;  he  is  spiritual"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  468). 


Fruits  of  Experience  102 1 

Ques.  It  might  be  questioned  whether  the  act  of 
the  Directors  is  not  an  evidence  of  a  loving  remem- 
brance of  the  Leader,  but  it  occurs  to  me  just  here, 
that  many  resist  the  burial  of  their  relatives  and  friends 
and  accept  cremation.  Surely  this  does  not  imply  that 
those  who  adopt  this  method  of  burial  lack  love,  nor 
that  they  put  out  of  mind  their  loved  ones.  It  is 
the  mind,  the  character,  their  divine  reality  which  con- 
tinues to  live,  move,  and  have  its  being  in  the  creative 
Principle,  eternal  Life.  With  this  spiritual  idea,  they 
anticipate  a  reunion.  I,  myself,  would  not  want  to  be 
thought  of  as  in  a  cemetery.  I  should  prefer  a  statue 
in  some  public  thoroughfare  where  the  people  would  be 
constantly  reminded  of  any  good  deed  that  I  had  ever 
done.  In  that  way  I  should  continue  to  live  among  the 
people.  But  a  cemetery  or  a  monument  seems  to  me 
repellent.  The  Mother  Church  in  Boston,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy's  Church,  stands  as  a  colossal  reminder 
of  her  life  and  labor  of  love  for  humanity. 

The  magnificent  granite  church  edifice  at  the  corner 
of  Central  Park  West  and  96th  Street,  which  you,  and 
your  students  and  church  members,  erected  as  a  tribute 
of  love  and  gratitude  to  your  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
reminds  the  thousands  who  pass  it  daily  that  the 
religion  which  Mrs.  Eddy  founded  is  a  demonstrated 
and  established  fact  in  this  great  metropolis. 

Ans.  But  you  must  not  think  of  Mrs.  Eddy  as 
having  died.  She  is  mentally  active  in  our  midst, 
solving  the  problem  of  scientific  being,  rising  to  spiritual 
dominion  over  the  illusion  of  mortality.  Her  students 
are  arising  and  calling  her  blessed.  They  are  defend- 
ing and  demonstrating  her  teachings.  Her  Church  is 
built  upon  the  rock,  Christ,  and  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall 
not  prevail  against  it."     Jesus  was  crucified   for  his 


1022  Fruits  of  Experience 

efforts  to  awaken  the  world  from  its  belief  in  sin, 
sickness,  and  death.  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  her  endeavors 
to  arouse  humanity  to  awake  and  come  forth  from  the 
bondage  of  belief  in  death,  has  antagonized  the  carnal 
mind.  It  was  a  mental  battle  that  Jesus  waged  and 
in  which  he  has  triumphed.  It  has  been  the  mental 
battle  between  hate  and  love,  evil  and  good,  death  and 
life,  the  carnally  minded  and  the  spiritually  minded 
which  Mrs.  Eddy  has  encountered.  "Troublesome 
Truth"  has  the  field  and  will  uncover  and  overturn 
all  that  opposes  eternal  Life.  The  spiritual  man  and 
the  spiritual  universe  will  be  revealed  as  the  only  man 
and  the  only  universe  forever  reflecting  infinite,  creative, 
eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 



WHAT  IS  M.  A.  M.? 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  20,  191 1. 
Dear  Mr.  R  .  .  .  : — 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  May  15th,  which 
begins  as  follows:  "What  is  m.  a.  m.  which  Mrs.  Eddy 
so  frequently  -  mentions  in  her  writings?  What  is 
mental  malpractice?  The  religious  controversy  be- 
tween the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  and  your- 
self seems  to  be  upon  the  question  of  false  teaching 
and  erroneous  practice.  Will  you  kindly  enlighten 
me,  that  I  may  intelligently  discuss  the  subject  upper- 
most in  the  minds  of  the  people  to-day?  " 

It  were  wise  if  others  would  investigate  the  meaning 
of  the  term  malicious  animal  magnetism,  or  M.  A.  M., 
before  betraying  an  ignorance  of  Christian  Science  so 
evident  to  all  who  are  divine  metaphysicians,  or 
Christian  Scientists.  We  are  frequently  reminded 
that   "A  little   learning   is   a   dangerous   thing."     A 


Fruits  of  Experience  1023 

little  knowledge  of  the  letter  of  Christian  Science  is 
indeed  a  dangerous  thing.  Paul  declares,  "The  letter 
killeth,  but  the  spirit  giveth  life"     (2  Cor.  iii.,  6). 

To  your  first  question,  "What  is  m.  a.  m.?"  I 
reply :  It  is  the  term  used  in  Christian  Science  to  define 
the  claim  called  mortal  or  carnal  mind.  The  great 
master  Metaphysician,  Jesus  the  Christ,  detected, 
denounced  and  destroyed  this  claim  for  himself,  and 
left  his  method  of  healing  sin  and  sickness  to  his  fol- 
lowers. This  claim  is  a  belief  of  life  and  intelligence 
in  matter — the  opposite  of  the  Christ-mind,  or  man's 
spiritual  consciousness.  The  qualities  of  this  so- 
called  mind  are  envy,  jealousy,  malice,  avarice,  greed, 
lust,  hatred,  revenge,  hypocrisy,  etc. — the  animal 
instincts  of  the  mortal,  material  mentality.  These 
are  the  words  which  Jesus  used  in  his  denunciation  of 
m.  A.  M.,  or  malicious  animal  magnetism,  when  personi- 
fied in  physical  personalities. 

Ye  are  of  your  father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your 
father  ye  will  do.  He  was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning, 
and  abode  not  in  the  truth,  because  there  is  no  truth  in  him. 
When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh  of  his  own :  for  he  is  a 
liar,  and  the  father  of  it  (John  viii.,  44). 

Jesus  discerned  the  difference  between  man's  true 
spiritual  selfhood — the  Christ-mind,  the  truth  of  being, 
and  mortal  mind — the  lie  or  m.  a.  M.,  the  animal 
(material)  propensities  which  compose  the  belief  in 
a  mind  opposed  to  God.  The  direct  antithesis  of  this 
was  his  approval  of  his  disciples  who  personified  good. 

Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  that  is  set  on  an 
hill  cannot  be  hid.  .  .  .  Let  your  light  [spiritual  thought] 
so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works, 


1024  Fruits  of  Experience 

and  glorify  your    Father  which  is  in  heaven  (Matt,  v., 
14,  16). 

Again  Jesus  showed  that  some  physical  personalities 
manifest  good,  while  others  express  evil.  One  person 
is  at  times  governed  by  the  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind, 
while  at  another  time  he  is  controlled  by  the  Christ- 
mind.  "Out  of  the  same  mouth  proceedeth  blessing 
and  cursing.  My  brethren,  these  things  ought  not  so 
to  be"  (James  iii.,  10). 

The  Christian  Scientist,  governed  by  Life,  Truth, 
and  Love,  admitting  no  presence  and  no  power  but 
good,  sends  forth  only  blessings  to  mankind — the 
Christ  thoughts  which  annul  the  influence  of  evil 
thoughts,  or  M.  A.  m.  Those  who  were  governed  by 
divine  Truth  and  Love,  Jesus  called  brethren.  He 
did  not  recognize  as  his  mother  or  his  brethren  only 
those  who  were  such  by  the  material  law  of  consanguin- 
ity, but  he  avowed  and  acknowledged  as  true  brethren 
all  who  obeyed  the  Word  of  God  as  taught  by  him. 

Then  one  said  unto  him,  Behold,  thy  mother  and  thy 
brethren  stand  without,  desiring  to  speak  with  thee. 

But  he  answered  and  said  unto  him  that  told  him,  Who 
is  my  mother?  and  who  are  my  brethren? 

And  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  toward  his  disciples, 
and  said,  Behold  my  mother  and  my  brethren ! 

For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother 
(Matt,  xii.,  47-50). 

It  is  a  matter  of  serious  import  to  humanity  to-day, 
whether  the  world  will  awake  from  the  deception  of 
the  lie,  M.  A.  M.,  and  the  liar — those  who  are  governed 
by  the  so-called  carnal  mind  with  its  ignorant,  inno- 
cent, and  malicious  influences,  or  whether  it  will  con- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1025 

tinue  under  the  influence  of  a  false  mentality,  which 
is  more  pernicious,  destructive,  and  deadly  in  its  effects 
on  the  human  mind  and  body,  than  the  poison  which 
the  upas  tree  exhales;  whether  mankind  will  arise  and 
shake  off  the  incubus,  the  deep  sleep  or  mesmerism 
of  the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  the  Adam-dream,  which 
is  the  cause  of  all  the  suffering  and  death  that  make 
up  the  experience  of  mortals,  or  whether  they  will 
continue  to  sin,  suffer,  and  die  here  and  hereafter, 
until  through  suffering  they  awake  to  the  truth  of  being, 
that  God — Life,  Love,  Truth, — is  the  only  Mind,  and 
that  man  is  spiritual,  mental,  a  reflector  of  his  creator. 

One  would  infer  from  the  great  "mystery"  with  which 
the  materialist  enshrouds  the  term  M.  A.  M.,  that  the 
evil  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind  never  before  existed,  and 
that  they  have  never  been  exercised  during  the  centuries 
since  Jesus  uncovered  M.  A.  M.  (evil  thoughts).  John 
perceived  Jesus'  mission,  and  said  of  him:  "For  this 
purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested,  that  he  might 
destroy  the  works  of  the  devil"  (1  John  iii.,  8), — 
animal  magnetism,  hypnotism,  mesmerism,  lust, 
malice,  jealousy,  greed,  avarice,  self-love,  self-will, 
self-righteousness,  envy,  and  hypocrisy,  the  beast  and 
the  false  prophets,  all  that  go  to  make  up  evil,  the  lie 
that  has  deceived  the  whole  world  with  the  belief  that 
man  is  material,  and  that  there  is  life,  intelligence,  and 
substance  in  matter. 

The  potency  of  Jesus'  spiritual,  scientific  thought 
stirred  the  "talking,  lying  serpent"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  529),  the  carnal  mind  and  its  personification, 
to  exclaim,  "Let  us  a* one;  what  have  we  to  do  with 
thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazareth?  art  thou  come  to  destroy 
us?  I  know  thee  who  thou  art;  the  Holy  One  of 
God"  (Luke  i v.,  34). 

65 


1026  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  Scriptures  chronicle  a  "war  in  heaven"  (con- 
sciousness). 

Michael  and  his  angels  fought  against  the  dragon;  and 
the  dragon  fought  and  his  angels,  and  prevailed  not; 
neither  was  their  place  found  any  more  in  heaven  (Rev. 
xii.,  7,  8). 

This  is  prophetic  of  the  present  hour,  when  Christ 
(Truth)  in  human  consciousness  is  asserting  the  supre- 
macy of  divine  Mind  over  the  animal  instincts  of  the 
human,  so-called  mind,  which  would  impel  mortals 
"to  devour  each  other  and  cast  out  devils  through 
Beelzebub"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  564). 

In  Jesus'  day,  as  in  ours,  there  was  mental  practice 
on  a  material  basis,  the  exercise  of  human  will,  or 
casting  out  of  disease  through  human  energy  or  will 
power.  This  was  the  opposite  of  Jesus'  mental  influ- 
ence over  sin,  disease,  and  death.  Christian  Science 
teaches  the  power  of  the  Christ,  or  the  reflection  of 
eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth  through  man,  whenever 
man  is  governed  by  God.  Jesus  said,  "  No  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father,  but  by  me,"  that  is,  through  his 
spiritual  reflection  of  Life,  Love,  Truth,  his  Christ- 
mind,  which  made  him  a  spiritual  guide  to  eternal 
Life. 

Because  he  reflected  and  demonstrated  more  of  the 
Principle  of  being,  God,  than  any  other,  he  antagonized 
the  materialists,  and  they  cried,  "Crucify  him,  crucify 
him!"  Notwithstanding  the  malice  of  the  infuriated 
mob,  aroused  to  kill  the  man  who  claimed  his  divine 
birthright — immortality — and  his  oneness  with  God, 
Jesus  triumphed  over  the  "last  enemy,"  death,  and 
left  his  method  of  destroying  M.  A.  M., — the  carnal 
mind,   through  the  power  of  Truth,   as  a  legacy  of 


Fruits  of  Experience  1027 

inestimable  value  to  humanity.  Despite  the  proof 
which  he  gave  to  the  world  of  the  powerlessness  of 
death  to  overcome  life,  mankind  lost  the  keynote  of 
Truth  and  for  ages  has  been  governed  by  error,  M.  A.  M. 
For  generations  humanity  has  played  time's  music 
on  minor  key.  The  "harp  of  a  thousand  strings"  has 
sounded  forth  the  dirge  and  the  wail  of  sin,  sorrow, 
and  death,  until,  weary  of  the  doleful  refrain,  many 
are  arising  and  refusing  to  sing  "the  Lord's  song  in  a 
strange  land."  They  are  heavenly  homesick,  and  are 
awaking  and  uniting  their  voices  with  those  who  are 
chanting  the  great  anthem  of  immortality,  eternal 
Life. 

Jesus  said,  "Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but 
my  words  shall  not  pass  away,"  and  they  have  not. 
They  have  rung  down  the  centuries,  until  in  the 
fulness  of  time,  a  woman  arose  to  the  spiritual  appre- 
hension of  Jesus'  teachings  of  Truth,  and  his  demon- 
stration over  the  false  thoughts  of  the  carnal  mind. 
She  searched  the  Scriptures  to  find  the  spiritual  facts 
of  being,  the  scientific  rule  by  which  Jesus  healed 
the  sick  and  raised  the  dead.  Grasping  Truth,  and 
apprehending  the  power  of  creative  Mind,  Spirit, 
God,  she  began  the  destruction  of  sin's  citadel,  the 
belief  of  a  mind  which  Jesus  called  "a  lie,"  and  which 
opposes  itself  to  the  Mind  which  is  eternal  Truth. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy,  our  revered  Leader,  the  Dis- 
coverer and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  hesitated 
not  to  attack  sin's  strongholds — hypnotism,  mesmerism, 
occultism,  witchcraft,  etc.,  all  that  worketh  and  maketh 
a  lie.  She,  like  her  Master,  the  first  demonstrator  of 
the  Science  of  being,  came  "not  to  send  peace,"  in 
sin,  but  to  wield  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  word  of  God, 
which  destroys  sin  and  its  results,  suffering  and  death. 


1028  Fruits  of  Experience 

In  following  Jesus  the  Christ  in  the  reflection  of 
eternal  Life  and  Love,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  highest 
demonstrator  of  Truth  to  this  age,  has  met  the  same 
bitter  opposition  of  the  carnal  mind.  As  Jesus  proved 
the  Principle  of  being,  and  won  his  freedom  from  the 
bondage  of  sin,  disease,  and  death,  so  will  our  beloved 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  reappear,  radiant,  glorified, 
as  a  demonstrator  of  the  light  that  "  shineth  in  darkness ; 
and  the  darkness  comprehended  it  not" — a  manifesta- 
tion of  spiritual,  ideal  womanhood  in  God's  image, 
representing  the  motherhood  of  eternal  Life  and  Love. 

I  trust  that  this  explanation  of  the  two  mentalities — 
the  Christ-mind,  the  Truth,  and  the  so-called  carnal 
mind  or  M.  A.  m., — will  give  you  an  understanding  of 
what,  in  Christian  Science,  we  term  malicious  animal 
magnetism.  Read  Science  and  Health  and  Mrs.  Eddy's 
other  writings,  and  learn  what  she  says  on  this  subject. 

Your  next  question,  "What  is  mental  malpractice?" 
gives  me  much  satisfaction.  It  indicates  a  desire  to 
know  what  progress  is  unfolding  in  the  mental  realm. 
Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "progress  is  the  law  of  God"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  233).  This  law  of  spiritual  thought- 
force  is  divine  Mind,  intelligence,  wisdom,  Life,  Truth, 
Love.     Let  me  quote  her  words  regarding  malpractice : 

Mental  malpractice  is  a  bland  denial  of  Truth,  and  is  the 
antipode  of  Christian  Science.  To  mentally  argue  in  a 
manner  that  can  disastrously  affect  the  happiness  of  a 
fellow-being — harm  him  morally,  physically,  or  spiritually 
■ — breaks  the  Golden  Rule  and  subverts  the  scientific  laws 
of  being.  This,  therefore,  is  not  the  use  but  the  abuse  of 
mental  treatment,  and  is  mental  malpractice  {Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  31). 

Christian  Scientists  call  mental  malpractice  the  ac- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1029 

tion  of  the  carnal  mind.  They  understand  that  evil 
thoughts  must  be  met  and  nullified  by  the  reflection 
of  the  Mind  of  Christ.  Christian  Scientists  admit 
but  one  Mind  as  real.  They  strive  to  possess  this 
Mind  and  the  qualities  of  God,  that  they  may  defend 
themselves  against  their  own  undestroyed  human 
beliefs,  and  the  mental  malpractice  of  the  evil  thinkers, 
that  have  always  been,  either  innocently,  ignorantly, 
or  maliciously  exercised  throughout  the  ages.  "No 
person  can  misuse  this  mental  power,  if  he  is  taught  of 
God  to  discern  it"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  455). 
"Mind,  imbued  with  this  Science  of  healing,  is  a  law 
unto  itself,  needing  neither  license  nor  prohibition" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  260). 

"  The  flesh  [mortal  thought]  lusteth  [warreth]  against 
the  Spirit,  and  the  Spirit  against  the  flesh:  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other"  (Gal.  v., 
17).  A  true  Christian  Scientist  admitting  but  one 
Mind,  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  knowing  that 
mortal  thought,  with  its  belief  of  life  and  intelligence 
in  matter  is  evil,  and  that  he  must  make  all  evil  unreal 
through  the  exercise  of  the  Christ-mind,  can  never 
"mentally  argue  in  a  manner  that  can  disastrously 
affect  the  happiness  of  a  fellow-being."  The  reflection 
of  Truth  and  Love  can  never  harm  any  one  morally, 
physically  or  spiritually,  but  blesses  every  one  upon 
whom  this  spiritual  thought-force  rests. 

This  was  Jesus'  method  of  casting  out  evil  thoughts, 
and  their  manifestation,  sin,  disease,  and  death.  He 
exercised  his  prerogative,  fulfilled  his  mission  as  a 
Son  of  God,  and  left  this  promise  to  his  followers: 
"He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall 
he  do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he 
do;  because  I  go  unto  my  Father"  (John  xiv.,  12). 


1030  Fruits  of  Experience 

Until  progress  and  the  understanding  of  the  law  of 
God  revealed  Mind  as  the  seat  of  all  action,  and 
thought  as  force,  and  until  spiritualization  of  thought 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  people  to  detect  the  difference 
between  the  spiritual  thought  and  the  carnal,  humanity 
was  at  the  mercy  of  the  evil  thinker  and  doer — helpless, 
without  mental  defense,  against  the  modern  methods  of 
aggressive  mental  suggestion,  and  the  belief  of  thought 
transference  of  mortal  mind. 

An  understanding  of  the  power  of  spiritual  thought- 
force,  the  Mind  of  Christ,  enables  the  Christian  Scien- 
tist, who  possesses  the  qualities  of  the  Christ-mind, 
to  defend  himself  against  the  mental  assassin,  the 
mental  robber  who  would  deprive  the  Christian  Scien- 
tist of  his  "inalienable  rights,  among  which  are  self- 
government,  reason,  and  conscience."  "We  have  no 
authority  in  Christian  Science  and  no  moral  right  to 
attempt  to  influence  the  thoughts  of  others,  except 
it  be  to  benefit  them"  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  106, 
447).  Spiritual  thoughts  reflecting  Life,  Truth,  and 
Love,  always  benefit  with  their  spiritual  influence,  by 
nullifying  the  claims  of  evil. 

A  true  Christian  Scientist  meets  mental  malpractice, 
innocent,  ignorant,  and  malicious,  with  the  Word  of 
God — the  affirmation  of  the  allness  and  omnipotence  of 
Truth  and  Love,  and  the  powerlessness  and  nothing- 
ness of  evil  thought.  Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "The  'still, 
small  voice'  of  scientific  thought  reaches  over  conti- 
nent and  ocean  to  the  globe's  remotest  bound" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  559).  The  Christian  Scientist 
never  admits  sin,  disease,  and  death  as  any  part  of 
God's  universe.  His  thoughts  reflect  Truth  and 
Love,  as  the  ray  reflects  the  sun.  Again  Mrs.  Eddy 
says: 


Fruits  of  Experience  1031 

The  real  Christian  Scientist  is  constantly  accentuating 
harmony  in  word  and  deed,  mentally  and  orally,  perpetually 
repeating  this  diapason  of  heaven:  "Good  is  my  God,  and 
my  God  is  good.  Love  is  my  God,  and  my  God  is  Love" 
(Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  206). 

It  must  be  apparent  to  all  who  are  striving  to  under- 
stand divine  metaphysics  that  "the  weapons  of  our 
warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God"  to 
defend  us  against  the  mental  malpractitioner,  who 
mentally  argues  and  influences  others  to  deprive  us  of 
our  possessions,  to  rob  us  of  our  influence  for  good,  to 
discredit  our  good  works,  to  tear  up  our  landmarks,  to 
manipulate  our  students,  and  to  confuse,  discourage, 
and  destroy  us.  Mrs.  Eddy  says  in  Miscellaneous 
Writings,  page  119: 

Would  you  consent  that  others  should  tear  up  your 
landmarks,  manipulate  your  students,  nullify  or  reverse 
your  rules,  countermand  your  orders,  steal  your  possessions, 
and  escape  the  penalty  therefore?  No!  "Therefore  all 
things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them. " 

Jesus  never  hesitated  to  speak  the  Word  of  God  to 
those  who  personified  evil.  He  rebuked  the  mental 
malpractitioner.  He  spoke  with  authority  to  personi- 
fied error.  He  spoke  to  impersonal  evil,  which  Peter 
personified,  these  words:  "Get  thee  behind  me, 
Satan:  thou  art  an  offence  unto  me:  for  thou  savour- 
est  not  the  things  that  be  of  God,  but  those  that  be 
of  men"  (mortals — Matt,  xvi.,  23). 

During  Jesus'  entire  earth  life  he  exercised  his 
spiritual  thought-force  or  Christ-mind,  the  mental 
Messiah,  to  destroy  evil  thoughts  expressing  themselves 
through  physical  personalities.     Thus  Christian  Scien- 


1032  Fruits  of  Experience 

tists  have  divine  authority  for  following  the  example 
of  Jesus  and  Mrs.  Eddy  in  rebuking  evil  through  whom- 
soever it  is  personified.  Evil  is  impersonal  as  a  claim, 
a  lie;  but  it  embodies  itself  in  finite  personalities 
who  bear  witness  to  a  claim  of  a  power  called  evil, 
which  is  opposed  to  good,  God.  Evil  would  have  no 
voice  if  persons  refused  to  witness  for  evil.  This 
false  mentality — evil  or  devil  which  ultimates  in  sin, 
sickness,  and  death — Jesus  met,  and  the  battle  between 
good  and  evil  was  continued,  until  he  destroyed  for 
himself  the  claim  of  evil  as  a  power,  and  left  his  method 
of  destroying  evil  thoughts  with  Truth,  for  humanity 
to  accept,  understand,  and  demonstrate. 

Jesus'  rebuke  and  opposition  to  evil  and  evil-doers 
gave  him  his  cross,  his  Gethsemane,  his  tomb,  and 
finally  his  crown  of  victory  over  the  "last  enemy," 
death.  Mrs.  Eddy  learned  from  communion  with 
God  how  Jesus  wrought  his  healing,  and  from  what 
source  he  derived  his  mental  ability  to  calm  the 
troubled  waters,  to  raise  the  dead,  and  to  speak  the 
Word  which  casts  out  devils  (evil  thoughts).  She 
says: 

i 
No  human  pen  nor  tongue  taught  me  the  Science  con- 
tained in  this  book,  Science  and  Health;  and  neither 
tongue  nor  pen  can  overthrow  it.  This  book  may  be  dis- 
torted by  shallow  criticism  or  by  careless  or  malicious 
students,  and  its  ideas  may  be  temporarily  abused  and 
misrepresented;  but  the  Science  and  truth  therein  will 
forever  remain  to  be  discerned  and  demonstrated  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  no). 

Mrs.  Eddy  discerned  the  power  of  spiritual  thought 
over  the  carnal,  evil  thought,  and,  like  her  Master,  she 
began  the  exercise  of  her  spiritual   prerogative,   the 


Fruits  of  Experience  1033 

right  to  speak  the  Word  of  God  to  personified  evil, 
casting  out  sin  and  disease,  and  destroying  the  evil 
thoughts  which  produced  discord  and  death.  With 
this  intent  came  the  battle  between  the  two  forces — 
good  and  evil  thoughts  and  thinkers,  the  warfare 
between  Truth  and  the  lie,  Spirit  and  flesh,  or  Mind 
and  matter.  She  saw  the  hosts  of  evil  arrayed  against 
her,  but  she  knew  that  her  mission  was  to  prove  the 
allness  of  good,  God,  and  the  nothingness  of  evil,  by 
crossing  mental  swords  with  the  false  claim  of  a  power 
opposed  to  God,  which  claims  to  be  equal,  if  not  superior 
to  God.     Let  me  quote  her  words: 

I  saw  before  me  the  awful  conflict,  the  Red  Sea  and  the 
wilderness ;  but  I  pressed  on  through  faith  in  God,  trusting 
Truth,  the  strong  deliverer,  to  guide  me  into  the  land  of 
Christian  Science,  where  fetters  fall  and  the  rights  of  man 
are  fully  known  and  acknowledged  (Science  and  Health, 
pp.  226,  227). 

Whoever  enlists  in  the  army  of  Christ  must  be 
willing  to  meet  the  demands  which  Truth  makes  upon 
Her  followers.  They  must  sooner  or  later  prove  that 
there  is  but  one  power  or  presence,  one  Mind,  one  God 
or  Father  who  is  All,  and  in  all  that  is  like  Him. 
The  mental  conflict  consists  in  mentally  and  audibly 
affirming  the  reality  and  presence  of  God,  the  eternal 
Mind,  and  man  as  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  who 
was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  will  be  immortal. 

Christian  Scientists  must  demonstrate  that  material 
mentality  is  a  false,  mental  concept,  a  myth,  a  shadow 
which  must  disappear  and  reveal  the  real  man.  These 
two  mental  forces,  good  and  evil,  Truth  and  error, 
must  be  seen  for  what  they  are,  and  for  what  they  are 
not.    Christian  Scientists  admit  only  good,  and  demon- 


1034  Fruits  of  Experience 

strate  it.  Spiritual  thought  finally  must  control  man 
to  prove  God's  omnipotence,  omniscience,  and  omni- 
presence. The  evil  thoughts  that  control  the  mortal, 
human  personalities,  must  be  eliminated  and  go  to 
their  native  nothingness. 

The  Christian  Scientist  who  dares  to  attack  sin  in 
its  fortress  and  attempts  to  dispossess  evil  of  its  imagi- 
nary power  will  meet  with  the  same  experience  which 
Jesus  and  Mrs.  Eddy  have  encountered  in  their  war- 
fare with  personified  evil.  But,  impelled  by  spiritual 
power,  the  dauntless  contestants  for  spiritual  individ- 
uality, heed  not  the  cry  of  the  defenders  of  mortality, 
"Crucify  him,  crucify  him."  They  know  in  whom 
they  trust,  and  they  are  confident  that  their  mental 
weapon,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word  of  God, 
will  win  for  them  a  final  victory  over  the  enemy — the 
belief  of  life  in  matter,  with  its  hate,  malice,  envy, 
jealousy,  revenge,  personal  pride,  greed,  avarice,  and 
hypocrisy,  etc.,  those  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind  that 
crucified  Jesus,  and  over  which  he  won  a  complete 
victory. 

When  will  humanity  awake  to  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being,  that  man  is  mental,  spiritual,  good,  and  not  a 
"miserable  sinner" — that  he  is  a  child  of  God,  to  whom 
God  gave  dominion  over  all  things?  Let  me  quote 
another  selection  from  Mrs.  Eddy's  writings  on  mental 
malpractice : 

Committing  the  bare  process  of  mental  healing  to  frail 
mortals,  untaught  and  unrestrained  by  Christian  Science, 
is  like  putting  a  sharp  knife  into  the  hands  of  a  blind  man  or 
a  raging  maniac,  and  turning  him  loose  in  the  crowded 
streets  of  a  city.  Whether  animated  by  malice  or  ignorance, 
a  false  practitioner  will  work  mischief,  and  ignorance  is  more 
harmful  than  wilful  wickedness,  when  the  latter  is  distrusted 


Fruits  of  Experience  1035 

and    thwarted    in  its    incipiency    (Science  and  Health,  p. 
459). 

Mrs.  Eddy's  wisdom  in  establishing  the  Science  of 
mental  healing  is  shown  in  this  quotation.  When  the 
leaven  of  Truth  enters  human  consciousness,  and 
begins  to  arouse  the  carnal  elements  in  mortal  mind,  a 
chemicalization  is  produced,  and  erring  mortal  thoughts 
are  stirred  to  the  surface.  As  the  Scientist  goes  on  to 
assimilate  Truth,  and  his  thoughts  become  more 
spiritual,  they  carry  with  them  more  of  the  healing 
power  of  the  Christ-mind.  Until  a  Christian  Scientist's 
thought  is  somewhat  spiritualized,  and  balances  on 
the  side  of  Truth  and  Love,  and  he  understands  and 
applies  the  Word  of  God,  the  Christ-thought,  to  the 
hypnotic,  mesmeric  forces  of  evil  thoughts,  personalized, 
he  is  apt  to  reflect  more  of  his  human,  undestroyed 
error,  than  of  his  spiritual  power,  and  often  influences 
erroneously. 

Mrs.  Eddy  entrusted  the  "deep  things  of  God" 
only  to  those  of  her  students  who  had  risen  to  spiritual 
apprehension  of  the  one  Mind,  and  who  had  assimi- 
lated Truth  and  Love  sufficiently,  and  were  consecrated 
Christian  Scientists,  devoting  their  entire  time  to  the 
demonstration  of  divine  metaphysics;  to  those  who 
came  out  from  the  material  world  and  were  separate; 
whose  thoughts  could  benefit  all  who  appealed  to  them 
for  moral  and  physical  help.  These  were  they  whose 
spiritual  understanding  and  demonstrations  aided  our 
beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  building  up  the  Cause  of 
Christian  Science  to  its  present  standard.  Again  we 
quote  our  Leader  on  the  subject  of  personal  teaching 
of  immediate  students : 

To  these  selected  ones  (like  "the  elect  lady"  to  whom  St. 


1036  Fruits  of  Experience 

John  addressed  one  of  his  epistles)  he  gave  personal  instruc- 
tion, and  gave  in  plain  words,' until  they  were  able  to  fulfil 
his  behest.  .  .  .  This  he  did,  even  though  one  of  the  twelve 
whom  he  kept  near  himself  betrayed  him,  and  others  for- 
sook him  {Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  90). 

The  invincible  soldiers  of  Truth  always  have  com- 
manded and  always  will  command  evil  ("the  enemy 
of  good")  to  retreat.  They  will  finally  drive  all  evil 
out  of  human  selfhood,  revealing  the  sinless  man  of 
God's  creating,  and  they  will  demonstrate  God's  om- 
nipresence, and  man's  dominion. 

The  ideal  man  is  appearing  clad  with  spiritual 
might,  with  which  God  endowed  him,  and  all  the  hosts 
of  suppositional  evil  cannot  prevent  the  fulfilment  of 
Jesus'  words: 

He  that  belie veth  on  me  [my  spiritual  individuality], 
the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also ;  and  greater  works  than 
these  shall  he  do  (John  xiv.,  12). 

This  prophesies  the  final  destruction  of  the  claim 
called  devil,  evil,  the  lie  and  the  liar,  which  for  ages 
has  deceived  mankind. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


The  Independent,  August  17,  191 1     i 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 

BY 
AUGUSTA  E.  STETSON,  C.S.D. 


[Mrs.  Stetson  has  been,  consecutively,  organizer,  pastor,  reader, 
and  spiritual  head  of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City,  since  1887.     She  was  recently  expelled  from  membership  in  The 


Fruits  of  Experience  1037 

Mother  Church,  in  Boston,  by  its  Board  of  Directors,  who  also  revoked 
her  license  to  teach  Christian  Science.  There  are  abundant  document- 
ary evidences,  however,  which  prove  that  Mrs.  Eddy  ever  held  Mrs. 
Stetson  in  the  highest  affectionate  esteem,  and  considered  her  a  most 
advanced  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science.  We  are  glad  to  print, 
therefore,  this  reply  to  Dr.  Chapin's  recent  and  valuable  article. — 
Editor.] 

I  have  just  read  an  article  in  The  Independent  of 
June  29,  entitled  "Christian  Science  and  the  Child," 
written  by  Henry  Dwight  Chapin,  M.D.,  which  he 
concludes  thus: 

It  is  time  for  plain  and  emphatic  words.  An  appeal 
should  be  made  not  only  to  the  intelligence,  but  to  the  public 
heart  and  conscience  by  those  who  can  speak  with  knowl- 
edge and  authority. 

I  accept  the  invitation,  and  appeal  "to  the  public 
heart  and  conscience,"  since  I  can  speak  with  "knowl- 
edge and  authority" — the  divine  authority  of  the  great 
master  Metaphysician,  Jesus  the  Christ,  who  healed 
all  manner  of  diseases  with  the  Word — the  power  of 
Truth,  the  Christ-mind — and  left  his  mental  method  of 
healing  sin  and  sickness  as  a  rich  legacy  to  his  followers. 
Jesus'  method  of  healing  by  mental  therapeutics  should 
appeal  to  the  heart  and  conscience  of  humanity  as 
it  did  to  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science  Mind- 
healing. 

Divine  metaphysics  or  the  potency  and  supremacy 
of  spiritual  thought  over  the  discords  and  diseases 
which  result  from  material  thought,  should  be  investi- 
gated, understood,  and  proved.  Having  witnessed  for 
centuries  the  failure  of  the  noblest  and  most  learned 
physicians  to  destroy  the  cause  of  disease,  and  thereby 
prevent  its  manifestation  on  the  human  body,  human- 


1038  Fruits  of  Experience 

ity's  cry  for  deliverance  from  sin,  sorrow,  suffering, 
and  death,  reached  the  great  heart  of  infinite  Love  and 
brought  the  healing  power  of  the  Mind  of  Christ. 

As  all  causation  is  Mind,  and  every  effect  a  mental 
phenomenon,  and  as  but  one  God  or  intelligence  is 
admitted  by  Christendom,  it  follows  that  man,  in  the 
image  and  likeness  of  God,  his  creator,  must  be  spiritual, 
and  the  old  theory  of  mind  and  matter,  or  man  as  both 
spiritual  and  material  cannot  be  entertained ;  therefore 
we  witness  the  passing  away  of  old  things  (material 
thoughts)  and  their  objectified  phenomena,  which  for 
ages  have  been  expressed  in  sin,  sorrow,  disease,  and 
death.  Spiritual  thought,  the  Christ  or  Truth,  objecti- 
fies, externalizes  its  phenomena — health,  holiness,  love, 
and  joy — and  the  power  of  the  Word  of  God,  through 
man,  thus  lessens  and  eventually  will  destroy  all  evil, 
disease,  and  death — the  wages  of  sin. 

The  sinner  and  the  sensualist  are  not  willing  to  pay 
the  price  which  Christ  demands  of  those  who  would 
heal  as  he  healed,  who  would  gain  the  dominion  which 
he  gained  over  all  sickness,  sin,  and  death.  Whoever  is 
willing  to  attempt  the  practice  of  Christian  Mind- 
healing  through  self-abnegation,  meekness,  purity, 
and  divine  love  for  God  and  man;  whoever  is  willing 
to  live  the  life  of  Christ  and  attain  spirituality  will 
finally  perform  the  healing  which  Jesus  promised  to 
those  who  would  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  him  in 
his  ministration  of  unselfed  love  for  suffering  humanity. 
The  reward  of  this  sacrifice  of  material  self  is  the  re- 
demption of  man's  birthright — dominion  over  all  the 
earth — and  the  consciousness  of  an  endless  life. 

Dr.  Chapin's  sympathy  for  children  is  most  com- 
mendable from  his  viewpoint  of  material  reasoning 
and  materia  medica,  but  from  that  of  the  metaphysi- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1039 

cian  who  is  turning  from  time-honored  theories  and 
theological  assumptions  concerning  God,  man,  and  the 
universe,  and  who  has  become  dissatisfied  with  un- 
demonstrable  creed,  dogma,  and  material  therapeutics, 
comes  the  query,  "What  is  truth?  " 

I  have  great  respect  for  the  conscientious,  unselfed 
members  of  the  medical  profession,  whose  lives  are 
devoted  to  the  relief  of  suffering  humanity.  Let 
them  continue  to  serve  mankind  according  to  human- 
ity's demands.  Material  methods  appeal  to  and  sat- 
isfy the  wants  of  those  who  have  faith  in  the  efficacy 
of  drugs  to  relieve  disturbed  physical  conditions,  and 
such  persons  respond  only  to  material  measures.  There- 
fore the  matter-physician  is  as  essential  to-day  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  mortals  as  the  metaphysician  is 
necessary  to  fulfil  the  needs  of  those  who  require  the 
potency  of  spiritual  Mind-healing. 

The  matter-physician  must  not  disagree  with  the 
divine  metaphysician  on  the  question  of  the  spiritual 
mental  method  of  healing  sin  and  disease.  Progress 
is  the  law  of  God.  Mortals  cannot  arrest  the  chariot- 
wheels  of  Truth.  The  latent  possibilities  and  liv- 
ing energies  of  man,  when  governed  by  God — divine 
Mind — the  Principle  of  being,  are  continually  being 
revealed. 

"Man,  made  in  His  likeness,  possesses  and  reflects 
God's  dominion  over  all  the  earth"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  516). 

Dr.  Chapin  knows  that  in  his  own  profession  many 
practise  without  sufficient  knowledge  of  therapeutics, 
and  thus  deceive  the  people.  So,  in  Christian  Science, 
many  are  masquerading  as  true  followers  of  Christ 
and  of  our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who 
impose  their  mental,  so-called  healing  upon  the  public. 


1 040  Fruits  of  Experience 

They  have  not  the  spirit  of  the  master  Metaphysician, 
Jesus,  our  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life.  They  do  not 
emulate  his  example  nor  obey  his  instructions.  They 
do  not  understand  even  the  letter  of  Christian  Science, 
and  when  questioned,  evidence  a  lack  of  comprehension 
of  the  Principle  of  scientific  being  as  taught  by  Mary 
Baker  Eddy  in  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science. 
These  should  advertise  as  mental  healers  from  a 
material  basis,  and  let  the  people  choose  whether  they 
prefer  hypnotic,  mesmeric,  temporary  relief,  or  Chris- 
tian Science  Mind-healing,  the  destruction  of  sin — 
the  cause  of  all  disease,  suffering,  and  death. 

If  a  Christian  Scientist  possesses  the  qualities  of  the 
Christ-mind  sufficiently,  his  spiritual  thought  will 
neutralize  and  cast  out  the  qualities  of  the  carnal  mind 
which  produce  suffering.  In  the  degree  that  a  Christian 
Scientist  assimilates  himself  to  God  he  demonstrates 
the  power  of  the  Word,  and  proves  Jesus'  saying: 
"The  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me,  He  doeth  the  works" 
(performs  the  healing. — John  xiv.,  10). 

In  this  revolutionary  period — the  passing  away  of 
old  systems  and  methods  based  upon  material  hy- 
potheses— humanity  is  accepting  Mind  as  "the  source 
of  all  movement"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  283),  and  is 
discriminating  between  the  effect  produced  by  the 
spiritual  thought,  and  that  which  results  from  the  be- 
lief of  life  in  matter,  or  the  material  thought.  Many 
are  choosing  the  former,  and  repudiating  and  resisting 
the  latter.  With  this  spiritual  uplifting  of  humanity's 
ideals,  what  remarkable  effects  we  may  anticipate 
in  the  child  of  the  twentieth  century,  whose  plastic 
mentality  receives  mental  impressions  as  readily  as 
the  talking  machine  of  to-day  records  voice  and  words 
on  the  wax  disk. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1041 

In  the  past,  the  mental  inoculation  of  fear,  anger, 
and  other  qualities  which  comprise  mortal  mind,  and 
which  were  often  reflected  to  the  child  by  parents  and 
friends, — all  these  mental  impressions  have  for  centuries 
worked  disastrously  on  the  mind  of  the  child,  until 
the  mighty  power  and  presence  of  Truth  have  appeared 
the  second  time,  and  have  aroused  humanity  to  resist 
bondage  to  mental  illusions  and  hallucinations,  which 
compose  the  so-called  material  man  and  the  material 
universe.  God,  the  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual 
universe  must,  sooner  or  later,  appear  as  the  ever- 
present,  deathless  reality  of  being. 

Dr.  Chapin  cites  the  case  of  a  little  boy,  three  years 
of  age,  who  developed  "obscure  digestive  symptoms." 
He  adds  that  the  mother  was  frantic  with  grief  and  fear 
when  she  learned  from  the  doctors  that  "the  only 
chance  for  life  lay  in  an  operation."  He  says  the 
Christian  Scientist  who  undertook  to  heal  the  case 
proved  unequal  to  quiet  the  mother's  fears  or  to  re- 
lieve the  child.  Did  the  doctor  investigate  this  case 
to  ascertain  whether  the  person  who  was  ministering 
to  the  child  was  a  true,  competent,  consecrated  Chris- 
tian Scientist,  or  a  so-called  mental  healer,  who  was 
not  a  reflector  of  that  divine  Love  whose  omnipotent 
force  casts  out  fear,  and,  as  our  Leader  says,  will 
"reinstate  man  in  God's  own  image  and  likeness"? 
{People's  Idea  of  God,  page  14.) 

Mrs.  Eddy,  in  referring  to  a  mother's  thought-im- 
pression upon  her  child,  writes  as  follows: 

If  a  child  is  exposed  to  contagion  or  infection,  the  mother 
is  frightened  and  says,  "My  child  will  be  sick."  The  law 
of  mortal  mind  and  her  own  fears  govern  her  child  more 
than  the  child's  mind  governs  itself,  and  they  produce  the 
very  results  which  might  have  been  prevented  through  the 

66 


1042  Fruits  of  Experience 

opposite  understanding.     Then  it  is  believed  that  exposure 
to  the  contagion  wrought  the  mischief. 

That  mother  is  not  a  Christian  Scientist,  and  her  affec- 
tions need  better  guidance,  who  says  to  her  child:  "You 
look  sick,"  "You  look  tired,"  "You  need  rest"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  154). 

Further,  to  show  the  necessity  of  eliminating  fear 
from  the  mind  of  the  child,  Mrs.  Eddy  uses  ghosts 
as  an  illustration.  Mental  pictures  of  disease,  with 
their  accompanying  manifestation,  should  be  treated 
by  every  mother  as  ghosts,  and  be  made  as  unreal  to 
her  child. 

Would  a  mother  say  to  her  child,  who  is  frightened  at 
imaginary  ghosts  and  sick  in  consequence  of  the  fear: 
"I  know  that  ghosts  are  real.  They  exist,  and  are  to  be 
feared;  but  you  must  not  be  afraid  of  them"? 

.  .  .  children  should  be  told  not  to  believe  in  ghosts, 
because  there  are  no  such  things.  If  belief  in  their  reality 
is  destroyed,  terror  of  ghosts  will  depart  and  health  be 
restored  (Science  and  Health,  p.  352). 

If  disease  were  known  to  be  the  result  of  false  teach- 
ing and  false  thinking — false  or  mortal  thoughts 
externalized  on  the  human  body — the  fear  of  disease 
would  gradually  be  destroyed,  and  with  the  spiritual 
thought,  men,  women,  and  children  would  free  them- 
selves from  disease  as  effectually  as  they  gain  their 
freedom  from  the  fear  of  ghosts. 

Mrs.  Eddy  further  says,  in  regard  to  children: 

Children  should  be  taught  the  Truth-cure,  Christian 
Science,  among  their  first  lessons,  and  kept  from  discussing 
or  entertaining  theories  or  thoughts  about  sickness.  To 
prevent  the  experience  of  error  and  its  sufferings,  keep  out 


Fruits  of  Experience  1043 

of  the  minds  of  your  children  either  sinful  or  diseased 
thoughts.  The  latter  should  be  excluded  on  the  same 
principle  as  the  former  (Science  and  Health,  p.  237). 

Until  physicians  and  the  people  witness  for  them- 
selves the  influence  of  spiritual  thought,  the  reflection 
of  Life,  Love,  and  Truth,  on  the  mind  of  the  child,  they 
will  not  be  ready  to  accept  Christian  Science.  But 
they  must  finally  awake  to  the  scientific  fact  of  being, 
as  stated  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy:  "All  is  infinite  Mind 
and  its  infinite  manifestation,  for  God  is  All-in-all" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  468). 

In  Unity  of  Good  Mrs.  Eddy  writes:  "The  chaos 
of  mortal  mind  is  made  the  stepping-stone  to  the 
cosmos  of  immortal  Mind"  (p.  56).  The  chaos  of 
mortal  mind  is  turning  many  to  contemplate  some- 
thing better  than  sin,  suffering,  and  death. 

In  my  experience  of  twenty-six  years  in  the  teaching 
and  practice  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing  I  have 
learned  that  in  proportion  to  my  fidelity  to  God's  law 
have  I  been  successful  in  casting  out  error  and  healing 
the  sick. 

Dr.  Chapin's  article  entitled  "Christian  Science 
and  the  Child"  has  recalled  my  experience  with  the 
children  connected  with  the  Sunday-school  of  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  in  which 
for  twenty-two  years  I  devoted  my  earnest  efforts  to 
educating  the  children  to  understand  the  potency  of 
spiritual  thought,  and  their  relation  to  God;  to  con- 
template their  divine  selfhood,  and  to  eliminate  the  false 
thoughts  which  express  themselves  in  discord  and  dis- 
ease upon  the  corporeal  body. 

During  twenty-two  years,  the  children,  numbering 
at  times  over  three  hundred  members,  and  ranging 


1044  Fruits  of  Experience 

from  three  to  fifteen  years  of  age,  seemed  to  be  my 
special  care  whenever  they  were  attacked  by  disease. 
Being  a  teacher  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing, 
it  was  expected,  in  the  early  days,  that  I  was  an  in- 
fallible demonstrator  of  the  Truth-cure,  therefore  the 
parents  of  these  children  turned  to  me  to  prove  my 
teachings  for  them.  As  all  increased  in  the  under- 
standing of  divine  metaphysics,  and  it  was  under- 
stood that  Christian  Scientists  heal  in  proportion  to 
their  possession  of  the  Mind  of  Christ,  there  was  a 
more  intelligent  and  reasonable  requirement,  and  the 
practitioners  were  aided  by  parents  and  those  associ- 
ated with  the  sick,  until  all  understood  and  applied 
to  disease  the  Principle  and  rule  of  healing. 

Without  fear  of  successful  contradiction  from  any 
parent  or  person,  I  can  state  that  during  these  twenty- 
two  years  but  three  Sunday-school  children  have 
passed  on — one  with  a  claim  of  diphtheria,  one  with 
appendicitis,  and  the  third  of  a  ruptured  internal 
blood-vessel.  These  are  all  the  Sunday-school  children 
who  passed  from  our  sight  with  disease  during  the 
twenty- two  years  of  my  service  in  the  Sunday-school. 
I  have  treated  successfully  hundreds  of  cases  of  measles, 
typhoid,  scarlet  and  slow  fevers,  and  every  disease 
which  children  meet  between  the  ages  of  three  and 
fifteen  years,  every  case  having  been  healed  without 
drugs  or  any  material  aid,  and  with  none  of  the  serious 
after  effects  which  often  result  from  these  diseases. 

I  refer  to  these  cases  of  healing  by  the  power  of  the 
Word  as  my  reason  for  my  defense  of  Christian  Science 
Mind-healing,  and  I  appeal  to  the  intelligence  and 
heart  of  the  people  as  to  whether  I  am  justified,  after 
such  demonstrations,  in  adhering  to  the  Principle 
and  rule  of  scientific  Mind-healing,  demonstrated  by 


Fruits  of  Experience  1045 

Jesus,  and  taught  to  me  by  my  revered  Leader  and 
Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Mrs.  Eddy  questions  the 
world  to-day  in  these  words : 

Which  was  first,  Mind  or  medicine?  If  Mind  was  first 
and  self -existent,  then  Mind,  not  matter,  must  have  been 
the  first  medicine.  God  being  All-in-all,  He  made  medicine ; 
but  that  medicine  was  Mind.  It  could  not  have  been 
matter,  which  departs  from  the  nature  and  character  of 
Mind,  God.  Truth  is  God's  remedy  for  error  of  every  kind, 
and  Truth  destroys  only  what  is  untrue.  Hence  the  fact 
that,  to-day,  as  yesterday,  Christ  casts  out  evils  and  heals 
the  sick. 

It  is  plain  that  God  does  not  employ  drugs  or  hygiene, 
nor  provide  them  for  human  use ;  else  Jesus  would  have 
recommended  and  employed  them  in  his  healing.  The 
sick  are  more  deplorably  lost  than  the  sinning,  if  the  sick 
cannot  rely  on  God  for  help  and  the  sinning  can  (Science 
and  Health,  pp.  142,  143). 

Mrs.  Eddy  testifies  of  her  regard  for  the  medical 
profession  in  the  following  words: 

It  is  just  to  say  that  generally  the  cultured  class  of 
medical  practitioners  are  grand  men  and  women,  therefore 
they  are  more  scientific  than  are  false  claimants  to  Christian 
Science  (Science  and  Health,  p.  164). 

New  York  City. 


"GIVE  GOD   THE   GLORY" 

"Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son, 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen." 

The  following  questions  were  put  to  me  in  regard  to 
the  methods  and  practice  of  Christian  Scientists : 

Ques.     I  am  told  that  Christian  Scientists  give  all 
the  glory  to  God  for  the  healing  of  sin  and  disease.     If 


1046  Fruits  of  Experience 

God  does  all  the  healing,  why  is  a  practitioner  called  to 
the  sick?  Why  does  not  the  sufferer  go  direct  to  God? 
What  part  does  a  practitioner  take  in  the  healing?  Is 
there  any  credit  due  the  Christian  Scientist  who  is 
employed  to  relieve  suffering  humanity? 

Arts.  The  true  Christian  Scientist  gives  God  the 
glory  "for  His  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men" 
(Ps.  cvii.,  8),  but  he  also  gives  glory  to  the  Son  and 
to  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Christian  Science  practitioner 
recognizes  God  as  the  Principle  of  all  spiritual  being, 
and  spiritual  man  as  the  emanation  of  creative  Principle, 
eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  "The  Christian  Scien- 
tist has  enlisted  to  lessen  evil,  disease,  and  death" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  450),  by  understanding  his  rela- 
tion to  God,  whose  omnipotence  he  must  reflect  in  order 
to  dispel  the  illusion  of  belief  in  matter  as  sentient 
substance,  or  the  claim  of  reality  in  a  power  opposed  to 
God. 

The  Christian  Scientist  accepts  Christ,  Truth,  as  the 
great  Physician,  whose  power  and  presence  he  must 
reflect  and  demonstrate.  He  knows  that  the  material, 
corporeal  Jesus  was  not  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  the 
human  does  not  perform  the  healing.  Christ  Jesus 
proved  the  potency  of  Truth  to  cast  out  evil  and  heal 
the  sick.  Mrs.  Eddy  answers  the  question,  "  Is  materi- 
ality the  concomitant  of  spirituality,  and  is  material 
sense  a  necessary  preliminary  to  the  understanding  and 
expression  of  Spirit?"     Her  reply  is, 

If  error  is  necessary  to  define  or  to  reveal  Truth,  the  an- 
swer is  yes;  but  not  otherwise.  ...  If  the  unimportant 
and  evil  appear,  only  soon  to  disappear  because  of  their 
uselessness  or  their  iniquity,  then  these  ephemeral  views  of 
error  ought  to  be  obliterated  by  Truth  (Science  and  Health, 
pp.  484,  485). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1047 

Ques.  Do  Christian  Scientists  consider  themselves 
equal  to  Jesus,  who  healed  all  diseases  with  the  Word? 
Jesus  possessed  the  power  of  God;  but  Jesus  was  the 
Son  of  God,  and  God  gave  His  Son  dominion  over  all  the 
earth. 

Ans.  The  human  Jesus  was  not  a  factor  in  the 
healing  of  the  sick.  Christ  Jesus  dissolved  the  material 
concepts;  thus  the  human  or  the  mortal  mentality 
became  less  opaque,  and  Christ — the  ideal  man — was 
manifested  on  the  flesh.  If  you  concede  to  Jesus 
spiritual  power  to  destroy  inharmony,  you  must  learn 
that  it  was  not  the  human  Jesus  that  did  the  work,  but 
the  Christ  Jesus  consciousness,  the  ideal  man  of  God's 
creating,  who  represented  and  demonstrated  the  power 
of  omnipotence,  omniscience,  and  omnipresence,  eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Christ  Jesus  regarded  himself 
as  one  with  God,  and  declared,  "I  and  my  Father  are 
one"  (John  x.,  30).  When  questioned  as  to  his 
mighty  works,  he  said,  "The  Father  that  dwelleth  in 
me  [in  my  spiritual  individuality,  which  is  the  re- 
flection of  the  Father],  He  doeth  the  works"  (John  xiv., 
10).  Christ  Jesus  gave  the  glory  to  God,  and  to  him- 
self as  the  Son  of  God,  when  he  said, 

My  Father  worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work.  .  .  . 

For  as  the  Father  raiseth  up  the  dead,  and  quickeneth 
them ;  even  so  the  Son  quickeneth  whom  he  will.  .  .  . 

That  all  men  should  honour  the  Son,  even  as  they  honour 
the  Father.  He  that  honoureth  not  the  Son  honoureth  not 
the  Father  which  hath  sent  him.  .  .  . 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is  coming,  and 
now  is,  when  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God:  and  they  that  hear  shall  live. 

For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  Himself;  so  hath  He  given 
to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  himself; 


1048  Fruits  of  Experience 

And  hath  given  him  authority  to  execute  judgment  also, 
because  he  is  the  Son  of  man  (John  v.,  17,  21, 23,  25-27). 

Again  he  said,  "Ye  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye 
might  have  life"  (John  v.,  40).  He  acknowledged 
but  one  causation,  and  himself  as  the  manifesta- 
tion of  eternal  Life,  Mind,  Soul,  Spirit;  therefore  he 
recognized  his  sonship  with  eternal  Mind,  and  evi- 
denced the  power  of  his  eternal  Principle,  thus  demon- 
strating God,  good,  over  the  claim  of  evil — Love  over 
the  false  material  sense  of  hate  and  fear — the  might  of 
immortal  consciousness — spiritual  man,  the  executor 
of  indestructible  Principle — over  all  the  illusions  of 
so-called  mortal  man  or  the  body  of  sin.  Paul  said, 
" O  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death?"     (Rom.  vii.,  24.) 

We  read,  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the 
Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God  "  (John  i.,  1). 

Christ  Jesus  spake  for  his  Principle;  he  uttered  the 
Word,  or  voiced  God.  Mortality,  the  myth  or  false 
material  sense  which  composes  the  false  so-called 
material  universe,  felt  the  power  of  the  ideal  man,  the 
Son  of  God,  who  stepped  forth  proclaiming  his  oneness 
with  the  Father,  and  who  proved  the  omnipotence  of 
the  Christ-mind  by  dispelling  the  phenomena  of  false 
thinking — material  concepts,  sin,  disease,  and  death. 
Christian  Scientists  must  possess  the  Mind  of  Christ 
if  they  would  heal  by  radiating  the  power  of  God ;  then 
they  may  understandingly  say  with  the  master  Meta- 
physician, "My  Father  worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work" 
(John  v.,  17).  They  will  not  make  the  unscientific 
statement,  "God  did  the  healing,  I  had  nothing  to  do 
with  the  case."  They  will  comprehend  the  words  of 
Christ  Jesus:  "Before  Abraham   was,   I    am"   (John 


Fruits  of  Experience  1049 

viii.,  58),  and  will  recognize  their  own  spiritual  identity 
as  antedating  Abraham.  Christ  Jesus  knew  that  he 
existed  forever  as  God's  idea — Son — and  that  there  was 
no  other  real  existence.  Christian  Scientists  know  this 
of  Christ  Jesus  and  of  themselves,  and  of  all ;  therefore 
we  give  glory  to  God  and  to  His  Son,  Christ  Jesus,  who 
was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  the  ever-present  expression  or 
image  and  likeness  of  Truth  and  Love. 

Ques.  But  Jesus  was  of  immaculate  conception. 
He  came  forth  from  the  Father,  and  could  prove  his 
sonship  with  God. 

A  ns.  The  corporeal  Jesus  did  not  come  forth  from  the 
Father.  Christ  Jesus,  the  ideal  man,  came  forth  from 
the  Father  and  proved  his  sonship.    Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

The  Christ  was  Jesus'  spiritual  selfhood ;  therefore  Christ 
existed  prior  to  Jesus  .  .  .  Jesus,  the  only  immaculate,  was 
born  of  a  virgin  mother,  and  Christian  Science  explains 
that  mystic  saying  of  the  Master  as  to  his  dual  personality, 
or  the  spiritual  and  material  Christ  Jesus,  called  in  Scripture 
the  Son  of  God  and  the  Son  of  man — explains  it  as  referring 
to  his  eternal  spiritual  selfhood  and  his  temporal  manhood. 
Christian  Science  shows  clearly  that  God  is  the  only  generat- 
ing or  regenerating  power. 

Christ  being  the  Son  of  God,  a  spiritual,  divine  emana- 
tion, Christ  must  be  spiritual,  not  material.  Jesus  was  the 
son  of  Mary,  therefore  the  son  of  man  only  in  the  sense 
that  man  is  the  generic  term  for  both  male  and  female. 
The  Christ  was  not  human.  Jesus  was  human,  but  the 
Christ  Jesus  represented  both  the  divine  and  the  human, 
God  and  man  {Message for  iqoi,  pp.  44,  45,  46). 

Paul  says,  "There  is  one  God,  and  one  mediator 
between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus. "  Mrs. 
Eddy  says: 


1050  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  corporeal  man  Jesus  was  human. 

• 

Mary's  conception  of  him  was  spiritual,  for  only  purity 
could  reflect  Truth  and  Love,  which  were  plainly  incarnate 
in  the  good  and  pure  Christ  Jesus.  He  expressed  the  highest 
type  of  divinity,  which  a  fleshly  form  could  express  in  that 
age.  Into  the  real  and  ideal  man  the  fleshly  element  cannot 
enter.  Thus  it  is  that  Christ  illustrates  the  coincidence, 
or  spiritual  agreement,  between  God  and  man  in  His  image 
(Science  and  Health,  pp.  332,  333). 

After  Jesus  had  fulfilled  his  mission  in  the  flesh  as  the 
Son  of  man,  he  rose  to  the  fulness  of  his  stature  in  Christ, 
the  eternal  Son  of  God,  that  never  suffered  and  never  died. 
And  because  of  Jesus'  great  work  on  earth,  his  demon- 
stration over  sin,  disease,  and  death,  the  divine  nature  of 
Christ  Jesus  has  risen  to  human  apprehension,  and  we  see 
the  Son  of  man  in  divine  Science;  and  he  is  no  longer  a 
material  man,  and  mind  is  no  longer  in  matter.  Through 
this  redemptive  Christ,  Truth,  we  are  healed  and  saved, 
and  that  not  of  our  selves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God ;  we  are  saved 
from  the  sins  and  sufferings  of  the  flesh,  and  are  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord  (Message  for  1901,   pp.  46,  47). 

This  master  Metaphysician,  this  spiritual  Teacher, 
demonstrator  and  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life,  did  not 
monopolize  Truth,  but  taught  his  followers  the  healing 
power  of  divine  Mind,  which  spiritual  man  reflects  and 
manifests.  He  said  to  his  disciples,  '-  He  that  believeth 
on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also ;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do;  because  I  go  unto  my 
Father"  (John  xiv.,  12).  To  do  the  works  that 
Christ  Jesus  did  and  to  perform  the  greater  works  which 
he  promised,  Christian  Scientists  must  worship  the 
Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  They  must  acknowledge 
and  obey  God,  creative  Mind,  eternal  consciousness,  and 
must  understand  themselves  as  sons  and  daughters  of 


Fruits  of  Experience  1051 

God,  made  in  the  image  of  Truth  and  Love.  They 
must  know  their  true  individuality,  and  demonstrate 
spiritual  man's  dominion  over  all  the  earth.  This 
understanding  is  the  Holy  Ghost.  To  know  and 
demonstrate  this  spiritual  fact  of  being  is  eternal  Life, 
and  reveals  the  Son  as  well  as  the  Father.  "  Not  that 
any  man  [mortal]  hath  seen  the  Father,  save  he  [spirit- 
ual man]  which  is  of  God,  he  hath  seen  the  Father." 
"For  I  came  down  from  heaven,  not  to  do  mine  own 
will,  but  the  will  of  Him  that  sent  me"   (John  vi.,  46, 

38). 

Christian  Scientists  give  glory  to  the  Father  and  to 
the  Son,  for  they  are  inseparable  in  divine  Science. 
Christ  Jesus  is  our  authority  for  saying, ' '  I  will  come  and 
heal  him. "  He  did  not  say,  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and 
God  will  come  and  heal  him,  but,  I,  the  Ego-man,  the 
reflection  of  the  Ego-God — I,  the  Christ -man,  or  demon- 
strator and  revelator  of  the  Principle  of  being — 
omnipotent  Life  and  Love — will  glorify  my  Father — 
show  forth,  prove  His  allness  and  ever-presence. 

Ques.  Your  explanation,  according  to  divine  meta- 
physics, of  the  oft-repeated  assertion,  "I  did  not  heal 
the  patient,  God  did  it,"  and,  "We  must  not  depend 
upon  personality  to  heal  the  sick, "  is  very  clear. 

Ans.  Christian  Scientists  do  not  depend  upon 
physical  personality,  but  we  demand  of  our  spiritual 
personality  a  demonstration  of  Principle,  and  thus 
show  forth  or  glorify  the  Father,  and  in  proportion  to 
our  possession  of  the  qualities  of  God,  we  show  forth  or 
glorify  the  Father.  ' '  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost. "  Man's  individuality,  his 
spiritual  personality,  which  is  God's  idea  or  the  Son  of 
God,  does  the  healing  by  reflecting  Truth  and  Love, 
or,  to  express  it  more  scientifically,  destroys  the  illusion 


1052  Fruits  of  Experience 

of  the  so-called  mortal  mind.  Jesus  said:  "I  am  the 
light  of  the  world,"  meaning  his  spiritual  individuality 
or  identity  as  the  Son  of  God.  He  regarded  so-called 
mortal  mind  and  its  physical  personality,  or  the  body 
of  death — nothingness — as  darkness.  He  turned  the 
searchlight  of  Truth — the  understanding  of  God's 
allness  and  man's  oneness  with  his  creator,  divine  Mind 
— upon  the  myths  and  illusions  of  the  false  Adam 
concepts.  He  exalted  his  God-consciousness,  exercised 
his  divine  prerogative  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil 
— sin,  sickness,  and  death — everything  that  "worketh 
abomination,  or  maketh  a  lie," — everything  that 
opposes  the  law  of  Spirit. 

Paul  also  demonstrated  the  power  of  his  spiritual 
individuality.  He  said,  "For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of 
life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law 
of  sin  and  death"  (Rom.  viii.,  2).  Spiritual  man  is 
God's  glory,  and  shows  forth  or  manifests  the  might 
and  majesty  of  immortal  Mind,  in  the  fruits  of  the 
Spirit — love,  joy,  peace,  health,  holiness,  and  an  endless 
life.  It  is  recorded  in  John  ii.,  11,  "This  beginning  of 
miracles  did  Jesus  in  Cana  of  Galilee,  and  manifested 
forth  his  glory" — the  glory  of  the  Father  and  the  Son. 

Ques.  Then  if  I  understand  aright,  Christian  Scien- 
tists deny  their  own  sonship  with  the  Father  when  they 
say,  "I  did  not  heal  the  patient,  God  did  it."  What 
is  the  necessity  of  their  service  or  their  attempt  to 
dispel  mental  or  physical  discord  if  God  alone  does  the 
work?  I  have  always  supposed  that  Christian  Scien- 
tists cooperate  with  God  in  their  efforts  to  heal  the  sick. 
Do  they  entreat  God  to  answer  their  prayer  to  relieve 
the  patient?  This  savors  of  scholastic  theology,  which 
has  always  proved  an  ineffectual  prayer  which  appar- 
ently did  not  reach  the  ear  of  the  infinite. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1053 

Ans.  A  true  Christian  Scientist  who  understands 
divine  metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
never  denies  cooperation  with  Principle  in  the  healing 
of  sin  and  sickness.  They  who  declare  they  did  not  do 
the  work,  do  not  understand  the  teachings  of  our 
revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  nor  the  works  of 
Christ  Jesus.  Such  a  denial  of  their  relation  to  God 
and  their  responsibility  for  proving  the  power  of  omni- 
potent Mind,  displays  a  lack  of  understanding  of 
Christian  Science.  The  Scriptures  declare,  "This  is 
life  eternal,  that  they  might  know  Thee  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent"  (John 
xvii.,  3).  The  Christian  Scientist,  who,  through  illumi- 
nation, perceives  the  spiritual  facts  of  being,  understands 
that  Christ  Jesus  did  his  mighty  works  by  his  spiritual 
reflection  of  God  as  Principle.  He  must  follow  the 
Way-shower  and  find  his  oneness  with  divine  Mind — 
his  eternal  sonship  with  his  eternal  Principle.  Christ 
Jesus  repudiated  all  other  claims  as  dreams,  hallucina- 
tions of  a  suppositional  concept  of  the  Adam-dream. 
He  stood  before  the  world  as  a  divine  mathematician, 
and  demonstrated  the  Principle  of  divine  mathematics. 
He  did  this  up  to  his  final  victory  over  the  "last  enemy" 
— death.  He  proved  the  power  and  presence  of  the 
ideal  man,  the  Son  of  God.  Christ  Jesus  demonstrated 
the  fatherhood  of  God,  the  endless  life  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son. 

Our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  discovered 
the  "sweet  secret  of  the  narrow  way"  (Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  389),  which  Jesus  trod.  She  gave  to  the 
nineteenth  century  the  rule  and  rudiments  of  divine 
Science  which  she  demonstrated  for  forty-five  years, 
until  the  hour  arrived  for  her  final  demonstration  over 
the  false  claim  of  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance 


1054  Fruits  of  Experience 

in  matter.  Then  she,  like  the  Master,  Christ  Jesus, 
laid  down  her  temporal  sense  of  life  that  she  might 
demonstrate  her  eternal  selfhood  in  the  image  and 
likeness  of  God.  Like  the  Master,  the  demonstrator 
of  the  fatherhood  of  God,  she  must  fulfil  her  mission, 
and  illustrate  the  motherhood  of  God.  Ideal,  spiritual 
manhood,  the  Son  of  God,  was  manifested  by  Christ 
Jesus.  Ideal,  spiritual  womanhood  will  be  demon- 
strated by  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Thus  the  sons  and 
daughters  in  divine  Science  will  be  revealed,  and  show 
forth  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 

Bring  My  sons  from  far,  and  My  daughters  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth; 

Even  every  one  that  is  called  by  My  name :  for  I  have 
created  him  for  My  glory,  I  have  formed  him ;  yea,  I  have 
made  him  (Isa.  xliii.,  6,  7). 

Christ  Jesus  says  (John  xii.,  32),  "And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up  from  the  earth  [sense  material],  will  draw  all 
men  unto  me"  (spiritual  idea).  Christian  Scientists 
exalt  their  Christ-consciousness ;  they  honor  the  Father 
when  they  admit  their  sonship,  and  hold  themselves 
responsible  as  demonstrators  of  the  Principle  of  being, 
eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  "Ye  are  My  witnesses, 
saith  the  Lord,  that  I  am  God"  (Isa.  xliii.,  12).  The 
Son  or  spiritual  man  witnesses  for  God.  So-called 
mortal  man  witnesses  for  the  devil — evil,  nothingness — 
for  there  is  no  devil  or  evil  in  the  divine  Mind,  and 
divine  Mind  and  its  idea  is  All.  "Science  makes 
no  concessions  to  persons  or  opinions"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  456).  Mortal,  so-called  man  cannot  witness 
for  Truth.  Our  Leader  says:  "spiritual  sense  can  bear 
witness  only  to  Truth"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  298). 
The  Son  or  spiritual  man  alone  can  bear  witness  for  God, 


Fruits  of  Experience  1055 

for  he  is  God's  image  expressed,  and  must  manifest  or 
show  forth  the  glory  of  the  Father.  On  page  313  of 
Science  and  Health,  Mrs.  Eddy  refers  to  Christ  as  "the 
royal  reflection  of  the  infinite. " 

Ques.  Then  Jesus  was  not  the  only  Son  of  God,  as 
scholastic  theology  has  for  generations  taught  us? 

Ans.     Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Born  of  a  woman,  Jesus'  advent  in  the  flesh  partook 
partly  of  Mary's  earthly  condition,  although  he  was 
endowed  with  the  Christ,  the  divine  Spirit,  without  measure. 
This  accounts  for  his  struggles  in  Gethsemane  and  on 
Calvary,  and  this  enabled  him  to  be  the  mediator,  or  way- 
shower,  between  God  and  men.  Had  his  origin  and  birth 
been  wholly  apart  from  mortal  usage,  Jesus  would  not  have 
been  appreciable  to  mortal  mind  as  "the  way"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  30). 

When  the  human  element  in  him  struggled  with  the 
divine,  our  great  Teacher  said:  "  Not  my  will,  but  Thine,  be 
done!" — that  is,  Let  not  the  flesh,  but  the  Spirit,  be  re- 
presented in  me  (Science  and  Health,  p.  33). 

This  holy  struggle  between  the  Christ -man  and  the 
human  or  fleshly  mind  must  be  worked  out  by  all. 

Jacob  was  alone,  wrestling  with  error, — struggling  with  a 
mortal  sense  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  as  existent 
in  matter  with  its  false  pleasures  and  pains, — when  an  angel, 
a  message  from  Truth  and  Love,  appeared  to  him  and 
smote  the  sinew,  or  strength,  of  his  error,  till  he  saw  its 
unreality;  and  Truth,  being  thereby  understood,  gave  him 
spiritual  strength  in  this  Peniel  of  divine  Science  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  308). 

In  Mrs.  Eddy's  address  to  the  Concord  Church, 
printed  in  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  of  July  23,  1904, 
she  said,  "To  live  so  as  to  keep  human  consciousness 


1056  Fruits  of  Experience 

in  constant  relation  with  the  divine,  the  spiritual  and 
eternal,  is  to  individualize  infinite  power, — and  this  is 
Christian  Science. " 

The  operation  of  Spirit,  through  the  Christ-conscious- 
ness, constantly  acts  upon  the  human  or  finite  sense, 
gradually  eliminating  false  thoughts  which  compose 
human  consciousness.  The  Christ,  or  ideal  selfhood, 
struggles  for  expression  and  manifestation,  and  this 
warfare  with  the  fleshly  mind,  or  human  sense,  will 
continue  until  the  human  disappears  and  the  ideal 
Christ  appears  as  the  real  and  only  man  of  God's 
creating,  whom  He  made  in  His  own  image  and  likeness 
and  to  whom  He  gave  dominion  over  all  things.  "The 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and  the  Spirit  against 
the  flesh"  (Gal.  v.,  17).  This  is  living  "so  as  to  keep 
human  consciousness  in  constant  relation  with  the  di- 
vine, the  spiritual  and  eternal;"  this  is  to  individualize 
the  infinite  power  of  the  spiritual  man  who  represents 
infinite  Spirit. 

Again  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "When  the  illusion  of  sickness 
or  sin  tempts  you,  cling  steadfastly  to  God  and  His 
idea"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  495).  This  I  under- 
stand to  mean,  cling  steadfastly  to  God  and  His  idea, 
Christ,  the  spiritual  individuality,  for  they  are  one. 
Do  not  cling  to  physical  personality.  Christ  Jesus  clung 
to  God  and  to  his  divine  selfhood,  his  Christ-conscious- 
ness, which  proceeded  from  the  Father.  This  struggle 
for  the  supremacy  of  his  divine  manhood  destroyed  the 
human  sense  or  corporeal  Jesus  which  was  "Born  of  a 
woman"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  30). 

Is  not  God  the  Father  of  all  ?  Cannot  every  one  claim 
God  as  his  creator?  Is  not  God  our  Father,  our  source 
of  Life,  our  supply?  Are  we  not  His  sons  and  daughters 
— spiritual,  immortal  ideas — which  compose  His  spirit- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1057 

ual  universe?  Are  we  not  children  of  God,  "And  if 
children,  then  heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ"?  (Rom.  viii.,  17.)  If  we  accept  Christian 
Science,  one  God,  one  Christ,  the  spiritual  universe  or  the 
body  of  God  called  Christ,  and  ourselves  as  individual 
ideas — members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  we  cannot  argue 
for  mortality  and  immortality — for  a  human  and  a 
divine  consciousness.  We  must  regard  ourselves  as 
spiritual  ideas,  or  sons  and  daughters  of  infinite  Spirit, 
and  so  must  demonstrate  eternal  Life,  manifest  the 
potency  of  Spirit,  the  presence  of  eternal  Life,  Love,  and 
Truth,  in  health,  holiness,  and  immortality.  As  before 
stated,  we  cannot  stand  before  the  blackboard  and  pray 
the  principle  of  mathematics  to  do  our  work;  but  we 
must  have  the  Mind  of  Christ,  whose  power  heals  the 
sick  and  destroys  all  that  is  unlike  God.  We  must 
possess  the  qualities  of  God  which  nullify  the  seeming 
qualities  of  so-called  mortal  mind.  Let  me  quote  the 
following:  "The  Master's  sublime  triumph  over  all 
mortal  mentality  was  immortality's  goal"  {Unity 
of  Good,  p.  58).  Mrs.  Eddy's  triumph  over  mortal 
mentality  is  the  goal  of  immortality  which  she  will 
reach.  She  will  reveal  her  divine  selfhood  and  glorify 
the  motherhood  of  God.  Every  follower  of  Christ 
Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy  must  triumph  over  the 
claim  of  a  mortal  mentality,  through  the  demonstration 
of  sonship  with  God,  "immortality's  goal." 

Thus  we  give  God  the  glory,  and  to  the  son,  our 
spiritual  selfhood,  our  Christ-mind,  we  also  give  the 
glory  due  the  Son  as  representative  of  the  Father. 
Because  Philip  did  not  recognize  Jesus'  spiritual  per- 
sonality, he  was  rebuked  by  Jesus  in  these  words: 
"  Have  I  been  so  long  time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou 
not  known  me,  Philip?"  (John  xiv.,  9.)  To  material 
67 


1058  Fruits  of  Experience 

sense,  Philip  saw  Jesus'  physical  finite  personality. 
This  false  sense  Christ  Jesus  condemned  in  the  following 
words:  "He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen  the  Father; 
and  how  sayest  thou  then,  Shew  us  the  Father?" 
Again  he  said  (John  xiv.,  6),  "  No  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father,  but  by  me,"  meaning,  by  this,  his  spiritual 
identity  which  reflects  the  Father.     Mrs.  Eddy  asks: 

Is  man's  spiritual  sonship  a  personal  gift  to  man,  or  is  it 
the  reality  of  his  being,  in  divine  Science?  Man's  knowl- 
edge of  this  grand  verity  gives  him  power  to  demonstrate 
his  divine  Principle,  which  in  turn  is- requisite  in  order  to 
understand  his  sonship,  or  unity  with  God,  good.  .  .  .  His 
sonship,  referred  to  in  the  text,  is  his  spiritual  relation  to 
Deity:  it  is  not,  then,  a  personal  gift,  but  is  the  order  of 
divine  Science  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  181). 

Advanced  Christian  Scientists  claim  the  same  sonship 
with  God.  Jesus  said,  "And  now,  O  Father,  glorify 
Thou  me  with  Thine  own  self  with  the  glory  which  I 
had  with  Thee  before  the  world  was"  (John  xvii.,  5). 
Again  he  said,  "And  the  glory  which  Thou  gavest  me 
I  have  given  them;  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we 
are  one"  (John  xvii.,  22).  Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs. 
Eddy,   says: 

After  gaining  the  true  idea  of  their  glorified  Master,  they 
became  better  healers,  leaning  no  longer  on  matter,  but  on 
the  divine  Principle  of  their  work  (Science  and  Health,  p. 

47)- 

We  all,  with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of 

the  Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to 

glory  (2  Cor.  iii.,  18). 

Because  of  the  wondrous  glory  which  God  bestowed  on  His 

anointed,    temptation,    sin,   sickness,   and  death   had   no 

terror  for  Jesus  (Science  and  Health,  p.  42). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1059 

The  malignity  of  brutal  persecutors,  the  treason  and 
suicide  of  his  betrayer,  were  overruled  by  divine  Love  to 
the  glorification  of  the  man  and  of  the  true  idea  of  God, 
which  Jesus'  persecutors  had  mocked  and  tried  to  slay 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  43). 

In  the  healing  of  the  ten  lepers  we  read : 

And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  healed, 
turned  back,  and  with  a  loud  voice  glorified  God, 

And  fell  down  on  his  face  at  his  feet,  giving  him  thanks  .  . . 

And  Jesus  answering  said,  Were  there  not  ten  cleansed? 
but  where  are  the  nine? 

There  are  not  found  that  returned  to  give  glory  to  God, 
save  this  stranger  (Luke  xvii.,  15-18). 

One  leper  came  back  to  Christ  Jesus,  to  the  de- 
monstrator of  the  Father,  and  Christ  Jesus  received 
this  recognition  and  asked  why  the  others  came  not 
back  to  give  God  and  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost — 
divine  Science — the  glory. 

They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  synagogues :  yea,  the  time 
cometh,  that  whosoever  killeth  you  will  think  that  he  doeth 
God  service. 

And  these  things  will  they  do  unto  you,  because  they  have 
not  known  the  Father,  nor  me  (John  xvi.,  2,3). 

And  he  taught  in  their  synagogues,  being  glorified  of  all 
(Luke  i  v.,  15). 

Again,  without  a  correct  sense  of  its  highest  visible  idea, 
we  can  never  understand  the  divine  Principle  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  560). 

Jesus  said: 

Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit 
(John  xv.,  8). 

The  God  of  heaven  hath  given  thee  a  kingdom,  power, 
and  strength,  and  glory. 


1060  Fruits  of  Experience 

And  wheresoever  the  children  of  men  dwell,  the  beasts 
of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of  the  heaven  hath  He  given  into 
thine  hand,  and  hath  made  thee  [the  Son]  ruler  over  them 
all  (Dan.  ii.,  37,  38). 

All  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
(Numb,  xiv.,  21). 

And  there  shall  be  no  night  there  [no  mortal  mentality] ; 
and  they  need  no  candle,  neither  light  of  the  sun ;  for  the 
Lord  God  giveth  them  light :  and  they  shall  reign  for  ever 
and  ever  (God's  people,  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual 
universe. — Rev.  xxii.,  5). . 

Ques.  What  authority  have  we  for  claiming  equal 
sonship  with  Christ  Jesus? 

Ans.  Jesus  said  to  Mary,  "Touch  me  not;  for  I  am 
not  yet  ascended  ...  I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and 
your  Father;  and  to  my  God,  and  your  God"  (John 
xx.,  17).  John  confirms  this  eternal,  universal  sonship 
with  the  Father  from  the  beginning.  "  Now  are  we  the 
sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall 
be:  but  we  know  that,  when  He  shall  appear,  we  shall 
be  like  Him"  (1  John  iii.,  2).  If  you  are  not  already 
convinced  that  God  created  you  in  His  own  image 
and  likeness — that  you,  as  spiritual  personality  or  in- 
dividuality, are  now  and  ever  have  been  God's  spiritual 
idea — that  there  is  no  finite,  physical  personality,  then 
you  must  wait  until  here  or  hereafter  the  operation 
of  Spirit  dispels  material  sense  sufficiently  to  reveal 
this  metaphysical  fact  of  scientific  being.  The  Holy 
Ghost — divine  Science  or  spiritual  understanding — 
will  eventually  reveal  to  you  the  Father  and  the  Son 
in  the  order  of  celestial  being.  Then  you  can  under- 
standing^ say,  "Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son  [the  manifestation  of  the  Father,  spiritual  man] 
and  to   the   Holy   Ghost" — spiritual   understanding. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1061 

This  is  the  stone  which  the  builders  rejected,  which  in 
Christian  Science  has  become  the  head  of  the  corner. 

From  whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined  together  and 
compacted  by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth,  according 
to  the  effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every  part, 
maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in 
love  (Eph.  iv.,  16). 

• 

The  true  Christian  Scientist,  in  obedience  to  our 
Leader's  request  to  her  "dear  brethren  in  New  York 
...  to  build  ...  on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation, 
than  which  there  is  no  other  "  {Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  is  losing  all  sense  of  matter  as  real,  and 
is  gaining  the  understanding  of  his  sonship  with  God, 
Principle,  eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

Ques.  I  hear  much  about  not  judging.  Should  we 
not  judge  between  good  and  evil? 

Ans.  The  Master  surely  judged  between  good  and 
evil.  Of  his  disciples  he  said,  "Ye  are  the  light  of  the 
world.  A  city  that  is  set  on  an  hill  cannot  be  hid" 
(Matt,  v.,  14).  He  called  some  "fools  and  blind" — 
others  "whited  sepulchres."  He  condemned  sin  and 
the  sinner.  He  knew  the  human  false  sense  to  be  evil. 
His  pure  spiritual  sense  uncovered,  condemned,  and 
destroyed  impersonal  evil  through  whomsoever  evil 
was  personified.  He  was  the  reflector  of  Truth,  whose 
immutable  law  to  error  is:  "Thou  shalt  surely  die." 
He  judged  righteous  judgment.  We  must  judge  be- 
tween Truth  and  the  lie,  between  personified  good  and 
personified  evil.  We  must  choose  our  companions,  and 
avoid  evil  associates  who  personalize  error,  unless 
we  can  help  them.  We  classify  ourselves.  The  sep- 
aration of  the  tares  and  the  wheat  illustrates  the  law 
of  Truth. 


1062  Fruits  of  Experience 

I  always  wondered  why  Melchizedek,  when  he  met 
Abraham  returning  from  the  slaughter  of  the  kings, 
blessed  him.  Metaphysically  understood,  these  kings 
were  mortals,  governed  by  evil.  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
"Jesus  defined  devil  as  a  mortal  who  is  full  of  evil" 
(No  and  Yes,  p.  22).  Abraham's  spiritual  sense  dis- 
cerned the  evil  that  was  working  through  these  highest 
representatives  of  temporal  power.  Their  thoughts 
were  murderous.  These  physical  personalities — mental 
murderers,  mental  robbers,  mental  assassins — personi- 
fied evil,  and  Abraham,  through  spiritual  thought- 
force,  his  God-consciousness,  destroyed  the  sin.  There 
was  not  enough  of  good  in  those  rulers  to  respond  to  the 
Truth  which  Abraham  reflected. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 
• 
It  is  not  well  to  maintain  the  position  that  sin  is  sin  and 
can  take  possession  of  us  and  destroy  us,  but  well  that  we 
take  possession  of  sin  with  such  a  sense  of  its  nullity  as 
destroys  it  (Message  for  1901,  p.  49). 

On  page  41  of  the  same  Message  we  find, 

We  do  not  blot  out  the  material  race  of  Adam,  but  leave 
all  sin  to  God's  fiat — self-extinction,  and  to  the  final  mani- 
festation of  the  real  spiritual  man  and  universe. 

The  power  of  the  Christ-mind  in  Abraham  did  not  blot 
out  the  kings;  it  condemned  and  uncovered  the  evil, 
and  left  the  sin  and  the  sinner  to  God's  fiat.  Sin  de- 
stroyed itself  and  its  manifestation — the  matter  body. 

The  so-called  sinner  is  a  suicide.  Sin  kills  the  sinner  and 
will  continue  to  kill  him  so  long  as  he  sins.  The  foam 
and  fury  of  illegitimate  living  and  of  fearful  and  doleful 
dying  should  disappear  on  the  shore  of  time.  .  .  . 


Fruits  of  Experience  1063 

It  is  evil  that  dies ;  good  dies  not  (Science  and  Health,  pp. 
203,  204). 

Spiritual  man  will  finally  be  manifest ;  for  him  there  is 
no  extinction.  David  and  all  the  prophets  continually 
denounced  sin  and  the  sinner.  They  knew  that  as 
God's  representatives  they  must  rise  to  spiritual  supre- 
macy and  destroy  sin  in  themselves,  and  condemn  and 
denounce  impersonal  evil  through  whomsoever  it  was 
manifested.  Paul  is  authority  for  judging.  He  says: 
"But  he  that  is  spiritual  judgeth  all  things,  yet  he 
himself  is  judged  of  no  man"  (1  Cor.  ii.,  15).  In 
John  v.,  22  and  27  we  read: 

For  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed  all 
judgment  unto  the  Son.  .  .  . 

And  hath  given  him  [the  Son]  authority  to  execute  judg- 
ment also,  because  he  is  the  Son  of  man  [generic  man]. 

The  final  judgment  day,  when  Christ  shall  come  the 
second  time  to  condemn  evil  and  evil  doers,  is  described 
in  the  following  words: 

The  Lord  at  thy  right  hand  shall  strike  through  kings 
[personified  evils]  in  the  day  of  His  wrath  [the  day  of  the 
final  demonstration  of  the  supremacy  of  Spirit  over  the 
flesh,  or  good  over  evil]. 

He  shall  judge  among  the  heathen  [those  who  are  gov- 
erned by  the  so-called  carnal  mind],  He  shall  fill  the  places 
with  the  dead  bodies ;  He  shall  wound  the  heads  over  many 
countries  (Ps.  ex.,  5,  6). 

Christ  "has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall 
never  call  retreat."  He  is  coming  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  hearts  of  men,  and  is  demanding  recognition  of 
his  mighty  power  and  presence  through  his  spiritual 
representatives.     He  is   surely   to-day   wounding   the 


1064  Fruits  of  Experience 

heads  of  many  countries.  Kings  and  potentates  tremble 
before  the  on-coming  Christ,  and  those  who  are  gov- 
erned by  pride  of  place  and  power,  who  are  controlled 
by  greed,  avarice,  and  belief  in  the  reality  of  material 
things,  have  felt  the  potency  of  the  ideal  man  who  has 
already  begun  to  overturn  evil  in  a  material  world. 
Error  is  being  driven  to  its  own  self-destruction,  and  it 
will  finally  cease  to  claim  that  it  is  person,  place,  or 
thing.  Thus  God  and  His  Christ — the  ideal  man — will 
be  revealed.  Christ,  and  they  who  follow  Christ  Jesus, 
judge  righteous  judgment.  He  who  is  spiritual  judgeth 
all  things.  He  knows  the  reality  of  man  in  the  image 
and  likeness  of  God,  and  the  unreality  of  mortal,  so- 
called  man,  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  error.  With 
divine  love  he  cooperates  with  God  to  destroy  evil  and 
save  the  sinner,  if  this  be  possible.  If  not,  he  leaves 
sin  and  the  sinner  to  God's  fiat — self-extinction — 
knowing  that  the  real  man  will  finally  appear  in  the 
image  of  Truth  and  Love. 

Our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  sums  it  all  up  in 
these  words : 

Every  material  belief  hints  the  existence  of  spiritual 
reality;  and  if  mortals  are  instructed  in  spiritual  things,  it 
will  be  seen  that  material  belief,  in  all  its  manifestations, 
reversed,  will  be  found  the  type  and  representative  of 
verities  priceless,  eternal,  and  just  at  hand  (Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  60). 

Human  hypotheses  are  always  human  vagaries,  formu- 
lated views  antagonistic  to  the  divine  order  and  the  nature 
of  Deity.  All  these  mortal  beliefs  will  be  purged  and  dis- 
solved in  the  crucible  of  Truth,  and  the  places  once  knowing 
them  will  know  them  no  more  forever,  having  been  swept 
clean  by  the  winds  of  history.  The  grand  verities  of  Science 
will  sift  the  chaff  from  the  wheat,  until  it  is  clear  to  human 


Fruits  of  Experience  1065 

comprehension  that  man  was,  and  is,  God's  perfect  like- 
ness, that  reflects  all  whereby  we  can  know  God  (Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  pp.  78,  79). 

The  education  of  the  future  will  be  instruction,  in  spirit- 
ual Science,  against  the  material  symbolic  counterfeit 
sciences.  All  the  knowledge  and  vain  strivings  of  mortal 
mind,  that  lead  to  death, — even  when  aping  the  wisdom 
and  magnitude  of  immortal  Mind, — will  be  swallowed  up 
by  the  reality  and  omnipotence  of  Truth  over  error,  and  of 
Life  over  death  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  61). 


DIVINE  GUIDANCE 

Oh !     Parent  arms  encircle  me  to-day, 
And  draw  me  closer,  as  I  trust  and  pray. 

In  Thy  pure  light  of  love 

I  see  Thy  man ; 
Thy  mirrored  image, 

Perfect,  real,  I  scan. 
The  earth  mists  vanish, 

Love  reveals  Her  smile, 
And  gently  whispers, 

"Bide  with  me  awhile." 

Yes,  gentle  Presence,  Love, 

We  linger  here, 
While  shadows  vanish 

And  Thy  voice  we  hear 
In  tender  tones, 

And  tremulous  and  true, 
"  This  is  My  image 

Face  to  face  with  you. 

"This  is  My  likeness,  this 

My  perfect  plan, 
My  image  radiant 

In  the  face  of  man." 


io66  Fruits  of  Experience 


Thus  face  to  face  with  Love, 

The  Life,  the  Way, 
Earth's  night  gives  place 

To  Love's  eternal  day. 

A.  E.  S. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
September  30,  191 1. 

Dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  ; — 

Referring  to  the  statement  in  your  letter  that  "the 
spirit  of  Mrs.  Eddy  is  now  with  you,"  permit  me  to 
correct  an  impression  which  your  words  may  convey 
to  many. 

There  is  but  one  Spirit,  one  God.  Mrs.  Eddy  is  an 
individual  idea,  or  reflector,  of  the  source  of  all  being, 
Spirit,  Mind,  God.  Having  attained  to  greater  spirit- 
ual realization  of  the  Principle  of  being,  omnipotent, 
omniscient,  omnipresent  consciousness,  she  radiates  to 
all,  who  are  receptive  of  Truth,  the  power  of  divine 
Mind. 

For  many  years  since  her  discovery  of  the  Science  of 
being,  viz.:  "All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  mani- 
festation" (Science  and  Health,  p.  468),  she  has  reflected 
mentally,  and  expressed  audibly,  the  Truth  as  found  in 
the  Holy  Bible,  taught  in  her  book,  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  her  other  writings,  and 
in  her  Christly  life  and  example.  This  spiritual  influence 
was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  her  individual  spiritual  identity. 
Her  spiritual  individuality,  the  idea  of  God,  is  with  me 
as  sensibly  to-day  as  when  she  was  visible  to  my  finite 
view,  and  material  sense  clothed  her  in  flesh.  It  was 
corporeal  sense  which  beheld  her  as  a  fleshly  embodi- 
ment, but,  entirely  apart  from  this  material  concept 


Fruits  of  Experience  1067 

was,  and  is,  the  real  spiritual  personality,  the  woman 
of  God's  creating. 

This  spiritual  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
interpreted  "  the  great  First  Cause  "  {Science  and  Health, 
p.  547) — Spirit,  or  Mind,  comprehended  man's  oneness 
with  omnipotence,  or  the  Principle  of  scientific  being, 
consciousness,  or  thought-force,  and  led  the  present 
generation  to  the  worship  of  God  in  Mind.  Therefore 
you  will  agree  with  me  that  her  divine,  or  Christ- 
consciousness,  is  influencing  you  and  me,  all  her  students, 
and  universal  mankind,  so  far  as  each  acknowledges, 
understands  and  thereby  is  individually  swayed  by  her 
Christly  mental  power.  Her  Father  is  my  Father  and 
your  Father;  her  God  is  my  God  and  your  God.  The 
supreme  Power,  intelligence,  or  consciousness,  is  our 
source  of  being.  We  are  individual  ideas  proceeding 
from  the  Principle  of  being,  eternal  Life,  Love,  Truth. 
We  do  not  blend  with  another's  individuality.  You 
and  I  are  individual  reflectors  of  the  law  of  wisdom  and 
intelligence.  We  are  as  distinct  as  numbers  which 
represent  the  principle  of  mathematics.  "All  are  but 
parts  of  one  stupendous  whole. "     St.  Paul  says: 

From  whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined  together  and 
compacted  by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth,  according 
to  the  effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every  part, 
maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in 
love  (Eph.  iv.,  16). 

This  is  divine  metaphysics.  Its  first  postulate 
declares  but  one  God,  or  divine  Mind,  and  individual 
man  as  an  emanation  or  expression  of  creative  Mind, 
the  Principle  of  all  real  being,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  Love. 
This  is  God,  and  His  infinite  manifestation  is  the  spirit- 
ual universe,  including  every  idea  from  the  infinitesimal 


1068  Fruits  of  Experience 

to  the  infinite,  called  in  Scripture,  God  and  His  Christ. 
Thus  we  learn  that  there  is  but  one  God,  one  Christ,  or 
the  infinite  manifestation  of  infinite  Mind.  From  this 
spiritual  logic  we  comprehend  that  we  are  individual 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  all  governed  by  the 
law  of  God,  than  which  there  is  no  other. 

Acknowledging  one  God,  admitting  no  other  mind 
than  the  Mind  of  Christ,  Truth,  denying  the  claim  of 
so-called  mortal  mind,  or  the  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
denouncing  the  claim  of  evil  in  all  its  forms  and  phases, 
refusing  to  admit  as  real  or  to  obey  material  so-called 
law  as  having  power,  we  exercise  our  Christ-conscious- 
ness to  individualize  and  utilize  spiritual  power,  our 
God-given  mental  dominion,  which  has  in  it  only  the 
elements  of  Life,  Truth,  Love.  This  spiritual  mental 
thought-force  was  the  power  which  Jesus  employed 
in  casting  out  evil  thoughts,  and  was  the  Christ-mind 
with  which  he  did  his  wonderful  works.  This  is  man's 
prerogative — to  demonstrate  the  law  of  God. 

To  your  question:  "What  is  God — a  person  or  a 
power?  "  I  answer  in  the  words  of  our  Leader: 

We  understand  that  God  is  personal  in  a  scientific  sense, 
but  is  not  corporeal  nor  anthropomorphic.  We  understand 
that  God  is  not  finite;  He  is  the  infinite  Person.  .  .  . 

We  believe,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  that  God  is 
infinite  Spirit  or  Person,  and  man  is  His  image  and  likeness: 
therefore  man  reflects  Spirit,  not  matter. 

We  are  not  transcendentalists  to  the  extent  of  extinguish- 
ing anything  that  is  real,  good,  or  true;  for  God  and  man  in 
divine  Science,  or  the  logic  of  Truth,  are  coexistent  and 
eternal,  and  the  nature  of  God  must  be  seen  in  man,  who  is 
His  eternal  image  and  likeness  {llessage  to  The  Mother 
Church,  iqoi,  pp.  40,  41). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1069 

You  must  already  be  convinced  that  God  is  Power, 
omnipotent  and  ever-present  in  His  expression,  spiritual 
man,  never  in  material  so-called  man. 

Your  next  question:  "Is  God's  law  what  is  called 
'Nature's  Laws?'"  I  will  answer  by  again  quoting 
from  Mrs.  Eddy's  book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures,  "Laws  of  nature  are  laws  of  Spirit; 
but  mortals  commonly  recognize  as  law  that  which  hides 
the  power  of  Spirit"  (p.  183).  Mortals,  or  mankind, 
talk  of  material  law.  There  is  but  one  law — the  law 
of  God,  good.  Mortal  so-called  man  cannot  spiritually 
interpret  God's  law.  He  reverses  the  law  of  Life, 
Truth,  and  Love,  and  is  governed  by  a  false  mentality 
called  mortal  mind  which  expresses  discord,  sin,  disease, 
and  death.  "The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God: 
for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God"  (Rom.  viii.,  7). 
Again  quoting  Mrs.  Eddy: 

Truth  casts  out  all  evils  and  materialistic  methods  with 
the  actual  spiritual  law.  .  .  .      {Science  and  Health,  p.  183). 

In  a  world  of  sin  and  sensuality  hastening  to  a  greater 
development  of  power,  it  is  wise  earnestly  to  consider 
whether  it  is  the  human  mind  or  the  divine  Mind  which  is 
influencing  one.  .  .  . 

Science  only  can  explain  the  incredible  good  and  evil 
elements  now  coming  to  the  surface  {Science  and  Health, 
pp.  82,  83). 

You  understand  that  from  divine  Mind  no  evil  force 
can  emanate.  Christian  Scientists  admit  but  one 
Mind,  the  divine.  From  this  Mind  proceed  spiritual 
individualities  which  comprise  the  manifestation  of 
eternal  being,  divine  Love,  immutable  Truth.  A  true 
Christian  Scientist  understands  that  he  possesses  and 
must  demonstrate  the  qualities  of  God,  the  Principle  of 


1070  Fruits  of  Experience 

all  real  being.  In  simple  language,  he  must  think 
God's  thoughts  after  Him.  He  must  regard  himself 
as  God's  representative,  as  the  executor  of  spiritual 
law,  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  He  must  contend  against 
the  seeming  forces  of  evil,  or  the  belief  that  matter  is 
sentient  substance.  He  must  bring  the  forces  of  good, 
his  spiritual  God-consciousness,  to  bear  upon  the  claim 
of  evil  in  all  its  forms  and  phases,  manifested  in  fear, 
hate,  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  etc.,  or  what  we  call 
ignorant,  or  malicious,  animal  magnetism  which  con- 
stitutes the  so-called  mortal  mind.  No  one  in  the 
present  hour  of  spiritual  development  has  fully  attained 
the  Mind  of  Christ;  no  one  has  yet  gained  a  wholly 
spiritual  consciousness  which  will  give  absolute  domin- 
ion over  all  evil,  sin,  disease,  and  death.  But  the  true 
Christian  Scientist  declares  for  the  absolute  Principle 
of  being  and  works  for  its  demonstration.  You  can 
never  demonstrate  the  Science  of  being  by  arguing 
from  two  premises — good  and  evil,  Mind  and  matter, 
Love  and  hate,  Life  and  death,  immortality  and  mor- 
tality.    This  is  divine  logic. 

When  the  world  understands  that  Christian  Scientists 
are  using  the  spiritual  forces  of  good — God  thoughts — 
to  abolish  the  claim  of  the  forces  of  evil  thoughts,  or 
malicious  animal  magnetism,  it  will  understand  that 
we  have  a  perfect  right  to  use  the  Word  of  God,  our 
Christ-mind,  to  denounce  evil,  and  mentally  and 
audibly  to  defend  ourselves  against  the  mental  robber 
and  assassin,  who  would  enter  our  mental  precincts  and 
destroy  us.  We  have  divine  authority  to  mentally 
arrest  evil  thinkers  and  evil-doers,  just  as  in  the  material 
world  the  police  officer  has  authority  to  arrest  the 
lawless.  I  shall  execute  my  divine  commission  to  use 
"the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  .  .  .  the  word  of    God," 


Fruits  of  Experience  1071 

to  every  suggestion  of  error  that  comes  to  me  from 
within  and  without.  "When  error  confronts  you, 
withhold  not  the  rebuke  or  the  explanation  which 
destroys  error"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  452). 

You  will  agree  with  me  that  Jesus  was  our  Way- 
shower  to  dominion  over  sin,  disease,  and  death.  Mrs. 
Eddy  has  taught  us  his  mental  power  over  evil.  We 
must  fight  for  eternal  Life  as  he  fought  and  as  others 
who  have  followed  him  have  done.  Mrs.  Eddy  will 
demonstrate,  as  did  Jesus,  the  power  of  her  divine 
individuality  or  spiritual  identity,  and  they  who  look 
for  her  will  see  the  demonstration  of  the  ideal  woman, 
just  as  twenty  centuries  ago  they  saw  the  manifestation 
of  the  ideal  man,  or  the  compound  idea. 

Let  us  recognize  the  spiritual  fact  that  our  influence  is 
mental,  and  that  it  extends  to  others,  and  operates  to 
elevate  to  higher  ideals  all  who  are  receptive  of  the 
good  which  we  reflect.  It  naturally  follows  that  evil 
thoughts  have  their  power  to  influence  all  who  have 
an  affinity  for  evil.  "Like  attracts  like."  Christian 
Scientists  quickly  detect  the  mental  miasma  of  so-called 
mortal  mind.  With  the  antidote  of  Truth  they  cast 
out  and  destroy  for  themselves  the  claim  of  the  power 
of  evil  to  injure  or  destroy  them.  Thus  you  see  that 
our  beloved  Leader's  spiritual  influence,  as  God's  idea, 
is  with  all  who  are  receptive  of  God's  ever-present  re- 
presentative, the  Christ,  or  the  impersonal  idea. 
Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.   Stetson. 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  1,  191 1. 

My  dear  Student: — 

You  say  that  you  have  been  reading  the  book  pub- 
lished  by   the   Christian   Science   Publishing   Society 


1072  Fruits  of  Experience 

entitled  Editorial  Comments  on  the  Life  and  Works  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  you  add — "In  studying  the 
Bible  Lesson  this  week,  the  subject  of  which  is  'Are 
Sin,  Disease,  and  Death  Real?' — I  find  myself  ques- 
tioning why  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church 
permitted  to  be  published,  and  thereby  endorsed, 
excerpts  from  editorial  comments,  the  writers  of  which 
believe  in  the  reality  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  I  was 
particularly  moved  by  the  following  comments : 

'  Two  nights  ago  a  frail  little  old  gentlewoman  died.  .  .  . 
A  million  hearts  silently  mourned  her  for  a  moment,  but, 
in  accordance  with  her  own  teachings,  it  was  only  a  tribute 
of  love  and  loyalty  for  the  brighter  and  better  view-point 
of  their  own  life  and  death.'  " 

I  am  glad  to  know,  my  dear  student,  that  you  resist 
this  publication  which  is  so  absolutely  the  reverse  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching.  Where,  in  any  of  her  writings, 
has  she  ever  taught  us  the  reality  of  death  ?  Mrs.  Eddy 
says,  in  Unity  of  Good,  page  38,  "It  is  unchristian  to 
believe  in  the  transition  called  material  death,  since 
matter  has  no  life,  and  such  misbelief  must  enthrone 
another  power,  an  imaginary  life,  above  the  living  and 
true  God."  Permit  me  to  quote  from  the  pamphlet 
this  expression:  "A  loved  and  revered  Leader  had 
exchanged  a  mortal  form  for  an  immortal  one"  (p.  8). 

Our  beloved  Leader  taught  her  followers  that  "  Death 
is  not  a  stepping-stone  to  Life,  immortality,  and  bliss" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  203),  and  that 

Death  has  no  quality  of  Life ;  and  no  divine  fiat  commands 
us  to  believe  in  aught  which  is  unlike  God,  or  to  deny  that 
He  is  Life  eternal. 

Death,    then,   is   error,  opposed   to   Truth, — even   the 


Fruits  of  Experience  1073 

unreality  of  mortal  mind,  not  the  reality  of  that  Mind 
which  is  Life  (Unity  of  Good,  p.  38). 


Another  comment  from  page  nine  of  the  pamphlet 
reads:  "With  the  death  of  Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
there  passes  from  this  world's  activities  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  women  of  her  time." 

Here  is  another  admission  that  Mrs.  Eddy  is  dead, 
and  that  she  has  passed  "from  this  world's  activities." 
While  she  tabernacled,  apparently  in  the  flesh,  she  was  a 
potent  factor  in  elevating  mankind  to  the  contemplation 
of  man  as  immortal,  and  in  all  her  writings  she  repudi- 
ated the  teachings  of  scholastic  theology — the  belief  that 
sin,  sickness,  and  death  are  real.  Her  last  words  ere 
she  entered  upon  her  final  demonstration  were — "God 
is  my  life."  Has  omnipotent  Life  ceased  to  manifest 
its  power  and  presence  through  its  spiritual  idea,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy?  Was  so-called  matter  ever  the  represen- 
tative of  omniactive  Mind?  Did  so-called  mortal 
mind,  or  non-intelligent  matter,  ever  teach  the  allness 
of  Spirit,  and  the  nothingness  of  matter?  Has  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  the  spiritual  idea,  the  representative  of 
divine  Mind  passed  from  this  world's  activities?  Hear 
her  own  words,  "To-day,  being  with  you  in  spirit, 
what  need  that  I  should  be  present  in  propria  persona?  " 
{Pulpit  and  Press,  p.  1). 

Again,  in  Unity  of  Good,  pages  60  and  61,  our  beloved 
Leader  says:  "Rising  above  the  false,  to  the  true  evi- 
dence of  Life,  is  the  resurrection  that  takes  hold  of 
eternal  Truth.  Coming  and  going  belong  to  mortal 
consciousness. " 

Christian  Scientists  have  been  taught  by  their  Leader 
that  there  is  no  reality  in  what  is  termed  mortal  con- 
sciousness, and  its  material  embodiment. 

68 


1074  Fruits  of  Experience 

Immortal  Mind  is  the  only  cause;  therefore  disease  is 
neither  a  cause  nor  an  effect.  Mind  in  every  case  is  the 
eternal  God,  good.  Sin,  disease,  and  death  have  no 
foundations  in  Truth  (Science  and  Health,  p.  415). 
The  so-called  appearing,  disappearing,  and  reappearing  of 
ever-presence,  in  whom  is  no  variableness  or  shadow  of 
turning,  is  the  false  human  sense  of  that  light  which  shin- 
eth  in  darkness,  and  the  darkness  comprehendeth  it  not 
(Unity  of  Good,  p.  63). 

Our  revered  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  as  she  en- 
tered upon  her  final  demonstration  said,  "God  is 
my  life."  She  asks,  "Can  matter  drive  Life,  Spirit, 
hence,  and  so  defeat  omnipotence?"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  357).     Again  she  declares: 

Who  lives  in  good,  lives  also  in  God, — lives  in  all  Life, 
through  all  space.  .  .  .  His  existence  is  deathless,  forever 
unfolding  its  eternal  Principle.  .  .  .  Reflect  this  Life,  and 
with  it  cometh  the  full  power  of  being  (Pulpit  and  Press, 
P-4)- 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  has  always  lived  in  God.  This  is 
the  eternal  reality  of  every  one.  She  reflected,  and 
continues  to  reflect  Life  and  its  activities.  By  the 
ceaseless  operation  of  Spirit,  through  its  impersonal 
idea,  she  is  to-day  leading  humanity  outward,  onward, 
upward  to  health,  holiness,  and  immortality. 

Mrs.  Eddy  teaches  that: 

Life,  God,  being  everywhere,  it  must  follow  that  death 
can  be  nowhere.  .  .  . 

With  Christ,  Life  was  not  merely  a  sense  of  existence, 
but  a  sense  of  might  and  ability  to  subdue  material  con- 
ditions (Unity  of  Good,  p.  42). 

Mrs.  Eddy  is  subduing  and  annihilating  the  false 


Fruits  of  Experience  1075 

belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  is  awaking  the  world  to 
see  the  unreality  of  so-called  mortal  man  and  the 
material  universe.  She  will  continue  this  reflection 
of  Life,  omnipotent  Truth  and  Love,  until  the  "ac- 
cuser of  our  brethren"  (the  claim  of  evil),  is  cast  down 
to  the  earth,  its  native  nothingness,  and  she  glorifies 
God  in  her  reappearance,  in  justification  of  her  teach- 
ing, "There  Is  no  Death"  (Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
vol.  xii.,  p.  10). 

To  those  not  having  attained  to  the  spiritual  per- 
ception of  Mary  Baker  Eddy's  teachings  as  to  the 
reality  of  Spirit,  and  the  unreality  of  matter,  apply 
these  words: 

Holding  a  material  sense  of  Life,  and  lacking  the  spirit- 
ual sense  of  it,  mortals  die,  in  belief,  and  regard  all  things 
as  temporal.  A  sense  material  apprehends  nothing  strictly 
belonging  to  the  nature  and  office  of  Life.  It  conceives 
and  beholds  nothing  but  mortality,  and  has  but  a  feeble 
concept  of  immortality  (Unity  of  Good,  pp.  40, 41). 

Mrs.  Eddy  was  not  a  material  reformer  in  the  usual 
acceptance  of  the  term.  She  did  not  uplift  humanity 
through  human  ethics,  and  higher  material  ideals,  from 
the  basis  of  a  false  claim  of  life  in  matter,  but  through 
the  ethics  of  Truth.  She  was  the  God-inspired  Messen- 
ger to  lead  humanity  out  of  the  belief  of  life,  substance, 
and  intelligence  in  matter,  into  the  understanding  of 
life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  Mind.  She  was  not 
the  founder  of  a  sect,  but  was  the  "scribe  of  Spirit" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  571),  the  divine  revelator,  to  this 
generation,  of  the  deep  things  of  God. 

She  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  the  witness  for  eternal 
Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  Of  her  it  may  be  said,  that  she 
took  "the  precious  from  the  vile,"  and  became  the 


1076  Fruits  of  Experience 

mouthpiece  of  God,  the  anointed  of  this  age.  She  will 
come  forth  as  the  ideal  woman,  in  the  image  and  like- 
ness of  Love.  As  Jesus  manifested  the  fatherhood  of 
God,  so  will  Mary  Baker  Eddy  represent  the  mother- 
hood of  God,  and  will  glorify  the  Principle  of  scientific 
being. 

All  the  material  beliefs  which  compose  a  so-called 
material  universe,  combined,  cannot  prevent  the  resur- 
rection of  human  hope  and  faith  to  behold  the  fulfilment 
of  the  law  of  Love,  which  will  be  manifest  at  the  re- 
appearance of  the  ideal  woman,  now  known  to  the  world 
as  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  Finally  the  compound  idea  will 
burst  the  fetters  of  mortal  thought,  and  death  will  be 
found  to  be  an  illusion  of  material  sense,  of  which 
spiritual  sense  has  no  cognizance. 

Immortal  Mind,  governing  all,  must  be  acknowledged  as 
supreme  in  the  physical  realm,  so-called,  as  well  as  in  the 
spiritual  {Science  and  Health,  p.  427). 

The  great  spiritual  fact  must  be  brought  out  that  man 
is,  not  shall  be,  perfect  and  immortal.  We  must  hold  for- 
ever the  consciousness  of  existence,  and  sooner  or  later, 
through  Christ  and  Christian  Science,  we  must  master  sin 
and  death  (Science  and  Health,  p.  428). 

Resurrection  from  the  dead  (that  is,  from  the  belief 
in  death)  must  come  to  all  sooner  or  later  (Unity  of  Good, 
p.  41). 

Christ  promised  that  he  would  come  again,  and  asked 
if,  at  his  second  appearing,  he  would  find  faith  on  the 
earth.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "The  second  appearing  of 
Jesus  is,  unquestionably,  the  spiritual  advent  of  the 
advancing  idea  of  God,  as  in  Christian  Science"  (Re- 
trospection and  Introspection,  p.  70). 

Elisha  said  to  Elijah: 


Fruits  of  Experience  1077 

I  pray  thee,  let  a  double  portion  of  thy  spirit  be  upon 
me. 

And  he  said,  ...  if  thou  see  me  when  I  am  taken  from 
thee,  it  shall  be  so  unto  thee;  but  if  not,  it  shall  not  be 
so  (2  Kings  ii.,  9,  10). 

Christian  Scientists  have  prayed  for  years  that  a 
double  portion  of  the  spirit  of  Truth  and  Love  be  upon 
them,  that  is,  that  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the 
teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  in  Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  be  apprehended  and  demon- 
strated in  their  lives.  Therefore  Christian  Scientists 
to-day  are  rejoicing  that  when  their  Leader,  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  rose  to  a  higher  exaltation  of  spiritual 
consciousness,  they  were  able  mentally  to  follow  her 
further  triumph  over  mortal  mentality.  In  other 
words,  they  saw  her  spiritual  identity,  her  true  individ- 
uality as  impersonal  idea,  as  she  rose  beyond  corporeal 
vision.  Therefore  they  claim  a  double  portion  of  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  her  teaching,  and  are  building,  ac- 
cording to  her  request, — "on  a  wholly  spiritual  founda- 
tion, than  which  there  is  no  other"  {Christian  Science 
Sentinel,  vol.  xi.f  p.  390).     Again  she  says: 

When  we  realize  that  Life  is  Spirit,  never  in  nor  of 
matter,  this  understanding  will  expand  into  self-com- 
pleteness, finding  all  in  God,  good,  and  needing  no  other 
consciousness  {Science  and  Health,  p.  264). 
Man's  real  life  or  existence  is  in  harmony  with  Life  and 
its  glorious  phenomena.  ...  I  must  ever  follow  this  line 
of  light  and  battle  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  105). 

Mrs.  Eddy  is  following  this  "line  of  light  and  battle," 
and  the  "gates  of  hell "  cannot  prevail  against  her  demon- 
stration.    Those  who  believe  in  death,  or  who  chronicle 


1078  Fruits  of  Experience 

it,  or  teach  it,  will  not  have  the  spiritual  vision  to  behold 
their  Leader  at  her  reappearing,  but  will  remain  in  the 
darkness  of  belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  its  consequence — 
death — still  admitting  as  real,  a  material  universe  with 
its  false  illusive  phenomena,  sin,  disease,  and  death. 
Mrs.  Eddy  declares  these  are  not  real,  and  to  the 
spiritually  illumined  they  are  but  dissolving  views  of 
so-called  mortal  mind.  "His  unseen  individuality,  so 
superior  to  that  which  was  seen,  was  not  subject  to  .  .  . 
laws  material,  to  death,  or  the  grave"  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  104).  Mrs.  Eddy's  unseen  individuality 
is  not  subject  to  "laws  material,  to  death,  or  the  grave. " 
She  says: 

I  had  learned  that  Mind  reconstructed  the  body,  and  that 
nothing  else  could.  How  it  was  done,  the  spiritual  Science 
of  Mind  must  reveal.  It  was  a  mystery  to  me  then,  but  I 
have  since  understood  it  {Retrospection  and  Introspection, 
p.  28). 

Her  true  followers  believe  that  she  understood  "  the 
spiritual  Science  of  Mind."  If  one  understands  the 
principle  of  mathematics  or  of  music,  he  can  demon- 
strate it.  Mary  Baker  Eddy  will  demonstrate  her 
spiritual  ability  to  make  her  final  demonstration  of  the 
teachings  which  she  declares  that  she  understands. 
"  Death  is  the  consequent  of  an  antecedent  false  assump- 
tion" {No  and  Yes,  pp.  16,  17).  She  learned  that  this 
"antecedent  false  assumption"  was  unreal,  and  her 
spiritually  illumined  followers,  who,  like  Elisha,  saw 
their  Leader  as  idea,  and  did  not  deify  her  physical 
personality,  understand,  that  she  to  whom  this  mystery 
of  God  was  revealed,  will  prove  the  second  demonstrator 
of  eternal  Life. 

Again  permit  me  to  quote  from  the  pamphlet :    "The 


Fruits  of  Experience  1079 

deep  sorrow  felt  by  Christian  Scientists  over  the  death 
of  their  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,"  etc. 

Jesus  said  to  his  disciples: 

Nevertheless  I  tell  you  the  truth;  It  is  expedient  for  you 
that  I  go  away.  .  .   . 

But  I  will  see  you  again,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice, 
and  your  joy  no  man  taketh  from  you  (John  xvi.,  7,  22). 

Christian  Scientists  who  follow  Mrs.  Eddy  in 
spiritualization  of  thought,  did  not  sorrow  over  her 
higher  exaltation  as  she  rose  into  a  more  spiritual 
altitude,  but  they  rejoiced  that  she  was  continuing  in 
the  "line  of  light  and  battle"  against  error,  the  con- 
flict of  Spirit  over  the  fleshly  mind.  Christian  Scien- 
tists never  regarded  her  as  having  died,  because  she 
taught  them  that  matter  was  not  man,  that  it  (matter) 
possessed  neither  life,  intelligence,  nor  substance,  and 
that  it  has  no  life  to  surrender.  They  had  sufficiently 
assimilated  themselves  to  God,  to  feel  no  separation 
between  themselves  and  their  beloved  Leader,  whom 
they  know  will  make  a  final  demonstration  over  death. 

Therefore  Christian  Scientists  do  not  endorse  the 
statement  that  they  felt  a  "deep  sorrow  over  the  death 
of  their  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,"  whom  they  never 
lost,  but  with  whom  they  continually  walk,  and  whose 
spiritual  presence  and  influence  they  constantly  ac- 
knowledge as  leading  them  to  the  Horeb  heights  of 
divine  Love.  They  rejoice  in  the  continual  unfoldment 
of  her  teaching  that  "man  is  not  material;  he  is  spirit- 
ual" (Science  and  Health,  p.  468).  They  are  gaining  an 
appreciation  of  her  words,  "This  time- world  flutters  in 
my  thought  as  an  unreal  shadow"  (Article  on  divorce 
vol.  xxiii.,  p.  63,  of  the  Christian  Science  Journal). 


1080  Fruits  of  Experience 

Mrs.  Eddy  tells  us  in  No  and  Yes,  page  22,  that 
"Jesus  defined  devil  as  a  mortal  who  is  full  of  evil." 
Sin,  sickness,  and  death  constitute  the  claim  of  evil. 
Any  one  who  believes  in,  or  endorses  the  claim  of  sin, 
sickness,  and  death",  is  a  mouthpiece  for  evil.  He  is 
a  witness  for  the  claim  of  sin  and  death.  He  is  making 
that  real  which  Christian  Science  teaches  us  is  unreal, 
and  is  sending  into  consciousness  the  mortal  thought 
which  Mrs.  Eddy  denounced,  and  which  she  bade  us 
overcome. 

Those  who  are  spiritually  alert  to  the  apprehension 
of  divine  metaphysics,  will  "occupy"  till  she  comes. 
They  will  fight  for  immortality — not  as  something  to  be 
attained,  but  as  their  eternal  birthright  to  be  redeemed. 
They  understand  that  they  have  always  been  God's 
image  and  likeness,  reflecting  the  dominion  of  Spirit, 
since  God  is  the  only  creator. 

There  is  no  mortal  mind — no  matter. 

Mortals  are  not  fallen  children  of  God.  They  never  had 
a  perfect  state  of  being,  which  may  subsequently  be  re- 
gained. They  were,  from  the  beginning  of  mortal  history, 
"  conceived  in  sin  and  brought  forth  in  iniquity."  Mortal- 
ity is  finally  swallowed  up  in  immortality  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  476). 

We  cannot  serve  two  masters;  we  cannot  declare 
that  we  are  mortal  and  immortal,  or  that  we  are  mortal 
now,  but  sometime  will  be  immortal.  We  must  know 
the  scientific  fact  of  being,  that  God  and  His  Christ  was, 
is,  and  ever  will  be  the  only  being — that  we  are  spiritual 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  that  there  is  not, 
and  never  has  been  any  other  existence.  Mrs.  Eddy 
says,  "  Simply  uttering  this  great  thought  is  not  enough ! 


Fruits  of  Experience  1081 

We  must  live  it,  until  God  becomes  the  All  and  Only 
of  our  being"  (No  and  Yes,  p.  25). 

Can  we  live  it  by  declaring  for  its  opposite — death; 
by  endorsing  the  opposite  of  Life — the  claim  of  death? 
Can  we  think  God,  Life,  and  sin  and  death  at  the  same 
instant?  Two  bodies  cannot  occupy  the  same  space  at 
the  same  time.  Can  we  accept  and  contend  for  spirit- 
ual consciousness  while  mentally  dwelling  in  the  illusion 
of  death,  and  publishing  this  false  claim  to  the  world? 
Is  it  promulgating  the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
to  send  into  human  consciousness  the  opposite  of  her 
teachings, — a  direct  contradiction  of  the  fundamental 
facts  of  her  writings?  Is  it  protecting  the  Cause  which 
she  established,  to  accept  and  proclaim  the  statements 
of  scholastic  theology,  and  those  who  believe  in  life  in 
matter, — thereby  darkening  the  minds  of  those  who 
are  struggling  for  the  light  of  spiritual  understanding  of 
her  words  which  will  liberate  them  from  the  bondage 
of  sin  and  death? 

Between  the  Christian  Scientist  who  spiritually 
understands  Mrs.  Eddy's  writings,  which  open  the 
mysteries  of  the  Bible,  the  spiritual  interpretation  of 
whose  pages  has  been  hidden  since  material  belief 
began,  and  the  materially  minded,  who  fail  to  interpret 
her  message  to  the  world,  there  is  a  wide  gulf.  There  is 
a  so-called  mortal  mind-healing  of  the  sick,  which  is 
human  will  power,  affording  only  temporary  relief. 
There  is  an  immortal  Mind-healing  of  the  sick,  which  is 
true  Christian  Science  healing  of  sin  and  the  sinner — the 
destruction  of  the  cause  of  all  disease  and  death — evil. 

Referring  to  these  false  claimants  of  spiritual  power 
to  destroy  disease,  Mrs.  Eddy  says : 

This  infantile  talk  about  Mind-healing  is  no  more  iden- 


io82  Fruits  of  Experience 

tical  with  Christian  Science  than  the  babe  is  identical  with 
the  adult,  or  the  human  belief  resembles  the  divine  idea. 
Hence  it  is  impossible  for  those  holding  such  material  and 
mortal  views  to  demonstrate  my  metaphysics.  Theirs  is 
the  sensous  thought,  which  brings  forth  its  own  sensuous 
conception.  Mine  is  the  spiritual  idea  which  transfigures 
thought  (No  and  Yes,  p.  26). 

Let  me  again  quote  from  the  Editorial  Comments: 
"The  passing  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  removes  one  who 
for  more  than  a  generation  past  has  been  a  force  of 
exceptional  magnitude  in  the  spiritual  life  of  a  large 
following"  (p.  11). 

Christian  Scientists  protest  against  the  statement 
that  their  Leader  has  been  removed.  Has  God  re- 
moved Mary  Baker  Eddy  from  the  universe?  She  is 
now  a  spiritual  "force  of  exceptional  magnitude  in  the 
spiritual  life  of  her  large  following."  The  comment 
continues : 

The  cult  which  she  introduced,  and  of  which  she  re- 
mained the  acknowledged  and  venerated  head  and  exponent 
to  the  very  end  of  her  long  life,  has  in  it  elements  which 
have  appealed  strongly  to  many  people. 

She  remains,  and  will  forever  remain  the  acknowledged 
head  and  exponent  of  Christian  Science,  not,  as  is  said, 
"to  the  very  end  of  her  long  life" — for  there  is  no  end 
to  her  life,  since  she,  herself,  said,  "God  is  my  life." 
As  God  is  the  only  Life,  and  man  is  spiritual  and  not 
material,  she  still  remains  the  representative  of  eternal 
Life,  Love,  and  Truth.  Her  students  and  followers 
regard  her  as  their  spiritual  Leader,  who  is  still  leading 
them  and  mankind  out  of  the  belief  of  life  in  matter, 
into  the  understanding  of  life  in  God. 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors  through 


Fruits  of  Experience  1083 

their  Publishing  Society  sends  this  quotation  from  the 
secular  press  broadcast  throughout  the  Field:  "The 
death  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  might  well  serve  as  inspira- 
tion for  a  new  beatitude ;  Blessed  are  they  who  need  no 
monument"  (p.  13). 

The  endorsement  of  such  a  suggestion  meets  the 
condemnation  of  holy  Scripture  in  the  following  words : 

For  I  testify  unto  every  man  that  heareth  the  words  of 
the  prophecy  of  this  book,  If  any  man  shall  add  unto  these 
things,  God  shall  add  unto  him  the  plagues  that  are  written 
in  this  book  (Rev.  xxii.,  18). 

Again  on  page  14  of  the  Editorial  Comments:  "The 
death  of  the  Founder  of  Christian  Science  removes 
from  the  world  one  of  the  most  remarkable  women  of 
all  time." 

The  Founder  of  Christian  Science  has  not  been 
removed  "from  the  world."  Her  presence  and  power, 
as  the  reflector  of  God,  is  to-day  fulfilling  the  Scripture: 
"I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn,  it.  .  .  .  until  he 
come  whose  right  it  is;  and  I  will  give  it  him"  (Ezek. 
xxi.,  27). 

Truth  and  Love  are  overturning  material  beliefs. 
The  old  mad  material  world  is  feeling  the  pulsating 
presence  of  on-coming  Truth.  It  is  the  "right"  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  to  make  her  demonstration,  and  all 
the  suppositional  powers  of  suppositional  mortal  mind 
cannot  prevent  that  demonstration,  nor  confuse  and 
bewilder  those  who,  through  the  lens  of  spiritual 
sense,  are  anticipating  her  reappearance  in  idea. 

Like  the  first  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science, 
Christ  Jesus,  who  was  appreciable  to  mortals  before 
he  finally  rose  beyond  their  limited  vision,  she  will 
present  the  self-same  Mary  Baker  Eddy  to  those  who 


1084  Fruits  of  Experience 

look  for  her  manifestation,  and  will  continue  with 
them,  reassuring  them  of  her  triumph  over  the  last 
enemy, — so-called  death.  The  fatherhood  and  mother- 
hood of  God,  the  ideal  man  and  the  ideal  woman,  will 
at  last  be  revealed.  We  hope,  and  trust  that  in  this 
age  we  may  continue  to  walk  with  her  till  her  final 
ascension  entirely  out  of  the  fleshly  phenomenon,  into 
the  spiritual  and  ideal.  Mrs.  Eddy  shows  the  fallacy 
of  working  from  two  premises  in  the  following  words : 

Stating  the  divine  Principle,  omnipotence  (omnis  potens) , 
and  then  departing  from  this  statement  and  taking  the  rule 
of  finite  matter,  with  which  to  work  out  the  problem  of 
infinity  or  Spirit, — all  this  is  like  trying  to  compensate  for 
the  absence  of  omnipotence  by  a  physical,  false,  and  finite 
substitute  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  58). 

The  letter  of  the  law  of  God,  separated  from  its  spirit, 
tends  to  demoralize  mortals,  and  must  be  corrected  by  a 
diviner  sense  of  liberty  and  light.  The  spirit  of  Truth 
extinguishes  false  thinking,  feeling,  and  acting;  and  falsity 
must  thus  decay,  ere  spiritual  sense,  affectional  conscious- 
ness, and  genuine  goodness  become  so  apparent  as  to  be 
well  understood  (Retrospection  and  Introspection,  p.  81). 

It  is  understood  by  all  Christian  Scientists  that  Mary 
Baker  Eddy  continues  her  great  work  in  universal 
human  consciousness,  and  that  it  is  not  carried  on  by 
human  belief,  nor  by  believers  in  sin,  sickness,  and 
death.  All  Christian  Scientists  will  read  with  remon- 
strance the  following  statement:  "Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
who  died  on  Saturday  night  at  a  ripe  old  age,  was  a 
woman  who  had  made  her  mark  upon  the  time  in 
which  she  lived"  (p.  17). 

Again  we  repeat,  Mary  Baker  Eddy  never  died. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  lives,  always  has  lived,  and  always 
will  live  as  an  individual  identity  and  manifestation  of 


Fruits  of  Experience  1085 

God,  who  is  her  life.  The  belief  of  age  which  is  a 
claim  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  in  matter, 
Mrs.  Eddy  taught  her  followers  to  repudiate.  Let  me 
quote  her  words: 

Never  record  ages.  .  .  .  Time-tables  of  birth  and  death 
are  so  many  conspiracies  against  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. .  .  . 

Let  us  then  shape  our  views  of  existence  into  loveliness, 
freshness,  and  continuity,  rather  than  into  age  and  blight 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  246). 

And  again  she  tells  us: 

It  is  well  to  know,  dear  reader,  that  our  material,  mortal 
history  is  but  the  record  of  dreams,  not  of  man's  real  exist- 
ence, and  the  dream  has  no  place  in  the  Science  of  being. 
It  is  "as  a  tale  that  is  told,"  and  "as  the  shadow  when  it 
declineth. "  The  heavenly  intent  of  earth's  shadows  is  to 
chasten  the  affections,  to  rebuke  human  consciousness  and 
turn  it  gladly  from  a  material,  false  sense  of  life  and  happi- 
ness, to  spiritual  joy  and  true  estimate  of  being. 

The  awakening  from  a  false  sense  of  life,  substance,  and 
mind  in  matter,  is  as  yet  imperfect ;  but  for  those  lucid  and 
enduring  lessons  of  Love  which  tend  to  this  result,  I  bless 
God. 

Mere  historic  incidents  and  personal  events  are  frivolous 
and  of  no  moment,  unless  they  illustrate  the  ethics  of  Truth. 
To  this  end,  but  only  to  this  end,  such  narrations  may  be 
admissible  and  advisable;  but  if  spiritual  conclusions  are 
separated  from  their  premises,  the  nexus  is  lost,  and  the 
argument,  with  its  rightful  conclusions,  becomes  corre- 
spondingly obscure.  The  human  history  needs  to  be 
revised,  and  the  material  record  expunged. 

It  may  be  that  the  mortal  life-battle  still  wages,  and  must 
continue  till  its  involved  errors  are  vanquished  by  victory- 


1086  Fruits  of  Experience 

bringing  Science ;  but  this  triumph  will  come !  God  is  over 
all.  He  alone  is  our  origin,  aim,  and  being  (Retrospection 
and  Introspection,  pp.  21,  22). 

This  triumph  of  Truth  over  error,  of  Life  over  death, 
will  appear  when  Christian  Scientists  spiritually  inter- 
pret, and  obey  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings, — when  they 
declare  for,  and  demonstrate  Truth,  eternal  Life. 

One  more  quotation  from  the  Editorial  Comments, 
page  18:  "Mrs.  Eddy  has  been  one  of  the  world's 
greatest  benefactors." 

Mrs.  Eddy  has  been,  and  is  and  will  continue  to  be 
one  of  the  world's  greatest  benefactors.  How  would  it 
sound  for  Christians  to  say,  that  Jesus  "has  been  one 
of  the  world's  greatest  benefactors"?  What  would  we 
think  of  a  Christian  who  would  relegate  Jesus'  influence 
to  the  past,  or  who  would  say,  "Christ  Jesus  has  been 
a  potent  factor  in  spiritual  leadership"?  The  world 
will  have  to  acknowledge  Mary  Baker  Eddy  as  the 
God-anointed  in  this  age,  through  whom  the  second 
time  He  sends  His  message,  and  through  whom  Christ 
continually  speaks — "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway. " 
Christian  Scientists  reiterate  the  words  of  Paul:  "For 
the  earnest  expectation  of  the  creature  waiteth  for 
the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God,"  and  "even 
we  ourselves  groan  within  ourselves,  waiting  for  the 
adoption,  to  wit,  the  redemption  of  our  body"  (Rom. 
viii.,  19,  23). 

The  Spirit  itself  beareth  witness  with  our  spirit,  that  we 
are  the  children  of  God : 

And  if  children,  then  heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs 
with  Christ  (Rom.  viii.,  16,  17). 

Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear 
what  we  shall  be  (1  John  iii.,  2). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1087 

Now  therefore  ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  foreigners, 
but  fellowcitizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the  household  of 
God  (Eph.  ii.,  19).   . 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  understood  the  Science  of  eternal 
Life,  followed  the  Way-shower,  Christ  Jesus,  and,  like 
him  at  the  moment  of  his  entrance  into  a  higher  spiritual 
consciousness,  she  laid  down  her  temporal  sense  of  life 
that  she  might  take  it  again.  At  this  point  in  her 
demonstration,  they  who  had  not  spiritual  vision  said 
of  her,  what  was  said  of  Jesus,  "but  we  trusted"  that 
she  would  have  proved  her  teachings.  In  Jesus'  hour 
there  were  doubting  Thomases.  There  were  those  who 
lost  sight  of  his  instructions,  and  those  who,  on  the 
walk  to  Emmaus,  did  not  recognize  him,  but  related 
the  experience  of  the  cross,  and  (to  them)  the  death  of 
their  Master.  Jesus  rose  to  spiritual  mental  heights 
beyond  their  material  vision,  which  could  no  longer 
discern  him. 

To-day,  Mary  Baker  Eddy  repeats  the  experience  of 
Christ  Jesus.  There  are  those  who,  contrary  to  her 
teachings,  believe  that  she  lived  and  died  in  matter  and 
has  "left  the  earth."  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and 
the  fulness  thereof"  (1  Cor.  x.,  26).  There  is  but 
one  earth,  a  spiritual  universe,  which  is,  our  Leader 
says,  "peopled  with  spiritual  beings"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  264).  Matter  is  not  there.  Those  who 
reason  for  it,  have  lost  the  chord  of  Christ,  and  do  not 
hear  the  voice  of  the  ever-present  spiritual  idea.  There 
are  those  to-day  on  the  walk  to  Emmaus,  who  are 
talking  of  their  Leader,  and  who  are  repeating  the 
experiences  of  their  association  with  her.  They  are 
admitting  the  universal  belief  in  death.  There  are 
doubting  Thomases  to-day,  who  declare  that  she  failed 
in   the   demonstration  of   her   teachings.     There   are 


1088  Fruits  of  Experience 

Peters,  who  are  warming  themselves  by  the  fire  (per- 
sonal ease  in  error),  and  are  betraying,  by  their  own 
words,  their  ignorance  of  divine  metaphysics,  or 
Christian  Science — which  declares  there  is  no  death. 

We  must  silence  this  lie  of  material  sense  with  the  truth 
of  spiritual  sense  {Science  and  Health,  p.  318). 

From  the  beginning  this  lie  was  the  false  witness  against 
the  fact  that  Spirit  is  All,  beside  which  there  is  no  other 
existence  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  36). 

If  man  believes  in  death  now,  he  must  disbelieve  in  it 
when  learning  that  there  is  no  reality  in  death,  since  the 
truth  of  being  is  deathless  {Science  and  Health,  p.  427). 

In  speaking  of  Christian  Science  Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Woman  must  give  it  birth.  It  must  be  begotten  of  spirit- 
uality, since  none  but  the  pure  in  heart  can  see  God, — 
the  Principle  of  all  things  pure;  and  none  but  the  "poor  in 
spirit"  could  first  state  this  Principle  {Retrospection  and 
Introspection,  p.  26). 

Mary  Baker  Eddy  gave  birth  to  Christian  Science. 
She  individualized  and  utilized  infinite  divine  power, 
and  through  the  reflection  of  Truth  she  uncovered  the 
myriad  forms  of  sin,  embraced  in  the  belief  of  a  mortal 
man  and  a  material  universe.  She  will  finish  her  work 
when  she  comes  forth  clad  in  immortality,  manifesting 
the  glory  of  the  Father,  expressing  the  image  and  like- 
ness of  divine  Love.  To  argue  from  any  other  postulate 
is  to  denounce  her  teachings,  deny  the  operation  of 
Spirit,  and  obscure  the  light  of  her  presence. 

Christian  Scientists  must  awake  to  the  demands  of  the 
hour.  They  must  gird  on  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the 
Word  of  God,  and  panoplied  in  Love,  they  must  go  out 
to  meet  the  belief  of  a  power  opposed  to  God. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1089 

Christian  Science  and  the  senses  are  at  war.  It  is  a 
revolutionary  struggle.  We  already  have  had  two  in  this 
nation ;  and  they  began  and  ended  in  a  contest  for  the  true 
idea,  for  human  liberty  and  rights.  Now  cometh  a  third 
struggle;  for  the  freedom  of  health,  holiness,  and  the  attain- 
ment of  heaven  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  101). 

Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "Posterity  will  have  the  right  to 
demand  that  Christian  Science  be  stated  and  demon- 
strated in  its  godliness  and  grandeur"  (Retrospection 
and  Introspection,  p.  61). 

We  duly  appreciate  the  friendly  and  sympathetic 
comments  made  by  the  writers  of  these  editorials,  and 
by  scholastic  theologians  who  believe  in  the  human 
experience  called  death.  But  we,  as  Christian  Scien- 
tists, cannot  promulgate  them,  nor  should  they  be  sent 
through  the  Field,  thereby  witnessing  to  the  belief  of 
life  in  matter.  Christian  Scientists  should  not  contra- 
dict their  Leader's  statement  that  All  is  Life,  by  de- 
claring that  she  failed  in  her  demonstration  like  an 
ordinary  mortal.  We  are  reminded  of  her  early  efforts 
to  arouse  humanity  from  the  deep  sleep  of  Adam,  to 
the  Science  of  eternal  being : 

Yet  when  I  recall  the  past, — how  the  gospel  of  healing 
was  simultaneously  praised  and  persecuted  in  Boston, — 
and  remember  also  that  God  is  just,  I  wonder  whether,  were 
our  dear  Master  in  our  New  England  metropolis  at  this  hour, 
he  would  not  weep  over  it,  as  he  wept  over  Jerusalem !  .  .  . 

An  unjust,  unmerciful,  and  oppressive  priesthood  must 
perish,  for  false  prophets  in  the  present  as  in  the  past 
stumble  onward  to  their  doom;  while  their  tabernacles 
crumble  with  dry  rot.  "  God  is  not  mocked, "  and  "  the  word 
of  the  Lord  endureth  forever"  (Pulpit  and  Press,  p.  7). 

Mrs.  Eddy  asks  to-day:  "Shall  we  have  a  spiritual 
Christianity  and  a  spiritual  healing,  or  a  materialistic 
69 


1090  Fruits  of  Experience 

religion  and  a  materia  medica?"     {Miscellaneous  Writ- 
ings, p.  246.) 

Christian  Scientists  must  awake  to  their  great  re- 
sponsibility. In  this  hour  they  must  stand  and  reso- 
lutely defend  the  teachings  of  absolute  Christian  Science. 
They  must  "occupy"  till  our  beloved  Leader  demon- 
strates the  omnipotence  of  Spirit,  and  comes  to  pro- 
nounce the  "Well  done,"  or  the  "Depart  from  me." 
The  times  demand  our  constant  vigilance,  and  untiring 
efforts  as  never  before,  in  this  final  battle  for  the  su- 
premacy of  Mind  over  the  claim  of  matter.  Our 
Leader's  words  should  ring  out  more  imperatively  than 
was  ever  before  heard  by  her  followers : 

Never  was  there  a  more  solemn  and  imperious  call  than 
God  makes  to  us  all,  right  here,  for  fervent  devotion  and  an 
absolute  consecration  to  the  greatest  and  holiest  of  all 
causes.  The  hour  is  come.  The  great  battle  of  Armaged- 
don is  upon  us.  The  powers  of  evil  are  leagued  together 
in  secret  conspiracy  against  the  Lord  and  against  His  Christ, 
as  expressed  and  operative  in  Christian  Science.  Large 
numbers,  in  desperate  malice,  are  engaged  day  and  night 
in  organizing  action  against  us.  Their  feeling  and  purpose 
are  deadly,  and  they  have  sworn  enmity  against  the  lives 
of  our  standard-bearers. 

What  will  you  do  about  it?  Will  you  be  equally  in 
earnest  for  the  truth?  Will  you  doff  your  lavender-kid 
zeal,  and  become  real  and  consecrated  warriors?  Will  you 
give  yourselves  wholly  and  irrevocably  to  the  great  work  of 
establishing  the  truth,  the  gospel,  and  the  Science  which 
are  necessary  to  the  salvation  of  the  world  from  error,  sin, 
disease,  and  death?  Answer  at  once  and  practically,  and 
answer  aright !     {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  177.) 

Faithfully  yours  in  Christian  Science, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1091 

7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
October  3,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  T.  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  is  before  me,  and  its  contents  noted. 
I  thank  you  for  your  kind  reference  to  my  writings,  but 
more  I  thank  God  that  they  appeal  to  you  as  genuine 
Christian  Science  as  taught  by  our  beloved  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy.  I  trust  that  you  are  aware  that  this 
is  the  testing  time  for  the  Field  of  Christian  Scientists. 
It  is  evident  that  many  are  called,  but  all  do  not  seem 
able  to  comprehend  divine  metaphysics ;  or,  if  they  grasp 
the  letter,  are  not  able  to  live  the  life  which  demonstrates 
spiritual  power  over  sin,  disease,  and  limitations. 

The  demonstrations  over  sin  and  sickness,  which 
are  possible  in  Christian  Science,  are  not  in  evidence 
as  they  should  be,  and  would  be  if  Christian  Scientists 
really  understood  and  lived  Christian  Science.  I  feel 
that  the  true  followers  of  our  Leader  must  gird  on  the 
armor  of  Truth,  and  defend  the  teachings  which  Mrs. 
Eddy  gave  the  world.  She  foresaw  this  hour,  but  she 
was  confident  that  some  of  her  students  were  equal  to 
the  occasion,  and  that  they  would  endure,  to  the  end, 
every  indignity,  every  wrong,  that  the  ignorant  or  evil 
can  inflict,  but  that  they  would  stand,  and  having  done 
all  would  stand. 

Hundreds  of  the  brethren  are  wondering  what,  when, 
and  why?  This  is  the  time  for  watching  and  prayer. 
Consecrated  Christian  Scientists  are  aware  of  the 
necessity  of  having  their  lamps  trimmed  and  burning. 
They  are  gaining  more  spiritual  power  by  a  closer  walk 
with  God,  and  are  healing  the  sick  in  the  way  our 
beloved  Leader  required,  by  destroying  the  sin  which 
causes  disease.  Love  is  enthroned.  The  world  will 
demand  proof  of  our  reflection  of  God  as  never  before. 
Healing,  so-called,  on  a  material  basis  has  come  to  be 


1092  Fruits  of  Experience 

understood  as  the  opposite  of  Christian  Science  Mind- 
healing  from  a  spiritual  consciousness. 

The  line  of  demarcation  between  those,  who  defend 
materiality  and  admit  death  as  real,  and  those  who 
defend  the  teaching  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  unflinchingly 
stand  for  immortality,  here,  now,  and  forever,  is  appar- 
ent, and  significant.  Spiritual  illumination  reveals  the 
spiritual  facts  of  being.  Finite  material  sense  objectifies 
its  concepts.  Is  it  not  surprising  that  so  many  still 
continue  to  evolve  material  phenomena?  Had  they 
served  God  as  faithfully  as  they  served  Caesar,  there 
would  have  been  no  need  of  the  cry,  "Give  us  of  your 
oil;  for  our  lamps  are  gone  out. " 

Belief  seems  to  be  holding  the  Field  in  fetters  of  fear 
since  our  revered  Leader  entered  upon  her  final  dem- 
onstration over  the  ulast  enemy."  There  are  many 
seemingly  who  do  not  understand  this  "scribe  of 
Spirit,"  and  they  do  not  comprehend  her  mission  to 
lay  down  her  temporal  sense  of  life  that  she  might 
take  it  again.  But  the  Scriptures  will  be  fulfilled  and 
spiritual  sense  will  reveal  spiritual  things,  and  spiritual 
people.  I  already  see  the  doom  of  all  error.  Only 
good  will  remain.  The  cry  will  be  heard,  "Behold,  the 
bridegroom  cometh;  go  ye  out  to  meet  him."  The 
long  struggle  to  make  all  evil  unreal,  to  conquer  all 
within  and  without  which  would  darken  our  spiritual 
sight  and  deprive  us  of  our  spiritual  power  to  prove 
man's  oneness  with  God,  and  our  dominion  over  all 
illusions — this  struggle  has  been  rewarded  by  our 
heavenly  Father,  omnipotent  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

We  possess  the  hope,  the  faith,  the  love  which  honor 
our  beloved  Leader's  teachings  and  give  us  the  fruits 
of  the  Spirit,  spiritual  love,  joy,  and  peace.  You  are, 
I  trust,  reioicing  in  the  same. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1093 

In  regard  to  your  suggestion  as  to  establishing  a 
Metaphysical  College  in  the  West,  I  would  say  that  for 
me  there  is  but  one  Metaphysical  College,  that  founded 
by  our  great  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy.  There  are  many 
Institutes  in  the  land  which  she  endorsed  while  per- 
sonally with  us.  I  have  one,  and  it  is  active.  You,  or 
any  of  our  Leader's  good  students,  can  establish  an 
Institute.  You  need  not  that  I  should  tell  you  that  the 
duty  of  her  followers  is  to  beware  of  attempting  to  part 
the  seamless  garment.  The  Massachusetts  Metaphysi- 
cal College  is  her  College.  No  other  is  necessary. 
The  Mother  Church  is  her  Church.  One  Head  must  be 
symbolized  until  we  rise  above  type  and  symbol  and 
behold  one  Principle,  one  God,  and  one  man,  Christ 
the  spiritual  universe,  the  body  or  manifestation  of 
Spirit,  and  each  an  individual  member  of  the  body  of 
Christ.  The  unreal  claim  called  the  great  red  dragon 
claims  many  heads.  Christian  Scientists  claim  but  one 
Head — Christ.  Let  us  protect  the  one  Mother  Church 
of  Christ — the  Vine  and  its  loyal  branches.  Spiritual 
consciousness  reveals  the  Church  as  the  superstructure 
of  Truth  and  Love,  not  a  material  edifice,  nor  a  body  of 
material  members  which  compose  the  church  militant. 
Let  us  also  recognize  the  one  Metaphysical  College 
and  its  Institutes  which  proceed  from  the  Vine,  and 
must  abide  in  the  Vine  if  they  would  bring  forth  fruit. 
Let  us  follow  our  spiritual  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
whose  divine  mental  influence  is  to-day  more  potent  to 
lead  us  to  Principle  than  ever  before. 

If  you  establish  an  Institute  you  will  assume  a  great 
responsibility.  No  one  is  more  fully  qualified  to  speak 
authoritatively  than  I,  but  the  cross  carried  uncom- 
plainingly for  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  and  for 
the  good  of  mankind  wins  the  crown   of  immortal 


1094  Fruits  of  Experience 

consciousness.  Divine  metaphysics  must  be  taught 
and  demonstrated  to  a  world  already  awake  to  mental 
forces,  and  able  to  differentiate  between  human  and 
divine  results.  Let  us  stand  for  absolute  divine  meta- 
physics as  taught  by  our  great  and  honored  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy;  let  us  be  loyal  to  her  Church,  to  her  College, 
and  to  her  loyal  branch  churches,  and  loyal  Christian 
Science  Institutes,  that  is — loyal  to  Principle  and  to  her 
holy  life,  teachings,  and  practice. 

I  have  nearly  four  hundred  personal  letters  which 
I  have  received  from  Mrs.  Eddy  during  twenty-five 
years  of  my  association  with  her,  and  I  know  the  divine 
order  and  the  divine  law  which  governed,  and  still 
governs  this  spiritually  organized  Church  and  College. 
Spiritually  interpreted  The  Mother  Church  Manual  is 
the  law  of  God.  Those  who  have  not  been  sufficiently 
spiritually  illumined  to  interpret  the  meaning  of  the 
By-Laws  made  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  11  the  scribe  of  Spirit,"  or 
the  God-anointed  to  this  age,  seem  to  reverse  them. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  learn  that  you  have  established  an 
Institute.  May  God  direct  you  in  all  you  do  for  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 

The  two  foregoing  letters  were  published  in  a  pamphlet 
entitled  Hear,  0  Israel.  We  publish  the  criticism  so 
kindly  made  of  them  in  Current  Literature,  for  January,  1912. 

MRS.  STETSON  WRITES  AN  EPISTLE 

MRS.    STETSON   ON  THE   IMMORTALITY  OF   MRS.    EDDY1 

Since  the  death  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  Christian  Science 

1  Current  Literature,  January,  1912;^    bfl 

ti 


T^M.  V>  A/U)  (mjJK 


Fruits  of  Experience  1095 

leaders  have  repeatedly  defined  their  position  with 
regard  to  physical  dissolution.  "Since,"  insists  Alfred 
Farlow,  in  the  New  England  Magazine,  "the  real  life 
of  the  Universe  is  of  God  and  hence  eternal,  it  follows 
that  life  cannot  end  or  be  suspended.  Those  who  pass 
through  the  transitional  experience  termed  death  still 
are  conscious  of  individual  existence  and  continue 
their  spiritual  advance. "  Nevertheless,  the  Christian 
Science  Publishing  Company  is  sponsor  for  a  volume 
entitled  Editorial  Comments  on  the  Life  and  Works 
of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  gathered  chiefly  from  non- 
church  publications,  in  which  Mrs.  Eddy  naturally 
enough  is  referred  to  as  "  dead. "  For  this  reason  Mrs. 
Stetson,  the  deposed  Christian  Science  leader  in  New 
York,  who  shortly  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  Eddy  con- 
fidently expressed  her  belief  in  the  immortality  of  the 
Founder  of  Christian  Science,  now,  in  a  pamphlet 
entitled  Hear,  O  Israel,  arraigns  those  upon  whom 
rests  at  present  the  destiny  of  the  church.  The  pam- 
phlet, to  which  the  New  York  Press  calls  attention,  is 
made  up  of  two  letters  written  by  Mrs.  Stetson  in  reply 
to  inquiries  by  her  followers. 

Mrs.  Stetson  regards  the  publication  of  the  book  of 
comments  as  a  tacit  endorsement  of  the  prevailing  view 
of  death  as  opposed  to  the  tenets  of  Mrs.  Eddy.  She 
does  not  want  such  a  statement  as  "Two  nights  ago  a 
frail  old  gentlewoman  died,"  to  be  given  currency,  for 
Mrs.  Eddy  never  in  any  of  her  writings  taught  the 
reality  of  death.  She  is  equally  displeased  with  the 
republication  of  such  a  sentence  as,  "With  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Eddy  there  passes  from  this  world's  activities  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  women  of  her  time,"  not  only 
because  it  states  that  Mrs.  Eddy  is  dead,  but  because 
the  spiritual  idea  Mary  Baker  Eddy  has  not  in  the 


1096  Fruits  of  Experience 

least  passed  from  this  world's  activities.  "While  she 
tabernacled,  apparently  in  the  flesh,  she  was  a  potent 
factor  in  elevating  mankind  to  the  contemplation  of 
man  as  immortal,  and  in  all  her  writings  she  repudiated 
the  teachings  of  scholastic  theology — the  belief  that 
sin,  sickness,  and  death  are  real." 

Again,  she  objects  to  the  Directors'  sanctioning  such  a 
phrase  as  "the  deep  sorrow  felt  by  Christian  Scientists 
over  the  death  of  their  Leader."  "Christian  Scientists 
who  follow  Mrs.  Eddy  in  spiritualization  of  thought, 
did  not  sorrow  over  her  higher  exaltation  as  she  rose 
into  a  more  spiritual  altitude,  but  they  rejoiced  that  she 
was  continuing  in  the  '  line  of  light  and  battle '  against 
error,  the  conflict  of  Spirit  over  the  fleshly  mind." 
She  protests  against  the  statement  that  "The  passing 
~  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  removes  one  who  for  more  than  a 

•\rv*-^  Vgeneration  past  has  been  a  force, "  for  she  hasnot  been 
Jyremoved  from  the  universe.  It  is  difficult  for  an  out- 
y/\S  sider  to  frame  a  sentence  which  shall  refer  to  Mrs.  Eddy 
at  the  present  time  and  be  suitable,  in  Mrs.  Stetson's 
eyes,  for  publication  under  Church  auspices;  even  the 
saying  that  one  of  the  most  remarkable  women  of  all 
time  has  been  removed  from  the  world  is  met  by  the 
rejoinder  that  the  Founder  has  not  been  removed. 
Some  one  who  says  that  Mrs.  Eddy  ' '  died  at  a  ripe  old 
age"  is  twice  wrong,  not  only  in  the  assertion  of  death, 
but  because  Mrs.  Eddy  taught  her  followers  to  repudiate 
the  belief  of  age,  and  Mrs.  Stetson  quotes  from  Science 
and  Health:  "Never  record  ages.  .  .  .  Time-tables 
of  birth  and  death  are  so  many  conspiracies  against 
manhood  and  womanhood."  Over  and  again  Mrs. 
Stetson  untiringly  contradicts  the  obituary  phrases 
quoted  in  the  official  pamphlet,  so  that  it  looks  as  if — 
to  choose  what  must  be  an  offensive  metaphor — she 


Fruits  of  Experience  1097 

were  forcing  the  Directors  to  take  their  own  medicine. 
Her  own  consistency  is  unfailing,  her  logic  accurate; 
she  does  not  slip  up  once  in  referring  to  death  or  sick- 
ness or  sin  without  its  careful  qualification  as  belief  or 
error.  Mrs.  Stetson  reaffirms  her  expectation  of  Mrs. 
Eddy's  reappearance :       $  U<Q    4^_  ^  K-^/*~A~"**V 

. /9/C. 

All  the  material  beliefs  which  compose  a  so-called  material 

universe,  combined,  cannot  prevent  the  resurrection  of 
human  hope  and  faith  to  behold  the  fulfilment  of  the  law 
of  Love,  which  will  be  manifest  at  the  reappearance  of  the 
ideal  woman,  now  known  to  the  world  as  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

But  "  Those  who  believe  in  death,  or  who  chronicle  it, 
or  teach  it,  will  not  have  the  spiritual  vision  to  behold 
the  Leader  at  her  reappearing. " 

We  cannot  serve  two  masters ;  we  cannot  declare  that  we 
are  mortal  and  immortal,  or  that  we  are  mortal  now,  but 
sometime  will  be  immortal.  We  must  know  the  scientific 
fact  of  being,  that  God  and  His  Christ  was,  is,  and  ever  will 
be  the  only  being — that  we  are  spiritual  members  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  that  there  is  not,  and  never  has  been 
any  other  existence.  Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "Simply  uttering 
this  great  thought  is  not  enough!     We  must  live  it."  .  .  . 

Can  we  live  it  ...  by  endorsing  the  opposite  of  Life — the 
claim  of  death?  ...  Is  it  promulgating  the  teachings  of 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  to  send  into  human  consciousness  the 
opposite  of  her  teachings, — a  direct  contradiction  of  the 
fundamental  facts  of  her  writings? 

The  second  letter  speaks  of  this  as  the  testing  time 
for  the  field  of  Christian  Scientists.  "  She  [Mrs.  Eddy] 
foresaw  this  hour,  but  she  was  confident  that  some  of 
her  students  were  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  that  they 
would  endure  to  the  end  every  indignity,  every  wrong, 
that  the  ignorant  or  evil  can  inflict."     Mrs.  Stetson 


1098  Fruits  of  Experience 

goes  on  to  say : 

No  one  is  more  fully  qualified  to  speak  authoritatively 
than  I,  but  the  cross  carried  uncomplainingly  for  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science  and  for  the  good  of  mankind  wins  the 
crown  of  immortal  consciousness.  .  .  . 

I  have  nearly  four  hundred  personal  letters  which  I  have 
received  from  Mrs.  Eddy  during  twenty-five  years  of  my 
association  with  her,  and  I  know  the  divine  order  and  the 
divine  law  which  governed,  and  still  governs  this  spiritually 
organized  Church  and  College.  Spiritually  interpreted 
The  Mother  Church  Manual  is  the  law  of  God.  Those  who 
have  not  been  sufficiently  spiritually  illumined  to  interpret 
the  meaning  of  the  By-Laws  made  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  "the 
scribe  of  Spirit,"  or  the  God-anointed  to  this  age,  seem  to 
reverse  them. 


J  /  7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 

rU     Cia^^.  n^T-     9-*U4c  _      <   October  24,1911. 

My  dear  Mr.  S  .  ^^^^^ ^jS^^XZD  I 

"God  has  countless  ideas/ and  tney  all  nave  one 
Principle  and  parentage."  "These  ideas  range  from 
the  infinitesimal  to  infinity,  and  the  highest  ideas  are 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  God"  {Science  and  Health, 
pp.  517,  503). 

After  reading  your  letter  to  me  of  October  14,  191 1, 
I  find  your  card  among  the  practitioners  advertised  in 
the  Christian  Science  Journal,  a  periodical  established 
by  our  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  for  the  promulga- 
tion of  her  teachings  in  Christian  Science  or  divine 
metaphysics.  Your  letter  shows  unmistakably  that 
you  are  not  following  her  fundamental  teachings.  The 
expressions  contained  in  it  bear  the  earmarks  of  theo- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1099 

sophy  and  the  Vedanta  philosophy, — the  absorption  of 
man  into  Deity  and  the  loss  of  man's  individuality, — 
and  indicate  that  you  have  fallen  absolutely  short  of 
understanding  the  clear,  divinely  directed  thought  and 
instructions  of  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian 
Science,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

I  beg,  therefore,  you  will  not  attribute  my  reply 
to  an  effort  to  convince  you  that  Mrs.  Eddy  was  and 
is  Life's  spiritual  idea,  since  in  your  letter  to  me  you 
repudiate  this  statement,  nor  will  I  attempt  to  argue, 
for  your  acceptance,  the  spiritual  fact  that  she  was  the 
"scribe  of  Spirit"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  571)  and  was 
divinely  inspired  to  write  Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures, — but  I  will  refer  you  to  her  own  words, 
"God  is  my  life,"  which  she  uttered  as  she  entered 
upon  her  final  demonstration  over  the  experience  called 
death. 

Christian  Scientists  understand  Mrs.  Eddy's  declara- 
tion to  mean  that  God  is  the  life  of  each  individual 
idea;  that  our  beloved  Leader  recognized  herself  as 
spiritual,  an  individual  member  of  the  body  of  Christ — 
God — and  that  she  understood  that  no  other  existence 
was  real.  She  taught  that  God  is  not  the  life  of  so- 
called  mortal  man,  or  physical  personalities,  which  are 
false  material  concepts,  possessing  neither  "life,  truth, 
intelligence,  nor  substance,"  and  are  "neither  person, 
place,  nor  thing"  (Science  and  Health,  pp.  468,  71). 

It  is  evident  from  her  great  life-work  that  she  claimed 
her  oneness  with  God,  and,  to  spiritual  sense,  it  is 
apparent  that  she  is  continuing  to  destroy  all  mortal 
mentality,  that  the  ideal  man  of  God's  creating  may  be 
revealed  as  Immanuel,  or  "God  with  us."  She  says, 
"Let  the  'male  and  female'  of  God's  creating  appear" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  249). 


i  ioo  Fruits  of  Experience 

You  say  "that  Jesus,  as  well  as  every  other  so-called 
human  personality,  was  a  myth. "  Mrs.  Eddy  teaches 
that  the  false  material  sense  of  Jesus  embodied  itself  in 
corporeality,  and  this  is  true  of  the  finite  material 
sense,  or  the  fleshly  physical  personality  of  every  human 
so-called  man, — but  the  individual  Jesus,  and  the  in- 
dividual Mary  Baker  Eddy  are  not  "myths;"  they  are 
divine  ideas  which  reflect  Spirit,  Mind,  Soul,  and  are 
indissolubly  connected  with  God  whose  power  and 
presence  they  manifest.  Mrs.  Eddy  will  demonstrate 
her  words : 

The  last  appearing  of  Truth  will  be  a  wholly  spiritual  idea 
of  God  and  of  man,  without  the  fetters  of  the  flesh,  or  corpo- 
reality. This  infinite  idea  of  infinity  will  be,  is,  as  eternal  as 
its  divine  Principle.  .  .  .  The  material  corporeality  dis- 
appears; and  individual  spirituality,  perfect  and  eternal, 
appears — never  to  disappear  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p. 
16^). 

With  such  strong  convictions,  as  you  express  in 
your  letter,  that  Jesus  was  a  "myth,"  and  that  "Neither 
Jesus  nor  Mary  Baker  Eddy  ever  '  lived  in  God, '  and 
neither  ever  will, "  it  seems  futile  to  attempt  to  con- 
vince you  of  the  spiritual  facts  of  scientific  being — one 
infinite  God  with  His  infinite  ideas,  which  compose  His 
universe  or  body,  the  one  man,  called  Christ.  But  I 
must  meet,  with  truth,  the  erroneous  concept  of  in- 
dividual man,  or  of  the  divine  individuality  of  Jesus  and 
of  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  The  carnal  mind  has  always 
been  at  enmity  with  the  Christ-mind,  but  the  Christ - 
consciousness  in  each  individual  will  finally  destroy 
every  suggestion  of  the  "accuser  of  our  brethren," 
which  accuser,  the  claim  of  sin, — the  lie,  is  the  belief  of 
life  in  matter,  the  false  claim  called  hypnotism,  mes- 


Fruits  of  Experience  iioi 

merism,  theosophy,  spiritualism,  Oriental  witchcraft, 
esoteric  magic, — everything  that  "worketh  abomina- 
tion, or  maketh  a  lie,"  or  that  opposes  God  and  His 
Christ. 

Speaking  of  Christ  Jesus,  Mrs.  Eddy  says : 

Clad  with  divine  might,  he  was  ready  to  stem  the  tide  of 
Judaism,  and  prove  his  power,  derived  from  Spirit,  to  be 
supreme;  lay  himself  as  a  lamb  upon  the  altar  of  materialism, 
and  therefrom  rise  to  his  nativity  in  Spirit  (Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  162). 

In  my  pamphlet,  Give  God  the  Glory,  you  will  find 
the  statement  that  the  human  Jesus,  or  the  material 
false  concept,  was  not  born  of  God,  but  that  Christ 
Jesus,  the  spiritual  man  or  the  mental  Messiah,  the 
reflector  of  Mind,  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  was 
God's  Son  or  idea,  the  representative  of  the  Father. 

The  opposite  and  false  views  of  the  people  hid  from  their 
sense  Christ's  sonship  with  God.  They  could  not  discern 
his  spiritual  existence.  Their  carnal  minds  were  at  enmity 
with  it.  Their  thoughts  were  filled  with  mortal  error, 
instead  of  with  God's  spiritual  idea  as  presented  by  Christ 
Jesus.  The  likeness  of  God  we  lose  sight  of  through  sin, 
which  beclouds  the  spiritual  sense  of  Truth ;  and  we  realize 
this  likeness  only  when  we  subdue  sin  and  prove  man's 
heritage,  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  .315). 


This  is  also  true  of  our  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy. 
The  human,  false,  mortal  belief  of  life  in  matter,  which 
only  finite  sense  could  cognize,  was  not  from  God,  nor 
does  God,  Truth,  Life,  know  aught  of  evil  or  death, 
since  God,  infinite  Mind  and  its  infinite  manifestation, 
or  ideas,  fill  all  space.     In  this  spiritual  universe,  which 


1 102  Fruits  of  Experience 

is  the  only  universe,  there  is  no  mortal  mind  to  embody 
itself  in  flesh,  however  persistently  the  claim  of  evil 
would  declare  for  its  counterfeit  man,  and  universe. 

It  is  well  for  us  to  recall  frequently  our  Leader's 
injunction  to  "cling  steadfastly  to  God  and  His  idea" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  495).  The  carnal  mind  in 
every  age  has  ignored  Christ  Jesus,  the  ideal  man.  It 
has  beheld  only  the  false  concept  or  the  human  Jesus. 
The  Scriptures  declare:  "  Flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit 
the  kingdom  of  God,"  (1  Cor.  xv.,  50)  and  they  also 
say,  "All  flesh  is  as  grass  " — dust  to  dust.  It  was  Christ 
Jesus'  mission  to  destroy  incarnate  error. 

Throughout  all  time  there  have  been  those  who 
failed  to  perceive  the  ideal  man,  but  who  were  willing 
to  admit  that  physical  personality  is  the  expression  of 
the  carnal  mind.  These  were  unable,  through  lack  of 
spiritual  discernment,  to  perceive  and  acknowledge  the 
Christ -idea,  or  the  real  individual  identities,  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  God. 

Christ  Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy  are  inseparable 
from  Principle;  They  always  were,  and  they  forever 
will  be,  spiritual  individualities,  reflectors  of  the  one 
great  cause,  omnipotent  Mind,  Spirit.  Our  revered 
Leader  teaches  us  to  regard  ourselves  as  spiritual,  and  to 
reflect  the  light  of  understanding  or  spiritual  conscious- 
ness which  dissolves  the  human  or  finite  sense  of  man. 

If,  as  you  say,  "Neither  Jesus  nor  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
ever  'lived  in  God,'  and  neither  ever  will,"  through 
what  agency  did  they  teach  eternal  Life?  If,  as  you 
say,  they  are  "myths, "  I  ask,  can  a  myth  lead  humanity 
to  God,  and  can  so-called  mortal  thought  conceive 
aught  of  Spirit?  Christ  Jesus  did  his  mighty  works 
through  the  understanding  of  his  spiritual  individuality 
which  emanated  from  God. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1103 

Mrs.  Eddy  wrote  Science  and  Health,  and  established 
Christian  Science,  which  is  the  understanding  of  Christ, 
Truth.  Through  what  sense  did  our  Leader  discover 
Christian  Science  if  not  through  spiritual  sense  which  is 
her  divine  individuality,  and  is  inseparable  from  God? 
Finite  sense  cannot  discern  the  things  of  Spirit.  She 
says,  "the  material  senses  can  take  no  cognizance 
of  Spirit"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  546).  Paul  says, 
"But  the  natural  man  [mortal  so-called  man]  receiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God :  for  they  are  foolish- 
ness unto  him :  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
are  spiritually  discerned"  (1  Cor.  ii.,  14).  It  is  then 
logical  to  conclude  that  her  spiritual  self,  the  divine 
individuality,  named  by  human  belief,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  wrote  Science  and  Health.  She  further  says, 
"No  human  pen  nor  tongue  taught  me  the  Science 
contained  in  this  book,  Science  and  Health" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  no).  It  was  therefore  Spirit 
operating  through  the  spiritual  consciousness  or  the 
divine  mouthpiece  known  to  humanity  as  Mary  Baker 
Eddy.  Again  she  says  in  Science  and  Health,  page  273, 
"The  physical  senses  can  take  no  cognizance  of  God 
and  spiritual  Truth. "  Therefore  it  must  have  been  the 
Ego-God  which  revealed  Truth  to  the  world  through  the 
spiritual  consciousness,  or  the  ego,  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Mrs.  Eddy  rose  to  conscious  unity  with  God  through 
the  development  of  her  spiritual  sense,  and,  like  Jesus, 
she  spoke  with  authority.  She  tells  us  that  "Spiritual 
love  makes  man  conscious  that  God  is  his  Father,  and 
the  consciousness  of  God  as  Love  gives  man  power  with 
untold  furtherance"  {Message  to  The  Mother  Church, 
1902,  pp.  82,  83). 

Christ  Jesus  demonstrated  the  power  of  his  truth- 
consciousness  over  mortal  mentality  within  and  with- 


1 104  Fruits  of  Experience 

out,  until  he  vanquished  entirely  all  finite  beliefs,  and 
found  his  eternal  oneness  with  God.  His  unseen 
individuality — unseen  to  human  sense — was  the  perfect 
reflection  of  a  perfect  Principle,  one  of  the  infinite 
ideas  of  infinite  Mind,  which  spiritual  sense  alone  can 
cognize. 

This  scientific  sense  of  being,  forsaking  matter  for  Spirit, 
by  no  means  suggests  man's  absorption  into  Deity  and  the 
loss  of  his  identity,  but  confers  upon  man  enlarged  individ- 
uality, a  wider  sphere  of  thought  and  action,  a  more  ex- 
pansive love,  a  higher  and  more  permanent  peace  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  265). 

Man  is  not  absorbed  in  Deity ;  for  he  is  forever  individual ; 
but  what  this  everlasting  individuality  is,  remains  to  be 
learned.  Mortals  have  not  seen  it.  That  which  is  born 
of  the  flesh  is  not  man's  eternal  identity.  Spiritual  and 
immortal  man  alone  is  God's  likeness,  and  that  which  is 
mortal  is  not  man  in  a  spiritually  scientific  sense.  A  ma- 
terial, sinful  mortal  is  but  the  counterfeit  of  immortal  man 
(No  and  Yes,  p.  25). 

When  may  we  look  for  this  spiritual  ideal  man,  the 
real  and  only  verity  of  scientific  being  ?  Our  Leader 
tells  us : 

.  .  .  when  we  subordinate  the  false  testimony  of  the 
corporeal  senses  to  the  facts  of  Science,  we  shall  see  this 
true  likeness  and  reflection  everywhere  (Science  and  Health, 
p.  516). 

I  do  not  deny,  I  maintain,  the  individuality  and  reality 
of  man ;  but  I  do  so  on  a  divine  Principle,  not  based  on  a 
human  conception  and  birth.  The  scientific  man  and  his 
Maker  are  here ;  and  you  would  be  none  other  than  this  man, 
if  you  would  subordinate  the  fleshly  perceptions  to  the 
spiritual  sense  and  source  of  being  (Unity  of  Good,  p.  46). 
Man,  made  in  his  likeness,  possesses  and  reflects  God's 


Fruits  of  Experience  1105 

dominion  over  all  the  earth.  Man  and  woman  as  coexistent 
and  eternal  with  God  forever  reflect,  in  glorified  quality, 
the  infinite  Father-Mother  God  (Science  and  Health,  p. 
516). 

In  speaking  of  his  Principle,  God,  Christ  Jesus  said, 
"He  shall  glorify  me, "  that  is,  He  shall  express  Himself 
through  my  spiritual  consciousness,  which  is  an  emana- 
tion of  His  infinite  selfhood,  and  I  (the  Ego-man),  shall 
show  it  unto  you.  "All  things  that  the  Father  hath 
are  mine."  Here  Christ  Jesus  voiced  God,  claimed  his 
divine  birthright  or  spiritual  identity,  and  said,  "that 
He  shall  take  of  mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you  "  (John 
xvi.,  15). 

Alas!  for  the  blindness  of  humanity,  to  whom  mortal 
thought  and  its  phenomena,  flesh,  blood,  and  bones,  sin, 
sickness,  and  death,  are  supposed  to  come  from  God 
and  are  believed  to  be  real.  Alas!  for  Israel  after  the 
flesh,  who  admits  the  unreality  of  mortal  thought  and 
its  manifestations,  but  fails  to  perceive,  through  the 
veil  of  the  flesh,  the  individual  ideas  which  reflect, 
manifest,  represent  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 
Both  the  ideal  man  and  the  ideal  woman,  Christ  Jesus 
and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  have  shown  the  proof  of 
scientific  being  unto  all  who  have  been  able  to  receive 
divine  metaphysics.  John,  speaking  of  Jesus,  said: 
"  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not. 
But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power 
to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe 
on  his  name"  (John  i.,  11,  12).  This  is  also  true  in 
this  age  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  a  royal  reflector  of  God,  divine 
Love. 

In  my  third  class  in  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical 
College  under  Mrs.  Eddy's  personal  instruction,  my 
spiritual  sense  was  so  quickened  that  I  grasped  this 
70 


no6  Fruits  of  Experience 

great  scientific  fact  of  being, — that  man  is  mental, 
spiritual  consciousness,  not  a  mortal  mentality,  nor  a 
fleshly  so-called  mind  which  embodies  itself  in  a  physical 
body.  This  spiritual  animus  has  continually  increased, 
gradually  dissolving  the  human  sense,  and  it  will 
finally  entirely  obliterate  all  mortal  mentality,  leaving 
me  conscious  only  of  my  spiritual  reality  as  God's  idea. 

I  have  never  for  one  moment,  since  that  influx  of 
Spirit,  doubted  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching,  which  revealed 
God  and  His  ideas  as  all  and  inseparable,  nor  have  I 
been  clouded  as  to  my  unity  with  Principle,  my  spiritual 
identity  as  one  of  God's  infinite  ideas.  This  has  en- 
abled me  to  maintain  and  exercise  my  divine  prerogative 
as  God's  child,  to  uncover  and  rebuke  impersonal  error 
through  whatever  physical  personality  it  was  voiced. 
This  spiritual  consciousness  has  been  the  power  which 
has  healed,  with  the  Word,  all  manner  of  diseases,  and 
before  which,  claims  of  malignant  cancer  in  the  last 
stages  have  disappeared  in  one  or  two  treatments. 

When  humanity  attains  to  Christ  Jesus'  spiritual 
illumination,  spiritual  concepts  will  behold  and  express 
only  the  ideal  man,  and  will  know  that  no  other 
man  ever  existed.  The  shadowy,  substanceless  mortal 
beliefs  or  "myths"  will  no  longer  deceive  nor  be  mis- 
taken for  man.  The  light  of  spiritual  understanding 
will  finally  dispel  all  illusions  and  will  reveal  God  and 
His  spiritual  universe,  peopled  with  His  spiritual  ideas, 
all  reflecting  their  divine  Principle.  This  preserves 
inviolate  the  indivisibility  of  infinite  Mind  and  its 
infinite  ideas.  Mrs.  Eddy  said  of  our  Way-shower, 
"Jesus  beheld  in  Science  the  perfect  man,  who  appeared 
to  him  where  sinning  mortal  man  appears  to  mortals" 
(Science  and  Health,  pp.  476,  477). 

Lest  my  explanations  do  not  cover  all  the  objections 


Fruits  of  Experience  1107 

to  my  statements  which  are  contained  in  your  letter; 
and  that  I  may  be  sure  to  reply  to  the  exceptions  which 
you  take  to  my  question,  "Has  omnipotent  Life  ceased 
to  manifest  its  power  and  presence  through  its  spirit- 
ual idea,  Mary  Baker  Eddy?"  let  me  again  repeat — 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  a  spiritual 
idea  of  God.  This  statement  is  confirmed  by  her  own 
words,  "God  is  my  life."  Permit  me  to  quote  from 
your  letter  the  following  words: 

Surely,  Mrs.  Stetson,  with  all  your  knowledge  of  Christian 
Science,  you  cannot  bunco  yourself  into  believing  that 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  was  or  is,  Life's  spiritual  idea. 

I  am  not  acquainted  with  your  term  "bunco."  In 
fact,  I  do  not  remember  ever  having  heard  this  word. 
I  not  only  believe  but  I  understand  that  Mrs.  Eddy  was, 
is,  and  ever  will  be  God's  idea,  His  child,  one  of  the 
infinite  thoughts  of  our  Father-Mother  Love.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  body  of  Christ ;  so  are  you,  so  am  I,  so  are 
all,  as  I  have  before  stated.  I  give  no  reality  to  so- 
called  mortal  mind  and  its  manifestation — sin,  and  its 
embodiment,  flesh,  blood,  and  bones — which  ultimate  in 
sickness,  sorrow,  and  death.  These  are  false  material 
concepts  which  Truth  and  Love,  operating  through  the 
ideal  man,  will  finally  dissolve  and  obliterate. 

Allow  me  to  quote  the  next  paragraph  of  your  letter: 

If  Christian  Science  teaches  anything  at  all,  it  is  that  God 
never  has  known,  doesn't  know,  and  never  will  know  any- 
thing about  matter,  a  material  belief,  or  a  human  person- 
ality; and  Mary  Baker  Eddy  was  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  a  belief  in  and  of  a  human  personality;  something 
seemingly  able  to  cognize  that  which  is  apart  from  God, 
infinite  Good. 


no8  Fruits  of  Experience 

Our  revered  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  taught  and  teaches 
through  her  inspired  writings  that  God  knows  nothing 
about  matter,  a  mortal  belief,  or  a  human  personality; 
and  that  the  false  sense  of  man  which  objectifies  itself 
in  physical  personalities  must  be  destroyed  by  spiritual 
sense,  which  reveals  man  as  God's  idea,  wholly  apart 
from  human  physicality.  .  Mrs.  Eddy ,  through  spiritual 
illumination,  her  Christ-consciousness,  was  able  to 
cognize  God,  infinite  good.  I  agree  with  our  great 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  that  there  is  no  matter  in  divine 
Mind,  no  finite  personality  in  the  infinite  Person  called 
God  and  His  Christ. 

You  say  that,  "  Mary  Baker  Eddy  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  a  belief  in  and  of  a  human  personality; 
something  seemingly  able  to  cognize  that  which  is 
apart  from  God,  infinite  Good." 

To  your  material  sense  the  illusion  or  material 
physicality  is  all  you  recognize  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  in  blotting  out  the  human,  you  deny  the  individ- 
uality or  spiritual  identity  called  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
"...  names  are  often  expressive  of  spiritual  ideas" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  320). 

Spiritual  sense  reveals  to  Christian  Scientists  the 
divinity  of  Mrs.  Eddy.  We  regard  her  as  God's 
Messenger,  or  voice,  to  this  age,  bringing  the  message 
of  Truth  and  Love  to  suffering,  sorrowing  humanity. 
She  has  taught  us  to  regard  ourselves  as  immortal. 
Permit  me  to  quote  her  words  on  this  subject  in  reply 
to  the  following  letter: 

"  Last  evening  I  was  catechized  by  a  Christian  Science 
practitioner  because  I  referred  to  myself  as  an  immortal 
idea  of  the  one  divine  Mind.  The  practitioner  said  that 
my  statement  was  wrong,  because  I  still  lived  in  my  flesh. 
I  replied  that  I  did  not  live  in  my  flesh,  that  my  flesh  lived 


Fruits  of  Experience  1109 

or  died  according  to  the  beliefs  I  entertained  about  it ;  but 
that,  after  coming  to  the  light  of  Truth,  I  had  found  that  I 
lived  and  moved  and  had  my  being  in  God,  and  to  obey 
Christ  was  not  to  know  as  real  the  beliefs  of  an  earthly 
mortal.  Please  give  the  truth  in  the  Sentinel,  so  that  all 
may  know  it." 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

You  are  scientifically  correct  in  your  statement  about 
yourself.  You  can  never  demonstrate  spirituality  until 
you  declare  yourself  to  be  immortal  and  understand  that 
you  are  so.  Christian  Science  is  absolute;  it  is  neither 
behind  the  point  of  perfection  nor  advancing  toward  it; 
it  is  at  this  point  and  must  be  practised  therefrom.  Unless 
you  fully  perceive  that  you  are  the  child  of  God,  hence 
perfect,  you  have  no  Principle  to  demonstrate  and  no  rule 
for  its  demonstration.  By  this  I  do  not  mean  that  mortals 
are  the  children  of  God, — far  from  it.  In  practising  Chris- 
tian Science  you  must  state  its  Principle  correctly,  or  you 
forfeit  your  ability  to  demonstrate  it. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

(Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxviii,  p.  485.) 

She  also  says  of  this  false,  finite  mentality,  or 
physicality,  which  is  not  man: 


A  suppositional  gust  of  evil  in  this  evil  world  is  the  dark 
hour  that  precedes  the  dawn.  This  gust  Llows  away  the 
baubles  of  belief,  for  their  is  in  reality  no  evil,  no  disease, 
no  death ;  and  the  Christian  Scientist  who  believes  that  he 
dies,  gains  a  rich  blessing  of  disbelief  in  death,  and  a  higher 
realization  of  heaven. 

My  beloved  Edward  A.  Kimball,  whose  clear,  correct 
teaching  of  Christian  Science  has  been  and  is  an  inspiration 
to  the  whole  Field,  is  here  now  as  veritably  as  when  he 
visited  me  a  year  ago.  If  we  would  awaken  to  this  recogni- 
tion, we  should  see  him  here  and  realize  that  he  never  died ; 


1 1  io  Fruits  of  Experience 

thus  demonstrating  the  fundamental  truth  of  Christian 
Science. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
(Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xii.,  p.  io.) 

When  you  state  that  Mrs.  Eddy  was  "something 
seemingly  able  to  cognize  that  which  is  apart  from  God, 
infinite  Good,"  you  doubtless  refer  to  the  undestroyed 
human  sense  which  was  able  to  cognize  that  which  was 
apart  from  God.  Mrs.  Eddy,  when  speaking  of  the 
human  and  the  divine  of  Jesus,  says : 

When  the  human  element  in  him  struggled  with  the 
divine,  our  great  Teacher  said:  "  Not  my  will,  but  Thine, 
be  done!" — that  is,  Let  not  the  flesh,  but  the  Spirit,  be 
represented  in  me  (Science  and  Health,  p.  33). 

Christ  Jesus  was  working  out  the  false  human  sense  of 
physicality  which  made  him  appreciable  to  humanity. 
In  confirmation  of  this  Mrs.  Eddy  says : 

Divine  Truth  must  be  known  by  its  effects  on  the  body 
as  well  as  on  the  mind,  before  the  Science  of  being  can  be 
demonstrated.  Hence  its  embodiment  in  the  incarnate 
Jesus, — that  life-link  forming  the  connection  through  which 
the  real  reaches  the  unreal,  Soul  rebukes  sense,  and  Truth 
destroys  error. 

Father- Mother  is  the  name  for  Deity,  which  indicates  His 
tender  relationship  to  His  spiritual  creation  (Science  and 
Health,  pp.  350,  332). 

Christian  Science  teaches  that  man  is  not  absorbed 
in  Deity,  but  that  he  reflects  Deity  in  infinite  manifes- 
tations of  the  one  God.  I  claim  my  spiritual  identity 
as  coexistent  and  coeternal  with  God. 

Your  last  paragraph  reads : 

When   the   Christ-consciousness    finally   obliterates   the 


Fruits  of  Experience  iiii 

so-called  Augusta-Stetson-consciousness,  there  will  remain 
only  the  consciousness  of  Good, — which  is  all  there  ever 
was, — and  this  Ego  can  never  be  conscious  of  another 
entity  which  can  itself  be  conscious  of  God,  for  that  would 
instantly  destroy  the  indivisibility  of  Mind,  and  man  would 
then  be  conscious  of  something  besides  God. 

When  my  spiritual,  or  Christ-consciousness,  the 
Christ  element,  dissolves  and  finally  "obliterates"  the 
false  sense  or  material  belief  which  obscures  the  divine 
idea,  my  real  self  as  God's  reflector,  there  will  remain 
my  spiritual  consciousness,  my  individual  identity, 
which  has  ever  existed  as  an  idea  of  God.  I,  Augusta 
E.  Stetson,  was,  and  am,  forever  inseparable  from  my 
creator,  God,  who  is  my  life.  This  is  true  of  every  one, 
for  God  and  His  infinite  idea — man — Christ — and  the 
spiritual  ideas  which  compose  the  body  of  Christ  are  the 
only  reality  of  being. 

If  God,  who  is  Life,  were  parted  for  a  moment  from  His 
reflection,  man,  during  that  moment  there  would  be  no 
divinity  reflected.  The  Ego  would  be  unexpressed,  and 
the  Father  would  be  childless, — no  Father  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  306). 

Again  I  repeat,  "names  are  often  expressive  of 
spiritual  ideas."  Spirit  is  continually  revealing  to  me 
my  spiritual  individuality,  which  reflects  God,  and 
cannot  be  separated  from  Him,  therefore  cannot  be 
obliterated.  I  shall  defend  my  name  until  the  Messiah 
renames  me.  If  it  had  been  possible  for  the  mental 
assassins  to  obliterate  "the  Augusta-Stetson-conscious- 
ness," they  would  have  done  so  long  ago.  But  their 
attempts  were  met.  I  reflected  Truth  and  Love  which 
nullified  and  destroyed  for  myself  the  suppositional 
power   of   malice,    envy,  jealousy,  and   revenge,    the 


1 1 12  Fruits  of  Experience 

qualities  of  the  infuriated  carnal  mind  which  aimed  at 
my  Christ-consciousness.  If  the  Christian  Scientist 
possesses  the  qualities  of  God,  Truth,  and  Love,  suffi- 
ciently, every  attempt  to  "obliterate  consciousness" 
will  prove  powerless.  As  well  might  impersonal  evil, 
through  its  physical  personalities,  attempt  to  separate 
a  ray  from  the  sun  of  the  solar  system,  as  to  hope 
to  separate  man  from  the  source  of  his  being,  the  Sun 
of  righteousness,  to  deprive  individual  man  of  his  name 
which  signifies  his  spiritual  identity. 

He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith 
unto  the  churches;  To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give  to 
eat  of  the  hidden  manna,  and  will  give  him  a  white  stone 
[spiritual  understanding],  and  in  the  stone  a  new  name 
written,  which  no  man  knoweth  saving  he  that  receiveth 
it  (Rev.  ii.,  17). 

Jacob  was  re-named  after  he  had  wrestled  with  and 
prevailed  over  "a  mortal  sense  of  life,  substance,  and 
intelligence  as  existent  in  matter"  {Science  and  Healthy 
p.  308).  Saul  received  his  new  name,  Paul,  when 
spiritual  light  dawned  upon  him.  Zion  shall  be  called 
by  a  new  name.  The  "wholly  spiritual  foundation" 
(Mary  Baker  Eddy),  or  wholly  spiritual  consciousness, 
upon  which  the  spiritually  illumined  are  to-day  building, 
is  described  by  Isaiah  in  the  following  words : 

And  the  Gentiles  shall  see  thy  righteousness,  and  all 
kings  thy  glory :  and  thou  shalt  be  called  by  a  new  name, 
which  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  shall  name  (Isa.  lxii.,  2). 

This  name  is  New  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  our  God 
which  cometh  "down  from  God  out  of  heaven." 
Nothing  shall  enter  this  wholly  spiritual  church,  that 
"worketh  abomination,  or  maketh  a  lie." 


Fruits  of  Experience  1 1 13 

Let  me  again  repeat  Mrs.  Eddy's  words: 

If  God,  who  is  Life,  were  parted  for  a  moment  from  His 
reflection,  man,  during  that  moment  there  would  be  no 
divinity  reflected.  The  Ego  would  be  unexpressed,  and 
the  Father  would  be  childless, — no  Father  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  306). 


Mrs.  Eddy  was  divinely  inspired  when  she  wrote 
this,  therefore  I  understand  that  I  shall  be  conscious 
of  my  Father,  God,  the  Principle  of  being,  and  of  every 
idea  in  His  infinite  universe  which  reflects  Spirit.  Each 
entity  will  be  conscious  of  every  other,  for  all  are 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  God. 

For  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all 
the  members  of  that  one  body,  being  many,  are  one  body: 
so  also  is  Christ.  .  .  . 

For  the  body  is  not  one  member,  but  many.  .  .  . 

If  the  whole  body  were  an  eye,  where  were  the  hearing?  . . . 

But  now  hath  God  set  the  members  every  one  of  them  in 
the  body,  as  it  hath  pleased  Him. 

And  if  they  were  all  one  member,  where  were  the  body? 

But  now  are  they  many  members,  yet  but  one  body 
(1  Cor.  xii.,  12,  14,  17-20). 

The  last  infirmity  of  evil,  "deceived  and  deceiving" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  451)  would  attempt  to  deprive 
me  of  my  name.  This  effort,  through  my  correct 
understanding  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings,  and  obedience 
to  her  example,  and  to  her  injunction  to  fulfil  the  law 
of  Love,  will  prove  of  no  effect.  This  has  been  and 
will  continue  to  be  my  defense  against  all  the  suggestions 
of  so-called  theosophy,  ecclesiasticism,  mesmerism, 
hypnotism,   witchcraft,   esoteric   magic, — in   fact   the 


1 1 14  Fruits  of  Experience 

talking,  lying  serpent,  self-styled  mortal  man  or  animal 
magnetism. 

Spirit  names  and  blesses  all.  Without  natures  particularly 
defined,  objects  and  subjects  would  be  obscure,  and  creation 
would  be  full  of  nameless  offspring, — wanderers  from  the 
parent  Mind,  strangers  in  a  tangled  wilderness  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  507). 

Mrs.  Eddy  saw  in  the  latter  days,  which  are  now 
upon  us,  the  attempt  of  impersonal  evil,  through  its 
avenues  and  agents,  physical,  finite  personalities,  to 
deprive  man  of  his  identity  and  his  name.  Wisdom 
bade  her  protect  and  defend  her  name  by  demanding 
that  it  be  announced  at  every  church  service  as  author 
of  her  book,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
she  also  requires  that  her  name  be  given  out  as  the 
author  of  her  poems  when  they  are  sung  as  hymns  or 
solos.  Thus  she  keeps  her  name  before  the  public, 
"lest  we  forget"  that  in  this  age  she  is  the  Messenger  of 
God  to  mankind  to  awaken  the  world  from  sin,  sickness, 
and  death,  to  the  spiritual  fact  of  being,  health,  holiness, 
and  immortality. 

Christian  Scientists  who  are  to-day  building  on  a 
"wholly  spiritual  foundation"  will  retain  and  defend 
their  names  until  the  Messiah  re-names  them.  Mrs. 
Eddy  gives  the  definition  of  Christian  Scientists  who 
have  chosen  Spirit  as  their  origin  and  ultimate  in  these 
words : 

Children  of  Israel.  The  representatives  of  Soul,  not 
corporeal  sense;  the  offspring  of  Spirit,  who,  having  wrestled 
with  error,  sin,  and  sense,  are  governed  by  divine  Science; 
some  of  the  ideas  of  God  beheld  as  men,  casting  out  error 
and  healing  the  sick ;  Christ's  offspring  {Science  and  Health, 
P-  583). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1115 

All  the  arguments  of  suppositional  evil  or  aggressive 
mental  suggestion  which  have  been  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  defenders  of  Christian  Science — the  goal  of 
immortality — to  deprive  them  of  their  individuality 
as  children  of  God, — to  question  their  spiritual  inter- 
pretation of  the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  or  to 
deny  them  their  right  to  claim  their  present  oneness  with 
Principle,  eternal  Life,  have  proved  ineffectual  to  turn 
them  back  to  materiality,  or  to  hinder  their  progress 
towards  immortality.  In  their  warfare  against  the 
claim  of  error  they  are  strengthened  by  recalling  the 
experience  of  their  beloved  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  who 
says: 

The  stake  and  scaffold  have  never  silenced  the  messages 
of  the  Most  High.  Then  can  the  present  mode  of  attempt- 
ing this — namely,  by  slanderous  falsehoods,  and  a  secret 
mind-method,  through  which  to  effect  the  purposes  of 
envy  and  malice — silence  Truth?  Never  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  277). 

Christian  Scientists  have  learned,  through  experience, 
the  import  of  their  Leader's  words : 

Falsehood  is  on  the  wings  of  the  winds,  but  Truth  will 
soar  above  it.  Truth  is  speaking  louder,  clearer,  and  more 
imperatively  than  ever.  Error  is  walking  to  and  fro  in 
the  earth,  trying  to  be  heard  above  Truth,  but  its  voice  dies 
out  in  the  distance.  Whosoever  proclaims  Truth  loudest, 
becomes  the  mark  for  error's  shafts.  The  archers  aim  at 
Truth's  mouthpiece;  but  a  heart  loyal  to  God  is  patient  and 
strong.  Justice  waits,  and  is  used  to  waiting;  and  right 
wins  the  everlasting  victory  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p. 
277). 

Christian  Scientists  are  demonstrating  the  truth 
of  their  Leader's  metaphysical  statement:    "Love  is 


1 1 16  Fruits  of  Experience 

especially  near  in  times  of  hate,  and  never  so  near  as 
when  one  can  be  just  amid  lawlessness,  and  render  good 
for  evil"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  277). 

They  recall  the  comforting  assurance  of  their  Leader's 
words:  "Those  only  who  are  tried  in  the  furnace  reflect 
the  image  of  their  Father"  {Miscellaneous  Writings, 
p.  278).  And  these  soldiers  of  Christian  Science  "take 
hold  of  the  eternal  energies  of  Truth,  and  destroy 
mortal  discord  with  immortal  harmony, — the  grand 
verities  of  being"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  97). 

Comprehending  Truth,  the  law  of  Spirit,  and  my 
own  solemn  responsibility  as  an  individual  idea,  or 
reflector,  demonstrator,  or  executor  of  the  law  of  eternal 
Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  obeying  the  teachings,  and 
following  the  example  of  my  beloved  Leader,  Teacher, 
and  Guide  to  eternal  Life,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, — withjher, 

I  thunder  His  law  to  the  sinner,  and  sharply  lighten  on 
the  cloud  of  the  intoxicated  senses.  I  cannot  help  loathing 
the  phenomena  of  drunkenness  produced  by  animality.  I 
rebuke  it  wherever  I  see  it.  The  vision  of  the  Revelator 
is  before  me.  The  wines  of  fornication,  envy,  and  hatred 
are  the  distilled  spirits  of  evil,  and  are  the  signs  of  these 
times;  but  I  am  not  dismayed,  and  my  peace  returns  unto 
me. 

Error  will  hate  more  as  it  realizes  more  the  presence  of  its 
tormentor.  I  shall  fulfil  my  mission,  fight  the  good  fight, 
and  keep  the  faith  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  pp.  277,  278). 

Let  me  conclude  my  letter  by  further  reference  to 
our  revered  Leader's  encouraging  words : 

Millions  of  unprejudiced  minds — simple  seekers  for 
Truth,  weary  wanderers,  athirst  in  the  desert — are  waiting 
and  watching  for  rest  and  drink.     Give  them  a  cup  of  cold 


Fruits  of  Experience  1117 

water  in  Christ's  name,  and  never  fear  the  consequences. 

What  if  the  old  dragon  should  send  forth  a  new  flood  to 

drown  the  Christ-idea?     He  can  neither  drown  your  voice 

with  its  roar,  nor  again  sink  the  world  into  the  deep  waters 

of  chaos  and  old  night.     In  this  age  the  earth  will  help  the 

woman ;  the  spiritual  idea  will  be  understood.     Those  ready 

for  the  blessing  you  impart  will  give  thanks.     The  waters 

will   be   pacified,    and   Christ   will    command    the    wave 

(Science  and  Health,  p.  570). 

; 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
November  2,  191 1. 

My  dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  : — 

I  have  just  replied  to  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  whose 
card  is  among  the  practitioners  advertised  in  the  Chris- 
Han  Science  Journal,  and  I  find  your  name  also  there  as 
a  practitioner. 

While  your  criticism  of  my  position  in  defending 
the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  is  on  a  different 
line  of  argument  from  that  of  my  first  critic,  it  neverthe- 
less belongs  to  the  same  erroneous  conception  of 
genuine  Christian  Science,  or  divine  metaphysics,  as 
taught  me  by  my  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  and  contained  in  the  text-book  of  Christian 
Science,  which  for  twenty-seven  years  I  have  demon- 
strated in  the  healing  of  all  manner  of  disease,  physical 
and  mental.  Therefore  I  am  immovable  in  my  con- 
victions that  both  the  present  teaching  and  practice  of 
many  are  a  mixture  of  theosophy,  Vedanta  philosophy 
and  mental  healing  on  a  material  basis — a  contradic- 
tion of  Mrs.  Eddy's  divine  metaphysics  that  "man 
is  not  material;  he  is  spiritual"   (Science  and  Health, 


iii8  Fruits  of  Experience 

p.  468).  Let  this  departure  from  Christian  Science  be 
known  and  named  for  what  it  really  is. 

Permit  me  to  quote  from  your  letter  these  words: 

From  a  perusal  of  the  pamphlets  received  from  you,  allow 
me  to  say  that  I  see  nothing  in  them  that  would  establish 
your  claim  that  you  have  attained  to  a  superior  under- 
standing of  the  revelation  that  came  to  Mrs.  Eddy. 

I  have  not  claimed  to  "have  attained  to  a  superior 
understanding  of  the  revelation  that  came  to  Mrs. 
Eddy."  I  claim  only  to  have  accepted  the  scientific 
statement  of  being  and  the  fundamental  facts  con- 
tained in  her  writings,  and  to  have  demonstrated  her 
teachings  during  twenty-seven  years  of  association 
with  her.  They  who  to-day  are  deviating  from  the 
spiritual  rules  of  Christian  Science  as  laid  down  by 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  are  accepting  and  practising  that  which 
is  contrary  to  the  spiritual  facts  of  being,  which  our 
beloved  Leader  has  given  us  in  the  text-book  of  Chris- 
tian Science,  and  in  her  other  writings,  are  not  Christian 
Scientists.  To  these  apply  the  words  of  Paul  to 
Timothy: 

O  Timothy,  keep  that  which  is  committed  to  thy  trust, 
avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings,  and  oppositions  of 
science  falsely  so  called  (1  Tim.  vi.,  20). 

And  the  following  from  Science  and  Health: 

It  is  not  wise  to  take  a  halting  and  half-way  position  or  to 
expect  to  work  equally  with  Spirit  and  matter,  Truth  and 
error.  There  is  but  one  way — namely,  God  and  His  idea — 
which  leads  to  spiritual  being  (p.  167). 

All  genuine  Christian  Scientists  who  have  demon- 
strated divine  metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy, 


Fruits  of  Experience  1119 

claim  the  right  to  their  steadfast  conviction  that  the 
teachings  of  our  revered  Leader  are  founded  on  Christ, 
Truth,  namely,  that  "Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit 
is  all.  'There  is  no  matter'  is  not  only  the  axiom  of 
true  Christian  Science,  but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon 
which  this  Science  can  be  demonstrated"  {Christian 
Science  Journal,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  697). 

You  will  not  question  my  strict  adherence  to  the 
rudiments  and  rules  of  Christian  Science  as  given  by 
our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  nor  should  you  refuse  to 
acknowledge  my  right  to  enter  upon  the  demonstration 
of  my  present  immortality.  You  will  surely  grant  this 
privilege  to  other  Christian  Scientists  who  claim  a 
spiritual  understanding  of  divine  metaphysics,  viz.: 
that  God  is  the  creator  of  all  that  is  real  and  eternal, 
and  that  man  is  His  image  and  likeness,  and,  as  our 
Leader  teaches,  "lives  by  divine  authority."  God 
being  the  only  creator,  eternal  Life,  there  is  no  mortal 
man,  no  death.  My  writings  are  against  the  efforts 
which  are  being  made  to  hold  humanity  to  the  be- 
lief that  matter  lives  and  dies,  for  this  is  contrary  to 
Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  that  there  is  no  mortal  mind,  no 
matter. 

With  many  other  Christian  Scientists  I  am  opposed  to 
the  belief  of  the  so-called  carnal  mind,  that  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  the  great  Leader  of  Christian  Science,  the  great 
Teacher  that  Life  is  eternal,  has  died  and  has  ceased  to 
lead  her  people.  Some  who  are  being  deceived  by  the 
absence  of  her  finite  personal  presence  have  lost  the 
life-link  and  fail  to  understand  that  her  spiritual  con- 
sciousness or  individuality  (not  the  claim  of  physical 
personality)  always  led,  leads  now,  and  will  continue 
to  lead  all  who  through  spiritual  discernment  appre- 


1 1 20  Fruits  of  Experience 

hend  this  spiritual  fact, — that  individual  ideas  reflect 
God,  and  that  there  is  no  other  power  nor  presence. 

This  apprehension  will  reveal  Mary  Baker  Eddy's 
divine  individual  presence,  just  as  Jesus  revealed  his 
identity  as  a  reflector  of  God,  divine  Mind.  Our  Leader 
says:  "The  ideal  man  was  revealed  in  due  time,  and 
was  known  as  Christ  Jesus"  {Science  and  Health,  p. 
338).  Christian  Scientists  claim  that  in  due  time  the 
ideal  woman  will  be  revealed,  and  will  be  known  as  the 
individual  identity  humanly  called  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
The  opposition  which  follows  my  declaration  that  Mrs. 
Eddy  will  reappear  is  described  by  our  Leader  in  the 
following  words:  "This  thought  of  human,  material 
nothingness,  which  Science  inculcates,  enrages  the 
carnal  mind  and  is  the  main  cause  of  the  carnal  mind's 
antagonism"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  345). 

But  notwithstanding  "The  foam  and  fury  of  illegiti- 
mate living  and  of  fearful  and  doleful  dying"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  203),  for  which  mortals  are  strenuously 
contending,  I  shall  claim  my  prerogative  to  defend  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and  my  eternal  birthright, 
my  spiritual  individuality.  I  shall  defend  the  teachings 
of  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science, 
and  leave  the  result  to  God.  By  my  works  I  shall  be 
"  judged, — and  justified  or  condemned  "  (Manual  of  The 
Mother  Church,  Art.  viii.,  Sect.  6). 

I  am  opposed  to  the  attempt  that  is  being  made  to 
hold  humanity  to  the  thought  of  death  by  publishing 
obituary  notices,  by  attracting  universal  thought  to 
associate  Mrs.  Eddy  with  Mount  Auburn,  and  by 
erecting  a  monument  to  a  mortal  belief  in  the  so-called 
"city  of  the  dead. "  Mary  Baker  Eddy  never  lived  nor 
died  in  matter.  All  statements  to  that  effect  are  con- 
trary to  her  teachings,  and  they  who  are  trying  to  prove 


Fruits  of  Experience  1121 

the  actuality  of  material  existence  by  efforts  to  per- 
petuate the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  by  calling  the  atten- 
tion of  the  world  to  cemeteries  and  monuments,  and 
by  circulating  mortal  mind's  belief  that  she  is  dead, 
are  contradicting  her  "scientific  statement  of  being"  in 
Science  and  Health,  "There  is  no  life,  truth,  intelligence, 
nor  substance  in  matter.  All  is  infinite  Mind  and  its 
infinite  manifestation,  for  God  is  All-in-all"  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  468). 

Let  me  further  quote  your  words:  "Humility  and 
self-effacement  will  do  more  to  carry  forward  the  re- 
demptive work  the  revelation  imposes  than  anything  we 
can  do,  if  that  is  what  we  are  trying  to  do. " 

Humility  is  won  by  the  Christian  Scientist  only 
by  standing  for  Christian  Science  as  taught  by  our 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  by  meeting  the  opposition  of  the 
carnal  mind  in  its  attempts  to  hold  mankind  to  human 
belief,  which  would,  if  possible,  hush  the  voice  of  Truth 
through  Truth's  exponents;  by  working  "alone  with 
God ; "  by  preferring  ostracism  and  contumely  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  opposers  of  immortal  selfhood ;  in  fact,  to 
follow  the  Master  and  incur  hatred  "without  a  cause." 

Humility  is  not  gained  by  being  popular  with  the 
material  world,  nor  by  affiliating  with  those  who,  while 
claiming  to  be  Christian  Scientists,  adulterate  Truth 
with  belief.  Nor  is  humility  attained  by  being  popular 
with  those  who  are  not  willing  to  come  out  from  mortal 
belief,  and  wrestle  and  prevail  against  the  material 
world,  the  fleshly  mind — evil.  Permit  me  to  quote  our 
Leader's  words    in  Miscellaneous  Writings,  page  67: 

"Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery;"  in  other  words,  thou 
shalt    not    adulterate    Life,    Truth,  or    Love, — mentally, 


1 122  Fruits  of  Experience 

morally,  or  physically.  "Thou  shalt  not  steal;"  that  is, 
thou  shalt  not  rob  man  of  money,  which  is  but  trash, 
compared  with  his  rights  of  mind  and  character.  "Thou 
shalt  not  kill;"  that  is,  thou  shalt  not  strike  at  the  eternal 
sense  of  Life  with  a  malicious  aim,  but  shalt  know  that  by 
doing  thus  thine  own  sense  of  Life  shall  be  forfeited. 

Whoever  testifies  to  life  in  matter,  or  who  bears 
witness  to  the  claim  that  man  is  mortal,  is  a  mouthpiece 
for  error,  the  lie,  the  opposer  of  Truth.  Hear  the  words 
of  our  Leader  on  this  point:  "'Thou  shalt  not  bear 
false  witness;'  that  is,  thou  shalt  not  utter  a  lie,  either 
mentally  or  audibly,  nor  cause  it  to  be  thought" 
{Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  67).  Therefore  Christian 
Scientists  must  bear  witness  to  Truth  that  "man  is 
*^   l^not  material;  he  is  spiritual"  (Science  and  Health,  p. 

W  468). 

The  road  to  humility  is  attained  by  knowing  Truth, 
and  by  willingness  to  incur  the  antagonism  of  all  who 
admit  two  powers,  Life  and  death,  good  and  evil,  Mind 
and  matter,  Spirit  and  flesh.  In  this  resurrection  hour 
Christian  Scientists  stand  on  the  rock,  Christ,  in  defense 
of  their  individual  selfhood,  or  spiritual  identity  as 
reflectors  of  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love.  This  is  the 
cross,  the  abnegation  of  material  selfhood,  which  wins 
humility.  I  take  exception  to  your  statement  that 
"Self-effacement  will  do  more  to  carry  forward  the 
redemptive  work  .  .  .  than  anything  we  can  do. " 

God  and  His  ideas  can  never  be  separated  nor  effaced, 
and  God  and  His  idea,  man,  is  all.  The  infinite  ideas 
which  compose  the  body  of  Christ  cannot  be  effaced 
nor  separated  from  their  source,  Mind,  Spirit,  Principle. 
Mrs.  Eddy  teaches  that : 

The  image  of  Spirit  cannot  be  effaced,  since  it  is  the  idea 


I 


Fruits  of  Experience  1123 

of  Truth  and  changes  not,  but  becomes  more  beautifully 
apparent  at  error's  demise. 

...  we  should  efface  the  outlines  of  disease  already 
formulated  in  the  minds  of  mortals. 

.  .  .  efface  the  images  and  thoughts  of  disease. 

.  .  .  nothing  can  efface  Mind  and  immortality  (Science 
and  Health,  pp.  543,  175,  196,  318). 

Christian  Scientists  should  ".  .  .  cause  the  error  to 
cease  that  brought  the  belief  of  sin  and  death  and  would 
efface  the  pure  sense  of  omnipotence"  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  318). 

Nowhere  in  Mrs.  Eddy's  writings  does  she  teach  the 
effacement  of  our  spiritual  selfhood,  which  is  the  only 
real  self  admitted  in  Christian  Science.  This  ideal 
selfhood — our  Christ-consciousness — is  always  operat- 
ing and  destroying  the  false  personal  sense  of  man  and 
\  things. 

Jesus  as  the  son  of  man  was  human :  Christ  as  the  Son  of 
God  was  divine.  This  divinity  was  reaching  humanity 
through  the  crucifixion  of  the  human, — that  momentous 
demonstration  of  God,  in  which  Spirit  proved  its  supremacy 
over  matter  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  63). 

In  your  statement,  you  should  differentiate  between 
the  material_phy_s_ical  self  and  the  real,  divine  selfhood, 
if  you  would  not  mislead  the  beginner,  and  disarm  him 
of  his  spiritual  defense  against  mortal  belief,  the  enemy 
of  good. 

Moses  was  called  the  meekest  man  of  his  time.  He 
won  humility  by  obeying  God  who  commanded  him  to 
speak  to  the  children  of  Israel  and  say:  "I  AM  hath 
sent  me  unto  you"  (Exod.  iii.,  14).  In  ignorance 
of  his  true  selfhood  as  God's  representative,  Moses 
would  have  effaced  himself,  but  God  said:  "Now  there- 


1 124  Fruits  of  Experience 

fore  go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee 
what  thou  shalt  say"  (Exod.  iv.,  12).  He  became 
mighty  by  exercising  his  individual  prerogative  to 
proclaim  God's  message  to  the  world;  he  silenced  the 
false  sense  which  shrank  from  self-abnegation,  and 
exalted  his  divine  self  which  made  him  mighty  to  resist 
the  claim  of  a  power  opposed  to  the  one  God. 

Christ  Jesus  humbled  the  human  element,  or  physi- 
cal personality,  and  exalted  his  Christ-conscious- 
ness. This  effacement  of  material  beliefs  and  the 
claim  of  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance  as 
existent  in  matter — not  the  effacement  of  Christ  Jesus' 
true  selfhood — enabled  him  to  triumph  over  all  mortal 
mentality  and  to  reappear  as  the  ideal  man,  thus 
proving  his  teaching  that  man  is  immortal,  never  in 
nor  of  matter. 

...  let  us  put  aside  material  self  and  sense,  and  seek 
the  divine  Principle  and  Science  of  all  healing. 

.  .  .  the  human,  material  concept,  or  Jesus,  disappeared, 
while  the  spiritual  self,  or  Christ,  continues  to  exist  in  the 
eternal  order  of  divine  Science.  .  .  . 
The  eternal  Christ,  his  spiritual  selfhood,  never  suffered. 

.  .  .  cherish  nothing  which  hinders  our  highest  selfhood. 
The  real  man  being  linked  by  Science  to  his  Maker, 
mortals  need  only  turn  from  sin  and  lose  sight  of  mortal 
selfhood  to  find  Christ,  the  real  man  and  his  relation  to  God, 
and  to  recognize  the  divine  sonship. 

In  divine  revelation,  material  and  corporeal  selfhood 
disappear,  and  the  spiritual  idea  is  understood. 

Learn  this,  0  mortal,  and  earnestly  seek  the  spiritual 
status  of  man,  which  is  outside  of  all  material  selfhood. 
Man's  genuine  selfhood  is  recognizable  only  in  what  is 
good  and  true  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  20,  334,  38,  68, 
316,  561,  476,  294). 
Hence  the  human  Jesus  had  a  resort  to  his  higher  self 


Fruits  of  Experience  1125 

and  relation  to  the  Father,  and  there  could  find  rest  from 
unreal  trials  in  the  conscious  reality  and  royalty  of  his 
being, — holding  the  mortal  as  unreal,  and  the  divine  as  real. 
It  was  this  retreat  from  material  to  spiritual  selfhood  which 
recuperated  him  for  triumph  over  sin,  sickness,  and  death 
(No  and  Yes,  p.  36). 

Through  my  willingness  to  efface  false  selfhood  in 
defense  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  of  man's  present  im- 
mortality, against  the  opposition  of  the  entire  world  of 
believers  in  the  belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  the  death  of 
matter,  my  Christ-consciousness,  my  true  self,  has  been, 
and  is  constantly  being  exalted,  with  ever-increasing 
realization  of  the  allness  of  Mind,  and  Mind's  spiritual 
ideas,  and  the  nothingness  and  impotence  of  a  so-called 
mortal  mind  and  its  embodiment,  sin,  sickness,  and 
death. 

Like  our  dear  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  I  have  withstood 
the  attempts  to  reverse  and  materialize  the  teachings  of 
absolute  Christian  Science  as  found  in  our  text-book, 
Science  and  Health.  Theosophical  suggestions,  and 
erroneous  theories,  derived  from  Oriental  religions  which 
teach  the  absorption  of  man  into  Deity,  or  the  "oblitera- 
tion" and  "effacement"  of  individualities  or  identities 
which  compose  the  body  of  Christ,  have  so  far  crept 
into  the  ranks  of  Christian  Scientists  that  the  argument 
for  "obliteration"  and  "self-effacement"  has  caused 
many  to  lose  sight  of  their  divine  selfhood,  or  spiritual 
individuality.  Genuine  Christian  Scientists  detect  this 
subtle  sophistry  of  malicious  animal  magnetism — 
impersonal  evil — and  exalt  their  Christ-consciousness. 

Resistance  to  the  argument  for  self-effacement  and 
obliteration  has  enabled  thousands  of  Christian  Scien- 
tists in  this  glorious  resurrection  hour  to  "cling  stead- 
fastly to  God  and   His  idea"  (Science  and  Health,  p. 


1 126  Fruits  of  Experience 

495),  Christ,  the  ideal  man,  and  to  their  own  in- 
dividual identity  or  sonship  with  the  Father.  They 
are  following  the  advice  of  their  beloved  Leader,  to 
build  "on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which 
there  is  no  other"  {Christian  Science  Journal,  vol. 
xx vi.,  p.  696). 

You  say  that  "self-effacement  will  do  more  to  carry 
forward  the  redemptive  work  .  .  .  than  anything  we  can 
do. "  It  is  evident  that  "we"  are  called  upon  in  this  hour 
to  do  the  works  of  the  Master,  to  efface  the  belief  of  a 
self  apart  from  God,  and  to  defend  our  true  selfhood. 
This  aggressive  mental  argument  of  self-effacement,  if 
listened  to  and  obeyed,  would  destroy  the  ability  of  any 
Christian  Scientist  to  carry  on  the  "redemptive  work" 
which  Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy  established,  the 
destruction  of  sin  and  death,  the  belief  of  life  in  matter 
and  its  consequent — disease  and  death.  Both  fought 
for  their  divine  selfhood  as  demonstrators  or  executors 
of  God's  law,  eternal  Life. 

Moses  and  all  the  prophets  contended  against  the 
carnality  of  their  age.  Jesus  struggled  to  demonstrate 
his  sonship  with  God,  against  the  brutality  of  the  car- 
nally minded  of  his  generation  who  would  have  effaced 
his  divinity — the  mental  Messiah. 

Mrs.  Eddy  tells  us  that : 

The  loss  of  man's  identity  through  the  understanding 
which  Science  confers  is  impossible;  and  the  notion  of  such 
a  possibility  is  more  absurd  than  to  conclude  that  individual 
musical  tones  are  lost  in  the  origin  of  harmony  {Science 
and  Health,  p.  217). 

After  Jesus'  final  demonstration  over  the  illusion  of 
death,  and  his  reappearance,  mortal  belief  with  its 
subtle  argument  of  belief  of  life  in  matter  gradually 


Fruits  of  Experience  1127 

gained  influence  over  his  followers  until  they  lost  the 
power  of  Christ,  the  spiritual  animus,  allowed  their  true 
selfhood  to  be  obscured,  and  again  the  world  was  sunk 
in  the  darkness  of  "chaos  and  old  night." 

In  the  fulness  of  time  Mary  Baker  Eddy  rose  to  an 
apprehension  of  the  spiritual  facts  of  being,  and  began 
the  demonstration  of  Truth  and  Love  according  to  the 
teaching  and  practice  of  Christ  Jesus.  Like  the  master 
Metaphysician,  she  was  a  brave  combatant  for  her 
spiritual  individuality,  and  met  the  same  antagonism 
of  the  carnal  mind.  The  warfare  against  the  material 
world,  the  fleshly  mind  and  all  evil,  which  was  fought 
by  Jesus — the  masculine  representative  of  the  father- 
hood of  God — and  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy — the  feminine 
representative  of  the  motherhood  of  God — does  not 
suggest  self-effacement,  but  the  necessity  for  a  mighty 
struggle  to  defend  one's  divine  selfhood  which  will  alone 
efface  the  belief  of  a  self  apart  from  Spirit. 

Christian  Science  teaches  that  there  is  but  one  self, 
and  that  man  is  one  with  God  whose  power  and  pres- 
ence he  must  finally  manifest.  Let  me  further  quote 
from  your  letter  the  following :  "If  you  will  allow  me  to 
be  frank  with  you  I  think  I  can  point  out  the  way  to 
peace  and  happiness." 

My  dear  Mr.  R  .  .  .  ,  why  do  you  assume  that  I  have 
not  found  the  way  of  peace  and  happiness?  Twenty- 
seven  years  ago  Mrs.  Eddy  pointed  out  to  me  the  way  of 
Life  which  leads  to  peace  and  joy  in  Truth  and  Love. 
I  have  found  it  a  straight  and  narrow  way  which  has  led 
me  to  an  understanding  of  eternal  Life  as  a  constant, 
conscious  possession  which  I  am  striving  to  demon- 
strate. I  have  walked  many  years  with  my  beloved 
and  revered  Leader  and  Teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
and  am  to-day  led  by  her  "gentle  presence"  as  sensibly 


1 128  Fruits  of  Experience 

as  when  she  seemed  to  be  corporeally  present  with  us. 
Her  resurrection,  as  she  continually  rises  in  the  realm  of 
scientific  being  and  demonstrates  over  all  false  mental- 
ity, is  my  resurrection  and  is  also  the  resurrection  of  all 
her  followers  who  are  looking  for  her  in  Mind,  Spirit, 
and  who  refuse  to  admit  the  illusion  of  life  or  death 
in  matter. 

This  understanding  of  spiritual  Life  as  All  imparts 
peace,  love,  and  joy,  and  the  strength  of  the  quickening 
Spirit.  The  happiness,  health,  and  spiritual  love  which 
the  Christian  Scientist  to-day  possesses  is  the  result  of 
obedience  to  the  law  of  God,  unswerving  determination 
to  conquer  all  belief  of  life  in  matter,  and  a  faith  in 
the  power  of  spiritual  understanding  to  demonstrate 
the  allness  of  Mind  and  to  reveal  its  identities.  To  the 
carnal  mind,  the  genuine  Christian  Scientist  appears 
aggressive,  but  mortals  must  learn,  and  admit,  that 
Christ  has  again  come  to  finish  his  work, — to  accom- 
plish the  total  destruction  of  incarnate  error. 

There  was  never  more  divine  self-assertion  than  in 
Christ  Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who  did  their 
mighty  works  by  claiming  and  proclaiming  their  royal 
birthright, — dominion  over  the  material  world,  the 
carnal  mind,  and  all  that  opposes  God  and  His  Christ. 

You  say:  "You  have  made  some  mistakes  along 
with  your  successes,  and  while  you  are  entitled  to 
defend  the  latter  you  are  not  justified  in  defending  the 
former." 

I  am  neither  defending  nor  justifying  personal  sense. 
In  fact  I  am  not  considering  false  personality,  and  it 
should  be  obvious  to  all  that  the  stand  which  I  am 
taking  compels  abnegation  of  material  sense,  and  humili- 
ation of  the  human.  I  am  willing  to  incur  the  bitter 
opposition  of  those  who  are  contending  for  the  reality 


Fruits  of  Experience  #129 

of  matter.  Had  another  risen  to  defend  Mrs.  Eddy's 
teaching  as  to  the  nothingness  of  mortal  mind  and  its 
material  embodiment  and  substanceless  universe;  had 
another  declared  for  the  allness  of  Spirit  and  its  ideas, 
and  fearlessly  crossed  swords  with  the  "enemy  of 
good"  (Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  910), 
malicious  animal  magnetism,  so-called,  I  should  have 
been  spared  the  crucifixion  of  personal  sense,  but  I 
would  have  lost  the  glory  of  the  cross. 

I  have  been  driven  to  the  demonstration  of  Christian 
Science,  the  fulfilling  of  the  law  of  Love,  which  is  Life. 
I  waited  prayerfully  and  patiently  for  some  one  to  come 
forth,  and  uncover  and  denounce  the  false  teachings 
which  are  mistaken  for  genuine  Christian  Science. 
But  when  no  one  appeared,  I  obeyed  my  Leader's 
instructions  to  protect  the  seamless  garment  of  Truth. 

My  dear  Mr.  R.  .  .  ,  I  think  you  are  just  and  kindly, 
and  will  recognize  that  with  my  convictions  I  could  not 
do  otherwise  than  I  have  done.  The  very  "stones 
would  immediately  cry  out"  if  I  were  not  faithful  to  my 
Leader's  teachings  and  her  written  injunctions  to  me 
to  press  forward  in  the  battle  of  Truth  against  error, 
and  with  divine  love,  to  protect  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science  from  being  obscured  by  theosophical  vagaries, 
ecclesiasticism,  and  all  theories  based  upon  the  belief 
of  matter  as  sentient  substance.  These  are  arrayed 
against  the  Lord  and  His  Christ,  and  the  Christian 
Scientist  must  watch  that  the  pure  spiritual  sense  is  not 
clouded  by  their  materially  mental  influence.  Christian 
Scientists  must  be  willing  to  suffer  with  Christ,  to  come 
out  from  the  world  of  materiality  and  be  separate, 
that  they  may  reveal  their  immortal  individual  iden- 
tity as  sons  and  daughters  of  God. 

It  should  be  evident  to  all  that  I  have  no  contention 


1130  Fruits  of  Experience 

with  the  statements  of  absolute  Christian  Science.  All 
who  understand  divine  metaphysics  know  that  my 
writings  are  in  accord  with  those  of  Mrs.  Eddy  in  her 
text-book,  Science  and  Health.  Material  personality 
and  mere  human  opinions  do  not  enter  into  the  question. 
I  am  adhering  strictly  to  Principle  and  the  rules  of 
demonstrable  Christian  Science.  I  do  not  believe  in 
the  reality  of  the  claim  of  evil,  in  the  claim  of  malicious 
mortal  mind  to  power  or  presence,  or  in  the  illusion  of 
sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Had  Jesus  believed  that  Lazarus  had  lived  or  died  in  his 
body,  the  Master  would  have  stood  on  the  same  plane  of 
belief  as  those  who  buried  the  body,  and  he  could  not  have 
resuscitated  it  {Science  and  Health,  p.  75). 

Jesus  said:  "Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me 
shall  never  die" — see  death  as  real.  I  claim  to  have 
gained  only  what  every  other  Christian  Scientist  should 
understand  and  strive  to  demonstrate — the  spiritual 
fact  of  being, — that  man  never  lived  or  died  in  matter, 
since  Spirit  and  its  infinite  ideas  are  All.  I  am  driven 
by  an  impelling  force  to  declare  this  spiritual  fact,  and 
am  invulnerable  to  the  shafts  of  impersonal  evil  aimed 
by  those  who  would  silence  this  conviction. 

If  this  contention  for  the  truth  of  being  contradicts 
the  statements  of  those  who  are  contending  for  the 
reality  of  beliefs,  there  should  be  no  dispute  over  it. 
Let  each  be  free  to  declare  for  his  convictions,  and  let 
God  justify  Himself.  This  is  not  a  matter  of  personal 
following,  nor  of  obedience  to  personal  opinion,  but  is  a 
defense  of  divine  metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mary  Baker 
Eddy. 

Genuine  Christian  Scientists,  under  the  law  of  Spirit, 
yield  to  the  operation  of  eternal  Life,  Truth,  and  Love, 


Fruits  of  Experience  1131 

and  are  fulfilling  the  law  of  Love.  So-called  Christian 
Scientists  admit  a  material  law,  yield  to  its  suggestions, 
and  finally  appeal  to  Caesar  (so-called  material  law)  for 
protection.  With  all  Mrs.  Eddy's  true  followers  who 
are  panoplied  in  Truth  and  Love,  the  invincible  armor 
of  the  Christian  Scientist,  I  shall  continue  to  follow  my 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  in  this  "line  of  light  and  battle, " 
to  reflect  His  law  of  love  to  humanity,  until  the  voice 
of  error  which  proclaims  the  reality  of  death  cannot 
find  a  witness,  and  man  in  the  image  of  his  Maker 
appears. 

May  the  faithful  combatant  for  immortality  be 
always  alert  to  defend  himself  against  the  claim  of 
"aggressive  mental  suggestion,"  and  to  "his  duty 
to  God,  to  his  Leader,  and  to  mankind"  {Manual  of 
The  Mother  Church,  Art.  viii.,  Sect.  6). 

Then  the  love  which  is  unselfed,  which  leaves  all  for 
Christ,  and  blesses  all,  by  loving  more,  will  obliterate 
and  "efface"  all  that  is  unlike  good,  and  reveal  God  in 
the  face  of  our  brother  man. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


SHOULD   CHRISTIAN   SCIENTISTS 

BECOME  IDENTIFIED  WITH 

ANY  MEDICAL  LEAGUE? 

And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe;  In  my 
name  shall  they  cast  out  devils;  they  shall  speak  with  new 
tongues ; 

They  shall  take  up  serpents ;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly 
thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the 
sick,  and  they  shall  recover. — Mark  xvi.,  17,  18. 

Pagan  mysticism,  Grecian  philosophy,  or  Jewish  religion, 


1 132  Fruits  of  Experience 

never  entered  into  the  line  of  Jesus'  thought  or  action.  His 
faith  partook  not  of  drugs,  matter,  nor  of  the  travesties  of 
mortal  mind.  The  divine  Mind  was  his  only  instrumen- 
tality and  potency,  in  religion  or  medicine.  The  Principle 
of  his  cure  was  God,  in  the  laws  of  Spirit,  not  of  matter;  and 
these  laws  annulled  all  other  laws. 

Pure  Mind  gives  out  an  atmosphere  that  heals  and  saves. 
.  .  .  The  spirit,  and  not  the  letter,  performs  the  vital 
functions  of  Truth  and  Love.  Mind,  imbued  with  this 
Science  of  healing,  is  a  law  unto  itself,  needing  neither 
license  nor  prohibition;  but  lawless  mind,  with  unseen 
motives,  and  silent  mental  methods  whereby  it  may  injure 
the  race,  is  the  highest  attenuation  of  evil. 

Our  great  Ensample,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  met  and  abolished 
this  unrelenting  false  claim  of  matter  with  the  righteous 
scorn  and  power  of  Spirit. — Miscellaneous  Writings,  pp. 
860,  258. 


I  have  just  read  a  letter  which  has  been  sent  out 
by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church  in 
Boston  from  which  I  quote  the  following  statements : 

We  hope  that  the  Christian  Scientists  throughout  the 
Field  may  perceive  more  fully  that  the  League  is  striving 
to  educate  the  public,  etc. 

Our  observation  has  been  that  whenever  the  Christian 
Scientists  in  any  state  have  had  an  opportunity  to  learn 
fully  what  the  mission  of  the  League  is,  their  support  of  it 
and  their  activity  in  its  behalf  immediately  assume  larger 
proportions.  All  the  members  of  our  Board  have  in  our 
individual  capacity,  rendered  every  consistent  help  to  the 
National  League  for  Medical  Freedom  since  the  day  it  was 
organized. 

In   regard    to   the    League   for    Medical    Freedom 


Fruits  of  Experience  1133 

(which  since  its  inception  has  been  encouraged  and  aided 
by  some  of  the  Christian  Scientists),  it  is  evident  that 
there  is  more  than  one  view-point  from  which  Christian 
Scientists  work.  To  the  genuine  Christian  Scientist 
there  is  but  one  Principle,  Spirit,  God,  and  but  one  rule, 
the  spiritual  law,  or  the  law  of  God.  Our  revered 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  says:  "All  must  have  one  Princi- 
ple and  the  same  rule ;  and  all  who  follow  the  Principle 
and  rule  have  but  one  opinion  of  it"  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  265). 

When  the  question  of  a  National  League  for  Medical 
Freedom  began  to  be  discussed,  "  Israel  after  the  Spirit," 
awake  and  alert,  turned  to  the  illumined  advice  of  its 
Leader  on  this  subject  and  read : 

What  course  should  Christian  Scientists  take  in  regard  to 
aiding  persons  brought  before  the  courts  for  violation  of  medical 
statutes?     {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  79.) 

These  true  Christian  Scientists  listened  to,  and 
obeyed  the  counsel  of  their  Leader,  who  says : 

Beware  of  joining  any  medical  league  which  in  any  way 
obligates  you  to  assist — because  they  chance  to  be  under 
arrest — vendors  of  patent  pills,  mesmerists,  occultists,  sellers 
of  impure  literature,  and  authors  of  spurious  works  on  men- 
tal healing.  By  rendering  error  such  a  service,  you  lose 
much  more  than  can  be  gained  by  mere  unity  on  the  single 
issue  of  opposition  to  unjust  medical  laws  {Miscellaneous 
Writings,  pp.  79,  80). 

The  spiritual  and  material  methods  of  healing  the 
sick  are  diametrically  opposed.  They  cannot  be  asso- 
ciated the  one  with  the  other,  and  the  Christian  Scientist 
who  leaves  his  vantage  ground  of  spiritual  therapeu- 
tics, to  unite  with   materia  medica  or  eclectic  prac- 


1 1 34  Fruits  of  Experience 

titioners,  forfeits  his  position  in  the  ranks  of  Christian 
Science  Mind-healing,  and  is  no  longer  working  accord- 
ing to  the  Principle  and  rule  of  Christian  Science,  but 
has  allied  himself  with  materialism.  "The  systems 
of  physics  act  against  metaphysics,  and  vice  versa" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  160).  Thus  we  see  that  Chris- 
tian Scientists  cannot  consistently  unite  with  the  League 
for  Medical  Freedom,  nor  obligate  themselves  to  assist 
medical  practitioners  to  carry  on  their  material  healing. 

Every  true  Christian  Scientist  who  proves  the  power 
of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing  is  uplifting  humanity, 
and  is  thus  aiding  materia  medica — allopathists,  homeo- 
pathists,  eclectics,  osteopaths,  etc., — to  appreciate  the 
power  of  spiritual  Mind-healing,  which  is  the  only 
remedy  for  suffering  humanity  from  bondage  to  sin, 
suffering,  sorrow,  and  death.  The  Christian  Scientist, 
by  spiritualizing  his  thought,  and  gaining  the  Mind  of 
Christ  which  demonstrates  the  healing  potency  of 
Christian  Science,  lifts  the  thoughts  of  medical  prac- 
titioners to  the  contemplation  of  the  spiritual  power 
which  God  bestows  upon  man,  "  When  man  is  governed 
by  God"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  180). 

Our  Leader  again  says:  "The  future  history  of 
material  medicine  may  correspond  with  that  of  its 
material  god,  Apollo,  who  was  banished  from  heaven 
and  endured  great  sufferings  upon  earth"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  158). 

The  genuine  Christian  Scientist,  working  from  the 
basis  of  divine  metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy, 
sees  the  danger  which  threatens  those  who  have  not  the 
spiritual  discernment  to  detect  this  most  subtle  attempt 
of  the  "enemy  of  good" — the  carnal  mind — to  lure 
and  ensnare  into  the  ranks  of  materialism  the  innocent 
and  the  ignorant.     In  this  resurrection  hour,  anticipat- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1135 

ing  the  "second"  appearing  of  Christ,  Truth,  through 
woman,  true  Christian  Scientists  are  not  asleep  on  their 
swords,  nor  are  they  forsaking  their  posts  of  duty — 
eternal  vigilance  on  the  watch-towers  of  spiritual 
observation.  Foreseeing  this  momentous  hour  of  the 
final  battle  between  materialism  and  spirituality,  as 
taught  in  Christian  Science,  our  wise  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy, 
gave  to  her  disciples  the  benefit  of  her  spiritual  vision 
and  wisdom,  in  advice  which  applies  to  the  question 
at  issue,  and  which  her  faithful  followers  implicitly 
obey. 

The  real  Christian  Scientist  to-day  is  not  changing 
his  standpoint  of  action  and  uniting  with  materialism. 
He  is  uplifting  the  standard  of  spiritual  mental  healing, 
and  through  the  reflection  of  Truth  and  Love  is  per- 
meating human  consciousness  with  quickened  desire 
and  aspiration  for  the  spiritual  healing  of  Christ  Jesus 
and  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Drugs,  cataplasms,  and  whiskey  are  stupid  substitutes 
for  the  dignity  and  potency  of  divine  Mind  and  its  efficacy 
to  heal.  It  is  pitiful  to  lead  men  into  temptation  through 
the  byways  of  this  wilderness  world, — to  victimize  the  race 
with  intoxicating  prescriptions  for  the  sick,  until  mortal 
mind  acquires  an  educated  appetite  for  strong  drink,  and 
men  and  women  become  loathsome  sots  (Science  and  Health, 
P-  158). 

Christian  Scientists  are  leading  mankind  from 
material  into  spiritual  healing.  They  are  not  going 
back  into  material  methods  and  practices,  nor  uniting 
their  efforts  with  those  who  are  defending  and  strength- 
ening materialism, — or  theories  that  are  based  on  the 
belief  that  life  is  existent  in  matter.     Mrs.  Eddy's 


1 136  Fruits  of  Experience 

Christian  followers  are  continually  advancing  out  of 
temporal  belief  in  matter  as  sentient  substance,  and 
are  awake  and  watching,  lest  the  tempter,  so-called 
mortal  mind,  malicious  animal  magnetism,  lure  them 
into  the  byways  of  this  "wilderness  world"  and  draw 
them  back  again  under  so-called  material  law. 

"Israel  after  the  Spirit,"  or  the  genuine  Christian 
Scientists,  panoplied  in  Truth  and  Love,  resist  this  new 
flood  which  the  dragon  is  casting  out  to  drown  the  voice 
of  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  The  subtle  influence  of  the 
dragon — anti-Christ,  and  his  agents  is  causing  to  be 
ignored  and  utterly  disregarded  the  rules  and  By-Laws 
of  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church — the  spiritual  law 
which  was  revealed  to  Mrs.  Eddy  for  the  government  of 
her  Church.  All  her  true  followers  spiritually  under- 
stand and  obey  the  rules  and  By-Laws  of  the  Manual  of 
The  Mother  Church.  But  the  attempt  of  the  so-called 
carnal  mind  to  again  sink  the  world  into  darkness 
will  prove  futile.  "The  accuser  of  our  brethren  is 
cast  down"  (Rev.  xii.,  10).  Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "Ad- 
here to  the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  Science  and 
Health,  and  our  Manual, — and  you  will  obey  the  law 
and  gospel"   (Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxi.,    p. 

457)- 

Christian  Scientists  are  under  the  law  of  Spirit. 
They  claim  God  as  their  defense  against  the  seeming 
powers  of  evil.  During  Mrs.  Eddy's  personal  work  in 
building  up  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science,  she  never 
appealed  to  Caesar  (so-called  material  law)  to  protect 
her  in  her  work  of  proving  the  healing  efficacy  of  divine 
metaphysics.  Her  only  appeal  was  to  God, — the  great 
Physician;  her  only  and  all-sufficient  defense  was  the 
law  of  Spirit. 

Read  her  words  confirming  this: 


Fruits  of  Experience  1137 

In  the  eighties,  anonymous  letters  mailed  to  me  contained 
threats  to  blow  up  the  hall  where  I  preached;  yet  I  never 
lost  my  faith  in  God,  and  neither  informed  the  police  of 
these  letters  nor  sought  the  protection  of  the  laws  of  my 
country.  I  leaned  on  God,  and  was  safe  (Message  for 
1902,  p.  89). 

Her  followers  must  demonstrate  God's  power  to  heal, 
and  trust  the  law  of  God  to  deliver  them  from  material 
so-called  law.  There  is  but  one  law,  the  law  of  God. 
Mortals  reverse,  or  misinterpret  God's  law.  Froude 
admits  but  one  law  as  shown  in  the  following  words: 

Our  human  laws  are  but  the  copies,  more  or  less  imperfect, 
of  the  eternal  laws  so  far  as  we  can  read  them,  and  either 
succeed  and  promote  our  welfare,  or  fail  and  bring  confu- 
sion and  disaster,  according  as  the  legislators'  insight  has 
detected  the  true  principle,  or  has  been  distorted  by  igno- 
rance or  selfishness. 

I  hear  that  money  has  been  solicited  from,  and  con- 
tributed by  the  Field  of  Christian  Science  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  National  League  for  Medical  Free- 
dom in  opposing  certain  proposed  legislation.  This 
league  includes  within  its  composition,  not  alone  regular 
physicians,  but  eclectics,  osteopaths,  and  graduates  of 
kindred  schools,  all  of  which  are  founded  on  the  belief 
in  matter  as  possessing  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and 
substance.  Do  not  all  who  unite  with  the  League  for 
Medical  Freedom  disregard  the  counsel  of  our  wise 
Leader  on  this  subject?    She  says: 

Anybody  and  everybody,  who  will  fight  the  medical 
faculty,  can  join  this  league.  It  is  better  to  be  friendly  with 
cultured  and  conscientious  medical  men,  who  leave  Chris- 
tian Science  to  rise  or  fall  on  its  own  merit  or  demerit,  than 


1 138  Fruits  of  Experience 

to  affiliate  with  a  wrong  class  of  people    (Miscellaneous 
Writings,  p.  80). 

All  true  Christian  Scientists  have  great  respect  for 
the  cultured  and  conscientious  medical  men.  Their 
system  of  material  therapeutics  appeals  to  all  who  trust 
in  material  aid.  The  demands  of  such  should  be  met  by 
the  honest,  conscientious  physician,  who  is  as  necessary 
to-day  to  relieve  suffering  humanity,  as  is  the  Christian 
Scientist  to  heal  those  who  demand  spiritual  Mind- 
healing.  Christian  Science  should  not  be  forced  upon 
any  one  to  whom  it  does  not  appeal  as  a  remedial 
agency;  neither  should  any  one  who  has  lost  faith  in 
drugs  be  compelled  to  accept  them.  Again  our  Leader 
continues  her  admonition  and  advice,  which  genuine 
Christian  Scientists  obey: 

To  prevent  all  unpleasant  and  unchristian  action — as  we 
drift,  by  right  of  God's  dear  love,  into  more  spiritual  lines 
of  life — let  each  society  of  practitioners,  the  matter-phy- 
sicians and  the  metaphysicians,  agree  to  disagree,  and  then 
patiently  wait  on  God  to  decide,  as  surely  He  will,  which  is 
the  true  system  of  medicine  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p. 
81). 

Let  us  continue  to  examine  our  Leader's  views  on  this 
crucial  question  of  our  attitude  to  all  leagues  whose 
therapeutics  is  material,  and  who  treat  only  effect  or 
matter.     Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Christian  Science  Mind-healing  rests  demonstrably  on  the 
broad  and  sure  foundation  of  Science;  and  this  is  not  the 
basis  of  materia  medica,  as  some  of  the  most  skilful  and 
scholarly  physicians  openly  admit  (Miscellaneous  Writings, 
pp.  80,  81). 

This  saying  of  our  Leader  has  been  proved.     I  have 


Fruits  of  Experience  1139 

heard  that  there  are  prominent  physicians  who  declare 
that  the  stand  which  is  being  taken  by  some  Christian 
Scientists  in  uniting  with  the  League  in  question,  is 
proof  positive  that  they  have  forfeited  their  right  to 
practise  under  the  name  of  Christian  Science,  which 
purports  to  use  only  spiritual  means,  and  who  claim 
Christ  as  able  to  deliver  them  in  every  hour  of  trial. 

Can  a  real  Christian  Scientist  who  adheres  strictly 
to  the  Principle  and  rule  of  Christian  Science  as  laid 
down  in  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  our  revered 
Leader's  other  writings — can  they,  I  ask,  unite  with 
a  medical  league,  be  that  league  composed  of  eclec- 
tic, osteopathic,  or  whatever  material  school  may  be 
represented  ? 

Christian  Scientists  are  commanded  to  come  out 
from  materialism  and  be  separate.  "Can  two  walk 
together,  except  they  be  agreed?"  (Amos  iii.,  3.)  Let 
all  who  sufficiently  trust  in  the  protection  of  divine  Love 
go  forth  to  meet  the  Goliath, — so-called  material  law, — 
cross  swords  with  this  law,  which  antagonizes  spiritual 
law,  and  let  Christian  Scientists  demonstrate  with 
scientific  accuracy,  the  Principle  and  rule  of  Christian 
Science  Mind-healing. 

Referring  to  Jesus,  Mrs.  Eddy  says : 

Jesus  acted  boldly,  against  the  accredited  evidence  of  the 
senses,  against  Pharisaical  creeds  and  practices,  and  he  re- 
futed all  opponents  with  his  healing  power  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  18). 

Did  our  great  Leader  ever  ally  herself  with  any 
material  association,  that  she  might  bring  about  free- 
dom of  action  for  Christian  Science  practitioners  in  the 
practice  and  demonstration  of  Truth?     No!     She,  like 


1 1 40  Fruits  of  Experience 

Jesus,  also  "acted  boldly,  against  the  accredited  evi- 
dence of  the  senses,"  and  both  she  and  her  pioneer 
students  "refuted  all  opponents"  with  the  healing 
power  of  the  Christ-mind.  On  the  contrary,  do  you 
not  find  that  her  spiritual  foresight  sought  to  guard  her 
followers  against  just  such  action  as  is  now  being 
sanctioned? 

Should  Christian  Scientists  lend  their  aid  to  medical 
leagues  by  throwing  open  the  doors  of  their  churches  to 
eclectics  and  osteopaths  who  are  engaged  in  a  medical 
war  against  the  allopaths  and  homeopaths? 

This  battle  is  between  the  two  systems  which  are 
founded  upon  materiality.  Why  should  Christian 
Scientists  be  engaged  in  the  battle  for  material  methods 
and  practices?  These  opposite  classes  of  physicians 
cannot  unite.  Let  the  matter-physician  fight  for 
medical  freedom.  The  Christian  Scientist  is  contend- 
ing for  spiritual  freedom.  Permit  me  to  quote  from  the 
aforesaid  letter: 

At  this  particular  stage  of  the  working  out  of  the  problem 
of  human  salvation,  the  principle  of  medical  freedom  is  a 
stepping-stone  for  those  "millions  of  unprejudiced  minds" 
that  have  not  yet  sufficiently  discerned  the  Science  of 
Christianity  to  forsake  many  of  their  material  beliefs. 

The  "principle  of  medical  freedom"  is  not  "a  step- 
ping-stone for  those  'millions  of  unprejudiced  minds' 
who  have  not  sufficiently  discerned  the  Science  of 
Christianity."     Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

Truth,  in  divine  Science,  is  the  stepping-stone  to  the 
understanding  of  God.  .  .  .  Invalids  say,  "I  have  re- 
covered from  sickness;"  when  the  fact  really  remains,  in 
divine  Science,  that  they  never  were  sick  {Unity  of  Good, 
pp.  61,  62). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1141 

Again  let  us  listen  to  the  words  of  our  great  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy: 

Christ  cannot  come  to  mortal  and  material  sense,  which 
sees  not  God.  This  false  sense  of  substance  must  yield  to 
His  eternal  presence,  and  so  dissolve.  Rising  above  the 
false,  to  the  true  evidence  of  Life,  is  the  resurrection  that 
takes  hold  of  eternal  Truth  (Unity  of  Good,  pp.  60,  61). 

In  the  Christian  Science  Journal  for  February,  1909, 
we  find  the  following  words  of  our  revered  Leader : 

When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher, — to  enlarge  their  phylacteries  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent, — they  must  begin 
on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is  no 
other.  ... 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science,  but 
it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be  demon- 
strated. 

The  advanced  Christian  Scientist  is  working  to  attain 
a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness,  which  will  destroy 
all  belief  of  life,  substance,  and  intelligence  as  existent 
in  matter. 

Jesus  prophesied  this  hour,  and  said: 

But  when  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  commotions,  be  not 
terrified:  for  these  things  must  first  come  to  pass;  but  the 
end  is  not  by  and  by. 

Then  said  he  unto  them,  Nation  shall  rise  against  nation, 
and  kingdom  against  kingdom : 

And  great  earthquakes  shall  be  in  divers  places,  and 
famines,  and  pestilences;  and  fearful  sights  and  great  signs 
shall  there  be  from  heaven. 

But  before  all  these,  they  shall  lay  their  hands  on  you, 
and  persecute  you,  delivering  you  up  to  the  synagogues, 


1 142  Fruits  of  Experience 

and  into  prisons,  being  brought  before  kings  and  rulers  for 
my  name's  sake. 

And  it  shall  turn  to  you  for  a  testimony. 

Settle  it  therefore  in  your  hearts,  not  to  meditate  before 
what  ye  shall  answer: 

For  I  will  give  you  a  mouth  and  wisdom,  which  all  your 
adversaries  shall  not  be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 

And  ye  shall  be  betrayed  both  by  parents,  and  brethren, 
and  kinsfolks,  and  friends ;  and  some  of  you  shall  they  cause 
to  be  put  to  death. 

And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my  name's  sake. 

But  there  shall  not  an  hair  of  your  head  perish. 

In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls  (Luke  xxi.,  9-19). 

Genuine  Christian  Scientists  do  not  fear  a  so-called 
material  court,  nor  appeal  to  a  so-called  material  law  to 
protect  them  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  healing 
work.  There  is  but  one  court,  and  one  law — God's  law. 
Christian  Scientists  are  ready  to  meet,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  spiritual  law — the  law  of  divine  Love — 
every  experience  which  will  exalt  them,  and  impel  them 
to  a  closer  walk  with  Christ,  a  more  absolute  reliance 
upon  his  promise  to  deliver  them  in  every  trial  of  their 
faith.  They  are  building  on  a  "wholly  spiritual" 
consciousness,  and  are  elevating  mankind  to  the  appre- 
hension of  our  Leader's  words : 

To  build  the  individual  spiritual  sense,  conscious  of  only 
health,  holiness,  and  heaven,  on  the  foundations  of  an 
eternal  Mind  which  is  conscious  of  sickness,  sin,  and  death, 
is  a  moral  impossibility  {Unity  of  Good,  p.  64). 

It  is  a  moral  impossibility  for  a  Christian  Scientist  to 
heal  according  to  the  Christ-mind  healing,  which  de- 
stroys sin  and  disease,  while  contemplating  material 
methods,  agreeing  with,  or  uniting  in  action  with  those 


Fruits  of  Experience  1143 

to  whom  sickness  and  sin,  physicality  or  corporeality 
are  real. 

Note  the  difference  Mrs.  Eddy  makes  between  the 
material  (so-called)  man,  and  the  spiritual.  She  differ- 
entiates between  those  who  practise  from  a  false  mate- 
rial basis,  and  the  Christian  Scientist  who  uses  spiritual 
means  only.  Let  us  answer  to  ourselves  whether  the 
practitioners  of  these  two  opposite  schools,  Christian 
Science  and  materia  medica  can  unite — those  who 
heal  spiritually  and  those  who  claim  to  heal  materially. 

Our  Leader  says: 

tgiH 

While  material   man  and  the  physical  senses  receive  no 

spiritual  idea,  and  feel  no  sensation  of  divine  Love,  spiritual 

man  and  his  spiritual  senses  are  drinking  in  the  nature  and 

essence  of  the  individual  infinite  {No  and  Yes,  p.  19). 

A  wide  mental  gulf  separates  matter-physicians  from 
metaphysicians.  A  true  Christian  Scientist  never 
returns  to  positions  outgrown;  neither  in  these  latter 
days  can  he  take  "a  halting  and  half-way  position" 
(Science  and  Health,  p.  167). 

"Israel  after  the  flesh,"  which  hath  joined  itself  to 
idols  and  united  with  materialism,  is  spoken  of  in  Hosea 
viii.,  3,  and  Ephesians  iv.,  14,  15: 

Israel  [after  the  flesh]  hath  cast  off  the  thing  that  is  good : 
the  enemy  shall  pursue  him. 

That  we  henceforth  be  no  more  children,  tossed  to  and 
fro,  and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the 
sleight  of  men,  and  cunning  craftiness,  whereby  they  lie  in 
wait  to  deceive ; 

But  speaking  the  truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  into  him  in 
all  things,  which  is  the  head,  even  Christ. 

If  Christian  Scientists  do  not  protest  mentally  and 


1 144  Fruits  of  Experience 

audibly  against  unity  with  materialism,  they  will  lose 
the  key-note  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  which 
not  only  heals  disease,  but  destroys  the  claim  of  sin 
which  causes  the  disease.  Our  ever-present  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  tells  us: 

...  if  evil  is  uncondemned,  it  is  undenied  and  nurtured. 
Under  such  circumstances,  to  say  that  there  is  no  evil,  is 
an  evil  in  itself.  When  needed  tell  the  truth  concerning 
the  lie.  Evasion  of  Truth  cripples  integrity,  and  casts 
thee  down  from  the  pinnacle  (Science  and  Health,  p.  448). 

History  records  the  trials  of  the  faith,  obedience,  and 
understanding  of  all  who  have  chosen  to  demonstrate 
the  power  of  Truth  over  material  sense  testimony,  and 
their  deliverance  from  all  evil.  The  Christian  Scientist 
to-day  must  be  tested.  He  must  prove  his  faith  in  the 
Principle  and  rule  of  scientific  being.  He  must  demon- 
strate his  obedience  to,  and  understanding  of  the  law  of 
God — eternal  Life,  Love,  and  Truth. 

Christian  Scientists  take  the  Scriptures  and  Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  as  their  "guide  to 
eternal  Life."  They  read  of  the  demonstrations  of  the 
prophets,  of  Christ  Jesus  and  the  disciples,  and  of  their 
deliverance  from  the  seeming  power  of  the  so-called 
mortal  mind.  Noah's  faith,  obedience,  and  under- 
standing were  fully  tested.  He  was  commanded  by 
God  to  build  an  ark. 

Definition  of  "Ark:" 

.  .  .  the  understanding  of  Spirit,  destroying  belief  in 
matter. 

God  and  man  coexistent  and  eternal;  Science  showing 
that  the  spiritual  realities  of  all  things  are  created  by  Him 
and  exist  forever.  The  ark  indicates  temptation  overcome 
and  followed  by  exaltation  {Science  and  Health,  p.  581). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1145 

God  said  unto  Noah : 

The  end  of  all  flesh  is  come  before  me;  for  the  earth  is 
filled  with  violence  through  them ;  and,  behold,  I  will  destroy 
them  with  the  earth. 

Make  thee  an  ark  (Gen.  vi.,  13,  14). 

Noah  obeyed — built  the  ark — called  all  the  righteous 
of  his  generation  into  the  ark,  and  "the  Lord  shut  him 
in. "  The  floods  came,  but  Noah  and  those  in  the  ark 
with  him  were  safe.  Those  to-day  who  are  in  the  ark 
of  spiritual  understanding,  and  are  governed  by  the 
law  of  God  are  saved  from  the  fear  of  so-called  material 
law  and  sense  testimony.  Noah  went  into  the  ark  of 
spiritual  understanding  (faith  in  God's  word),  which 
God  commanded  him  to  do,  and  Noah,  with  all  his  house, 
was  saved. 

His  spiritual  thought  was  externalized  in  an  ark 
which  rode  above  the  waves  of  human  concepts.  True 
Christian  Scientists  are  obeying  the  voice  of  God,  and 
are  fleeing  from  the  materialism  of  this  hour.  They 
are  finding  refuge  in  the  "wholly  spiritual"  conscious- 
ness which  our  spiritual  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  has 
declared  will  save  them  from  the  fiery  flames  of  fear, 
and  all  the  evil  qualities  which  compose  the  so-called 
carnal  mind,  which  in  these  latter  days  threaten  to 
drive  them  back  into  materialism,  and  tempt  those  who 
occupy  "a  halting  and  half-way  position"  to  seek 
safety  under  the  so-called  material  law. 

Abraham's  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding  were 
tested.     Definition  of  Abraham  as  given  by  Mrs.  Eddy : 

Fidelity;  faith  in  the  divine  Life  and  in  the  eternal 
Principle  of  being. 

This  patriarch  illustrated  the  purpose  of  Love  to  create 


1 146  Fruits  of  Experience 

trust  in  good,  and  showed  the  life-preserving  power  of 
spiritual  understanding  (Science  and  Health,  p.  579). 

And  it  came  to  pass  ....  that  God  did  tempt  [test] 
Abraham,  and  said  unto  him,  Abraham :  and  he  said,  Behold, 
here  I  am. 

And  He  [GodJ  said,  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son 
Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  into  the  land  of 
Moriah;  and  offer  him  there  for  a  burnt  offering  upon  one 
of  the  mountains  which  I  will  tell  thee  of. 

Then  on  the  third  day  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
saw  the  place  afar  off  (Gen.  xxii.,  1,2,4). 

Abraham's  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding  en- 
abled him  to  lay  upon  the  altar  his  son  Isaac,  his  only 
son  whom  he  loved.  When  Abraham  had  obeyed, 
God  restored  to  him  his  son  Isaac.  "To  obey  is 
better  than  sacrifice." 

Moses's  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding  were 
tested.     He  was  called  to  deliver  Israel. 

And  the  Lord  said,  I  have  surely  seen  the  affliction  of  My 
people  which  are  in  Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  cry  by 
reason  of  their  taskmasters;  for  I  know  their  sorrows; 

And  I  am  come  down  to  deliver  them  out  of  the  hand  of 
the  Egyptians,  and  to  bring  them  up  out  of  that  land  unto 
a  good  land  and  a  large,  unto  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey  (Exodus  111.,  7,  8). 

God  said,  I  have  come  to  deliver  the  oppressed 
children  of  Israel.  But  note  this — He  commanded 
Moses  to  represent  Him,  to  voice — execute  His  law. 
God  said: 

Come  now  therefore,  and  I  will  send  thee  unto  Pharoah, 
that  thou  mayest  bring  forth  My  people  the  children  of 
Israel  out  of  Egypt. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1147 

And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Who  am  I,  .  .  .  that  I  should 
bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt? 

And  He  [GodJ  said,  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee ;  and  this 
shall  be  a  token  unto  thee,  that  I  have  sent  thee:  When 
thou  hast  brought  forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye  shall 
serve  God  upon  this  mountain  (spiritual  understanding. — 
Exodus  iii.,  10-12). 

God  commanded  Moses  to  say  to  the  children  of 
Israel,  "  I  AM  hath  sent  me  unto  you. "  Moses  obeyed 
God,  and  God  fulfilled  His  promise  to  him.  Moses 
went  through  the  Red  Sea  which  parted  for  him  and  his 
people,  but  when  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh ,  who  pursued  him, 
attempted  to  pass  through, — they  perished  in  the 
waters. 

The  history  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego 
illustrates  the  faith  and  understanding  which  cling 
"steadfastly  to  God  and  His  idea"  (Science  and  Health, 
p.  495) ,  who  delivers  all  who  trust  in  the  spiritual  law. 

King  Nebuchadnezzar  asked  the  Hebrew  children: 

. 'gnB  znl 

Is  it  true,  O  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  do  not 
ye  serve  my  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  I 
have  set  up? 

Now  if  ye  be  ready  that  at  what  time  ye  hear  the  sound 
of  the  cornet,  ...  ye  fall  down  and  worship  the  image 
which  I  have  made ;  well :  but  if  ye  worship  not,  ye  shall  be 
cast  the  same  hour  into  the  midst  of  a  burning  fiery  furnace ; 
and  who  is  that  God  that  shall  deliver  you  out  of  my  hands? 

Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  answered  and  said 
to  the  king,  0  Nebuchadnezzar,  we  are  not  careful  to  answer 
thee  in  this  matter. 

If  it  be  so,  our  God  whom  we  serve  is  able  to  deliver  us 
from  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and  He  will  deliver  us  out 
of  thine  hand,  O  king. 

But  if  not,  be  it  known  unto  thee,  0  king,  that  we  will 


1 148  Fruits  of  Experience 

not  serve  thy  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  thou 
hast  set  up  (Daniel  iii.,  14-18). 

These  Hebrew  children  stood  for  the  God  of  Israel. 
They  met  the  test  of  their  faith,  obedience,  and  under- 
standing. They  were  put  bound  into  the  burning 
fiery  furnace. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  was  astonied,  and  rose 
up  in  haste,  and  spake,  and  said  unto  his  counsellors,  Did 
not  we  cast  three  men  bound  into  the  midst  of  the  fire? 
They  answered  and  said  unto  the  king,  True,  0  king. 

.  .  .  Lo,  I  see  four  men  loose,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the 
fire,  and  they  have  no  hurt;  and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is 
like  the  Son  of  God. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  .  .  .  spake,  and  said,  ...  ye 
servants  of  the  most  high  God,  come  forth,  and  come 
hither.  Then  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  came 
forth  of  the  midst  of  the  fire. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  spake,  and  said,  Blessed  be  the 
God  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  who  hath  sent 
His  angel,  and  delivered  His  servants  that  trusted  in  Him, 
and  have  changed  the  king's  word,  and  yielded  their  bodies, 
that  they  might  not  serve  nor  worship  any  god,  except  their 
own  God. 

Therefore  I  make  a  decree,  That  every  people,  nation, 
and  language,  which  speak  anything  amiss  against  the  God 
of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  shall  be  cut  in 
pieces,  .  .  .  because  there  is  no  other  God  that  can  deliver 
after  this  sort  (Daniel  iii.,  24-26,  28,  29). 

. 

Their  faith  in  God,  the  Principle  of  being,  and  the 
law  of  Spirit  delivered  the  Hebrew  children.  Nebu- 
chadnezzar saw  the  demonstration,  and  acknowledged 
the  God  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego. 

Again  the  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding  of 
Daniel  were  tested. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1149 

It  pleased  Darius  to  set  over  the  kingdom  an  hundred 
and  twenty  princes,  which  should  be  over  the  whole 
kingdom ; 

...  of  whom  Daniel  was  first.  .  .  . 

Then  this  Daniel  was  preferred  above  the  presidents  and 
princes,  because  an  excellent  spirit  was  in  him;  and  the 
king  thought  to  set  him  over  the  whole  realm. 

Then  the  presidents  and  princes  sought  to  find  occasion 
against  Daniel  concerning  the  kingdom;  but  they  could 
find  none  occasion  nor  fault.  .  .  . 

Then  said  these  men,  We  shall  not  find  any  occasion 
against  this  Daniel,  except  we  find  it  against  him  concerning 
the  law  of  his  God. 

All  the  presidents  of  the  kingdom,  .  .  .  have  consulted 
together  to  establish  a  royal  statute,  and  to  make  a  firm 
decree,  that  whosoever  shall  ask  a  petition  of  any  God  or 
man  for  thirty  days,  save  of  thee,  O  king,  he  shall  be  cast 
into  the  den  of  lions. 

Wherefore  king  Darius  signed  the  writing  and  the  decree. 

Now  when  Daniel  knew  that  the  writing  was  signed,  he 
went  into  his  house;  and  his  windows  being  open  in  his 
chamber  toward  Jerusalem,  he  kneeled  upon  his  knees  three 
times  a  day,  and  prayed,  and  gave  thanks  before  his  God, 
as  he  did  aforetime. 

Then  these  men  assembled,  and  found  Daniel  praying 
and  making  supplication  before  his  God. 

Then  answered  they  [the  presidents,  etc.]  and  said  before 
the  king,  That  Daniel,  which  is  of  the  children  of  the 
captivity  of  Judah,  regardeth  not  thee,  O  king,  nor  the 
decree  that  thou  hast  signed,  but  maketh  his  petition  three 
times  a  day. 

Then  the  king  commanded,  and  they  brought  Daniel, 
and  cast  him  into  the  den  of  lions.  Now  the  king  spake  and 
said  unto  Daniel,  Thy  God  whom  thou  servest  continually, 
He  will  deliver  thee. 

Then  the  king  went  to  his  palace,  and  passed  the  night 
fasting.  .  .  . 


1 1 50  Fruits  of  Experience 

Then  the  king  arose  very  early  in  the  morning,  and  went 
in  haste  unto  the  den  of  lions. 

Then  said  Daniel  unto  the  king,  O  king,  live  for  ever. 

My  God  hath  sent  His  angel,  and  hath  shut  the  lions' 
mouths,  that  they  have  not  hurt  me.  .  .  . 

Then  was  the  king  exceeding  glad  for  him,  and  command- 
ed that  they  should  take  Daniel  up  out  of  the  den.  So 
Daniel  was  taken  up  out  of  the  den,  and  no  manner  of  hurt 
was  found  upon  him,  because  he  believed  in  his  God 
(Daniel  vi.,  1-5,  7,  9-1 1,  13,  16,  18,  19,  21-23). 

Christian  Scientists  must  believe  in  their  God,  and 
must  meet  the  test  of  their  faith,  obedience,  and  under- 
standing. They  must  demonstrate  the  potency  of  the 
Christ-mind  power  in  the  destruction  of  sin  and  disease. 
This  will  prove  who  are  genuine  Christian  Scientists 
and  followers  of  the  teachings  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Jesus  our  Way-shower  to  eternal  Life  was  tempted 
and  tested  by  the  cruel  barbarity  of  the  carnal  mind, 
which  put  him  upon  the  cross  for  his  adherence  to  God. 
His  would-be  murderers  said  mockingly : 

Thou  that  destroyest  the  temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three 
days,  save  thyself.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  come  down 
from  the  cross. 

Likewise  also  the  chief  priests  mocking  him,  with  the 
scribes  and  elders,  said, 

He  saved  others ;  himself  he  cannot  save.  If  he  be  the 
King  of  Israel,  let  him  now  come  down  from  the  cross,  and 
we  will  believe  him. 

He  trusted  in  God;  let  Him  deliver  him  now,  if  He  will 
have  him:  for  he  said,  I  am  the  Son  of  God  (Matthew 
xxvii.,  40-43). 

Christ  Jesus,  our  great  example,  proved  God  to  be 
the  same  God  who  had  delivered  Noah,  Abraham, 
Moses,  the  Hebrew  children  and  Daniel.     He  came 


Fruits  of  Experience  1151 

forth  from  the  tomb,  and  presented  the  proof  of  his 
teachings,  that  man  when  governed  by  God  has  an 
indestructible  life,  and  is  not  at  the  mercy  of  so-called 
material  law.  Christ  Jesus  demonstrated  his  teachings 
by  reappearing  to  the  world,  thus  establishing  man's 
unity  with  ever-present  Life,  God. 

The  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding  of  Peter  and 
Paul  were  tested: 

Peter  .  .  .  was  kept  in  prison:  but  prayer  was  made 
without  ceasing  of  the  church  unto  God  for  him. 
.  .  .  Peter  was  sleeping  between  two  soldiers,  bound  with 
two  chains :  and  the  keepers  before  the  door  kept  the  prison. 

And,  behold,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him,  and  a 
light  shined  in  the  prison:  and  he  smote  Peter  on  the  side, 
and  raised  him  up,  saying,  Arise  up  quickly.  And  his 
chains  fell  off  from  his  hands. 

And  the  angel  said  unto  him,  Gird  thyself,  and  bind  on 
thy  sandals.  And  so  he  did.  And  he  saith  unto  him,  Cast 
thy  garment  about  thee,  and  follow  me. 

And  he  went  out,  and  followed  him.  .  .  . 

And  .  .  .  Peter  .  .  .  said,  Now  I  know  of  a  surety,  that 
the  Lord  hath  sent  His  angel,  and  hath  delivered  me  out  of 
the  hand  of  Herod,  and  from  all  the  expectation  of  the 
people  of  the  Jews  (Acts  xii.,  5-9,  11). 

The  following  Bible  citations  show  the  tests  Paul  met 
in  demonstrating  the  protecting  power  of  God's  law: 

But  when  the  Jews  saw  the  multitudes,  they  were  filled 
with  envy,  and  spake  against  those  things  which  were 
spoken  by  Paul.  .  .  . 

Then  Paul  .  .  .  waxed  bold,  and  said,  It  was  necessary 
that  the  word  of  God  should  first  have  been  spoken  to  you : 
but  seeing  ye  put  it  from  you,  and  judge  yourselves  un- 
worthy of  everlasting  life,  lo,  we  turn  to  the  Gentiles. 


1 1 52  Fruits  of  Experience 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  published  throughout  all 
the  region. 

But  the  Jews  stirred  up  the  devout  and  honourable 
women,  and  the  chief  men  of  the  city,  and  raised  persecu- 
tion against  Paul  and  Barnabas,  and  expelled  them  out  of 
their  coasts  (Acts  xiii.,  45,  46,  49,  50). 

And  the  multitude  rose  up  together  against  them :  and  the 
magistrates  rent  off  their  clothes,  and  commanded  to  beat 
them. 

And  when  they  had  laid  many  stripes  upon  them,  they  cast 
them  into  prison,  charging  the  jailor  to  keep  them  safely : 

Who,  .  .  .  thrust  them  into  the  inner  prison,  and  made 
their  feet  fast  in  the  stocks. 

And  at  midnight  Paul  and  Silas  prayed,  and  sang  praises 
unto  God.  .  .  . 

And  suddenly  there  was  a  great  earthquake,  so  that  the 
foundations  of  the  prison  were  shaken:  and  immediately  all 
the  doors  were  opened,  and  every  one's  bands  were  loosed 
(Acts  xvi.,  22-26). 

Thus  we  see  that  those  who  have  enlisted  in  the  Cause 
of  Christian  Science  "to  lessen  evil,  disease,  and  death  " 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  450),  must  not  shrink  from  the 
tests  of  their  faith,  obedience,  and  understanding.  Only 
by  meeting  the  "enemy  of  good"  with  the  qualities  of 
the  Christ-mind,  which  alone  annul  the  qualities  of  the 
so-called  carnal  mind;  only  by  clinging  to  Principle, 
living  the  life  of  Christ,  and  denying  the  claims  of 
physical  sense,  will  the  Christian  Scientist  be  able  to 
prove  the  power  of  Truth  in  the  destruction  of  sin, 
sickness,  sorrow,  and  death. 

There  is  no  royal  road  to  heavenly  treasure; 

The  pathway  does  not  lead  through  human  pride ; 
But  meekness,  faith,  and  love  must  fill  the  measure 

We  humbly  offer  to  the  Glorified.  a.  e.  s. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1153 

There  are  many  to-day  who  are  trying  to  climb  up 
some  other  way.  They  are  vainly  attempting  to  serve 
two  masters, — matter  and  Mind,  spirituality  and  ma- 
teriality, and  these  should  be  known  as  mental  healers  on 
a  material  basis,  under  the  protection  of  medical  law. 
Christian  Scientists  must  come  out  from  the  belief  of 
life  in  matter.  Then  they  will  have  faith  in  the  Prin- 
ciple of  being,  and  will  not  fear  arrest  or  loss  of  practice. 
They  will  heal  the  sick,  and,  if  (through  not  having 
attained  sufficient  spiritual  power  to  annul  the  claim  of 
disease  in  all  cases  which  come  under  their  care) ,  they 
fail  to  make  a  demonstration,  they  will  still  trust  God  to 
deliver  them,  or  in  His  own  way  and  time  give  them 
strength  to  go  through  the  exalting  experience,  and 
wait  until  the  words  of  our  Leader  are  verified,  "  Divine 
Love  always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every  human 
need"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  494).  Some  time  in 
the  experience  of  all  Christian  Scientists  these  words 
must  be  demonstrated. 

Let  all  true  soldiers  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  Mary  Baker 
Eddy  go  forth  clad  in  the  invincible  armor  of  divine 
Love  to  destroy  sin,  disease,  and  death.  Let  all  build 
on  a  "wholly  spiritual  foundation"  and  rejoice  in  the 
demonstration  of  the  Christ-power  over  "serpents  and 
scorpions," — all  evil.  Only  such  as  possess  the  Mind 
of  Christ  and  reflect  the  qualities  of  God  will  be  able  to 
stand  and  prove  the  power  of  true  Christian  Science 
Mind-healing. 

Let  all  who  spiritually  understand  divine  meta- 
physics, or  the  power  of  spiritual  thought-force  as  taught 
and  demonstrated  by  Christ  Jesus,  and  in  these  latter 
days  discovered,  taught,  and  demonstrated  by  Mary 
Baker  Eddy, — let  all  who  are  striving  for  the  Mind  of 
Christ  maintain  the  teachings  and  practice  of  divine 


1 1 54  Fruits  of  Experience 

metaphysics.  Let  Christian  Scientists  teach  the  differ- 
ence between  spiritual  healing,  and  material  so-called 
healing. 

Let  all,  who  desire  to  practise  mental  healing  so- 
called,  on  a  material  basis,  do  so,  and  put  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  material  law.  But,  let  no  one 
be  deceived  into  believing  that  spiritual  thought  and 
material  thought,  or  spiritual  methods  and  material 
methods  can  be  united  in  Christian  Science.  Even  in 
the  fold  of  Christian  Science  they  do  not  unite.  The 
Master  classified  them  as  wheat  and  tares,  sheep  and 
goats,  and  said:  "My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  .  .  .  and 
they  follow  me"  (John  x.,  27).  True  Christian 
Scientists  work  from  a  "wholly  spiritual"  premise 
and  will  finally,  if  faithful,  demonstrate  a  "wholly 
spiritual"  conclusion  —  health,  holiness,  and  immor- 
tality. 

Christ  Jesus  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  both  taught  and 
demonstrated  the  power  of  spiritual  thought-force 
as  supreme  over  all  claims  of  material  mental  influences. 
The  greatest  woman  the  world  has  ever  known — the 
spiritual  emancipator  of  mankind  from  bondage  to  the 
belief  of  life,  truth,  intelligence,  and  substance  in  matter, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  stepped  forth  into  the  arena  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  declared  for  the  allness  of 
divine  Mind,  and  the  nothingness  of  mortal  mind  and 
its  material  embodiment  and  universe.  This  God- 
anointed,  God-inspired  woman  met  the  Goliath  of 
human  belief  in  materiality,  and  again  planted  the 
standard  of  Christ,  Truth,  on  the  shores  of  temporal 
human  existence.  As  well  may  mortals  attempt  to 
prevent  the  earth  from  revolving  in  its  orbit,  as  to 
endeavor  to  reverse  her  teachings,  discredit  her  spir- 
itual work,  and  prevent  her  from  demonstrating  ideal 


Fruits  of  Experience  1155 

womanhood,  the  manifestation  of  the  motherhood  of 
God. 

All  who  spiritually  understand  her  teaching  know 
that  this  proof  will  be  woman's  victory  over  the  claim  of 
a  power  opposed  to  God,  which  was  centuries  ago  won 
by  the  man,  Christ  Jesus. 

Humanity  will  rise  with  this  demonstration,  and 
admit  the  power  and  presence  of  God  and  the  ideal  man 
and  ideal  woman  in  His  image  and  likeness.  Thus  will 
"God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  men  on  the  earth "  and  the 
universe  of  God's  creating,  spiritual  and  eternal,  will 
appear.  A  "new  heaven  and  a  new  earth"  will  be 
revealed  to  the  spiritually  illumined,  for  material 
thoughts  which  evolve  material  things  (illusions)  will 
have  passed  away. 

Let  me  conclude  with  the  words  of  our  spiritual 
Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy : 

The  entire  purpose  of  true  education  is  to  make  one  not  only 
know  the  truth  but  live  it — enjoy  doing  rightly — and  not 
work  in  the  sunshine  and  run  away  in  the  storm — but  work 
midst  clouds  of  wrong,  injustice,  envy,  hate;  and  wait  on 
God,  the  strong  deliverer,  who  will  reward  righteousness  and 
punish  iniquity.  "As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be" 
(Christian  Science  Journal,  vol.  xxi.,  p.  457). 

Let  us  remember  the  words  of  our  Leader  in  regard  to 
law: 

You  render  the  divine  law  of  healing  obscure  and  void, 
when  you  weigh  the  human  in  the  scale  with  the  divine,  or 
limit  in  any  direction  of  thought  the  omnipresence  and 
omnipotence  of  God  (Science  and  Health,  p.  445). 

The  foregoing  article  was  published  in  a  pamphlet  entitled  Should 
Christian  Scientists  Become  Identified  with  A  ny  Medical  League?  We 
publish  the  criticism  so  kindly  made  of  it  in  Current  Literature  for 
March,  19 12. 


1 156  Fruits  of  Experience 

MRS.  STETSON'S  CALL  TO  MARTYRDOM 

The  forces  of  organized  Christian  Science,  represented 
on  one  side  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church  in  Boston  and,  on  the  other,  by  the  insurgent 
leader,  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  continue  to  collide. 
The  Board  has  issued  a  letter  commending  the  National 
League  for  Medical  Freedom,  an  organization  which 
claims  200,000  members  and  a  circulation  of  100,000 
for  its  organ,  Medical  Freedom.  Not  only  is  the  League 
commended  but  recommended  to  Christian  Scientists 
throughout  the  country  for  countenance  and  support. 
For  this  Mrs.  Stetson  assails  the  board  as  faithless  to  its 
trust. 

The  National  League  for  Medical  Freedom  defines 
itself  as  organized  to  maintain  the  "rights  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  against  unnecessary,  unjust,  oppressive, 
paternal,  and  un-American  laws,  ostensibly  related  to 
the  subjects  of  health. "  Its  President  is  B.  O.  Flower, 
formerly  editor  of  the  Arena,  and  it  has  on  its  advisory 
board  osteopaths,  anti-vaccinationists,  anti-vivisec- 
tionists,  retail  druggists,  eclectics,  authors,  some  officers 
of  large  corporations,  an  ex-governor  or  two,  an  ex- 
senator  or  two,  and  many  others  whose  names  are 
presented  "as  evidence  of  the  character  and  high  stand- 
ing of  the  people  who  are  conducting  this  movement." 
Their  "Declaration  of  Principles,"  adopted  November 
21,  191 1,  at  their  Chicago  conference,  contains  the 
following  eight  paragraphs: 


"  1.     We  oppose  the  granting  of  a  monopoly  of  healing 
practice  to  any  system  or  systems  of  healing. 

"2.     We  oppose  any  attempt  to  take  from  us  our  inalien- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1157 

able  right  to  employ  in  the  hour  of  illness  the  practitioner 
or  systems  of  our  choice. 

"3.  We  oppose  the  establishment  of  state  medicine  as 
we  would  oppose  the  establishment  of  state  religion. 

"4.  While  in  favor  of  sanitation  and  cleanliness  in  the 
highest  degree,  we  oppose  the  attempted  use  of  these 
general  principles  as  a  cloak  for  compulsory  medical  treat- 
ment. 

"5.  We  oppose  the  infringement,  by  threatened  extension 
of  federal  bureaucratic  power,  of  the  right  of  a  state  to 
regulate  and  control  its  own  health  affairs. 

"6.  We  oppose  discrimination  in  favor  of  any  school 
of  healing  in  the  selection  of  federal,  state  or  municipal 
officers  charged  with  the  administration  of  sanitary  quaran- 
tine or  other  health  regulations. 

"7.  We  oppose  the  use  of  public  funds,  public  schools,  or 
other  public  institutions  for  the  dissemination  of  literature, 
the  advertising  of  the  theories,  or  the  furtherance  of  the 
propaganda  of  any  particular  system  of  healing. 

"8.  We  propose  to  prosecute  a  campaign  of  education 
and  publicity  not  only  to  arrest  any  further  encroachment 
upon  our  right  to  select  the  practitioner  or  system  of  our 
choice  in  the  hour  of  illness,  but  also  to  regain  the  rights  that 
have  been  taken  from  us  and  to  establish  forever  the  prin- 
ciple of  medical  freedom." 

The  immediate  point  of  the  League's  attack  is  the 
proposed  establishment  of  a  Federal  Health  Bureau; 
but  it  does  not  confine  its  activities  to  that  one  point. 
It  opposes,  in  its  literature,  vaccination,  which  it 
describes  as  the  putting  of  "diseased  pus  into  healthy 
veins";  it  opposes  the  crusade  against  tuberculosis, 
denouncing  it  as  the  work  of  "tuberculosis  paranoiacs 
going  about  among  the  people  in  the  guise  of  an  educa- 
tional crusade,  preaching  disease  from  the  house-tops, 
teaching  it  to  the  children,  inculcating  in  their  minds  a 


1 158  Fruits  of  Experience 

fear  and  dread  of  disease  which  amounts  to  disease 
insanity";  it  assails  the  methods  of  the  medical  in- 
spectors of  schools,  by  which,  it  asserts,  "young  girls 
are  stripped,  and  unfledged,  libidinous  internes  are  set  to 
work  to  make  the  examinations  " ;  and  the  laws  requiring 
any  citizen  to  report  all  cases  of  infectious  disease 
coming  to  his  knowledge  it  regards  as  compelling  one 
' '  to  snitch  on  a  neighbor. "  To  its  general  campaign  on 
these  and  other  lines  is  generally  attributed  the  fact 
that  President  Taft  issued  recently  an  amendment  to 
his  general  executive  order  relative  to  Panama,  by 
virtue  of  which  amendment  Christian  Scientists  may 
continue  their  practice  as  "healers"  in  the  Canal  zone. 
It  is  this  League  which  the  Christian  Science  Board  of 
Directors  in  Boston  commends  to  the  good  favor  of  its 
adherents  and  with  which  it  acts  in  cooperation. 

Mrs.  Stetson  objects.  She  takes  issue  with  the 
Board  not  on  the  ground  that  the  League  is  a  hindrance 
to  the  progress  of  medical  science,  but  on  the  ground 
that  it  is  an  organization  hostile  to  the  tenets  of  Chris- 
tian Science  and  directly  opposed  to  the  teachings  of 
Mrs.  Eddy.  She  assumes  a  strategic  position  which 
causes  that  unremitting  foe  of  Christian  Scientists  of 
all  shades,  the  New  York  Times,  to  chuckle  audibly, 
remarking  that  this  attack  on  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  is  one  which  "it  will  take  all  their 
ingenuity,  and  then  some,  to  repulse." 

Mrs.  Stetson  prints  in  her  pamphlet  an  extract  from 
Mrs.  Eddy's  Miscellaneous  Writings — one  which  the 
Times  thinks  the  Directors  must  have  either  never  read 
or  quite  forgotten.  "  Beware  of  joining  any  medical 
league,"  says  Mrs.  Eddy,  "which  in  any  way  obligates 
you  to  assist — because  they  chance  to  be  under  arrest — 
vendors  of  patent  pills,  mesmerists,  occultists,  sellers  of 


Fruits  of  Experience  1159 

impure  literature,  and  authors  of  spurious  works  on 
mental  healing.  By  rendering  error  such  a  service, 
you  lose  much  more  than  can  be  gained  by  mere  unity 
on  the  single  issue  of  opposition  to  unjust  medical  laws. " 
That  the  word  "spurious"  is  to  be  interpreted  in  its 
strictest  Christian  Science  sense,  Mrs.  Stetson  makes 
clear,  taking  the  high  ground  that  spiritual  and  material 
methods  of  healing  the  sick  are  diametrically  opposed 
and  cannot  be  associated,  and  that  the  Christian 
Scientist  who  leaves  this  vantage  ground  of  spiritual 
therapeutics  to  unite  with  any  material  practitioner, 
regular  or  irregular,  has  allied  himself  to  materialism 
and  is  no  longer  working  according  to  the  Principle  and 
rule  of  his  faith.  All  the  "irregular"  practitioners  who 
unite  in  this  organization,  we  are  assured,  believe  in 
matter  as  possessing  life,  truth,  intelligence  and  sub- 
stance. "Anybody  and  everybody,"  Mrs.  Eddy  says, 
"who  will  fight  the  medical  faculty,  can  join  this  league. 
It  is  better  to  be  friendly  with  cultured  and  conscientious 
medical  men,  who  leave  Christian  Science  to  rise  or  fall 
on  its  own  merit  or  demerit,  than  to  affiliate  with  a 
wrong  class  of  people."  Mrs.  Stetson  declares  the 
battle  in  which  the  Medical  League  is  concerned  to  be 
one  between  two  systems  founded  each  upon  materi- 
ality, and  says  that,  while  this  is  a  league  for  medical 
freedom,  the  unique  concern  of  the  Christian  Scientists 
is  for  spiritual  freedom. 

Neither  does  Mrs.  Stetson  fear  a  so-called  material 
court,  and  she  calls  upon  Christian  Scientists  generally 
to  brave  martyrdom,  if  necessary,  in  behalf  of  their 
cause.  She  refers  at  length  to  the  experiences  of  Peter, 
Paul,  Daniel  and  the  three  Hebrew  children,  to  show 
the  protecting  power  of  a  spiritual  conviction,  saying 
that  Christian  Scientists  must  not  shrink  from  these 


n6o  Fruits  of  Experience 

tests  of  their  faith,  obedience  and  understanding.     She 
continues : 

There  are  many  to-day  who  are  trying  to  climb  up  some 
other  way.  They  are  vainly  attempting  to  serve  two 
masters, — matter  and  Mind,  spirituality  and  materiality, 
and  these  should  be  known  as  mental  healers  on  a  material 
basis,  under  the  protection  of  medical  law.  Christian 
Scientists  must  come  out  from  the  belief  of  life  in  matter. 
Then  they  will  have  faith  in  the  Principle  of  being,  and  will 
not  fear  arrest  or  loss  of  practice.  They  will  heal  the  sick, 
and,  if  (through  not  having  attained  sufficient  spiritual 
power  to  annul  the  claim  of  disease  in  all  cases  which  come 
under  their  care),  they  fail  to  make  a  demonstration,  they 
will  still  trust  God  to  deliver  them,  or  in  His  own  way  and 
time  give  them  strength  to  go  through  the  exalting  experi- 
ence, and  wait  until  the  words  of  our  Leader  are  verified, 
"  Divine  Love  always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every 
human  need  "  (Science  and  Health,  p.  494). 





7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
May  14,  1912. 
My  dear  Co-worker: — 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  reply  to  your  letter,  re- 
garding Mrs.  Eddy's  final  instructions  to  me. 

When  I  received  Mrs.  Eddy's  last  letter,  dated  August 
30,  1909,  I  was  strongly  impressed  with  the  fact,  which 
has  become  apparent  to  me  since  the  experience  which 
followed,  that  it  was  her  final  advice  for  my  future 
guidance,  her  commendation  of  my  past  work,  her  love 
for  me  and  her  trust  in  my  spiritual  ability  to  walk  in 
the  footsteps  of  "His  flock."  It  had  long  been  my 
desire  and  effort  to  rise  to  the  demonstration  of  absolute 
Christian  Science  Mind-healing,  and,  when  her  request 
came  "to  build  higher"  on  a  "wholly  spiritual  founda- 


Fruits  of  Experience  1161 

tion"  {Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390),  I 
gladly  responded  to  her  words,  reconsecrated  myself  to 
the  demonstration  of  absolute  Christian  Science,  and 
continued  my  adherence  to  the  teachings  of  the  Holy 
Bible,  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church.  In  this  letter,  she 
assured  me,  that  in  my  "higher"  work  of  "wholly 
spiritual"  building  they  were  my  "safe  guides,"  and 
bade  me  "follow  them. " 

The  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church  had  been  as 
sacred  to  me  as  the  law  of  God, — the  Ten  Command- 
ments, delivered  by  God  to  Moses.  Since  Mrs.  Eddy 
gave  this  Manual  to  her  Church,  I  have  always  regarded 
it  as  the  law  of  God  through  His  Messenger  to  this  age, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  I  have  strictly  and  prayerfully 
obeyed  every  By-Law.  I  had  always  respected  con- 
stituted authority,  and,  when  brought  before  the  Direc- 
tors of  The  Mother  Church,  charged  with  disobedience 
to  its  By-Laws,  I  submitted  without  a  protest  to  three 
days'  examination.  At  the  end  of  this  time,  I  was 
convinced  that  I  had  been  absolutely  correct  in  my 
teaching  of  Christian  Science,  according  to  the  text- 
book, Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures, 
Mrs.  Eddy's  letters  of  instruction  to  me,  and  her 
personal  counsel  covering  many  years.  I  was  also 
convinced  that  I  had  not  broken  a  rule  of  the  Manual. 

I  discovered  at  once  that  my  interpretation  of 
Science  and  Health  and  that  of  the  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church  were  diametrically  opposed,  the  one 
to  the  other;  that  my  method  of  mental  practice  and 
defense  against  mental  malpractice  was  according  to 
divine  metaphysics  as  taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  that, 
without  an  understanding  and  application  of  the  defense 
which  spiritual  thought  affords  to  one  who  is  attacked 


n62  Fruits  of  Experience 

by  malicious  animal  magnetism,  envy,  jealousy,  or 
malice,  etc.,  no  one  is  safe  from  the  destructive  mental 
influence  of  the  "enemy  of  good,"  malicious,  so-called, 
mortal  thought. 

I  also  learned,  during  this  severe  trial,  that  the  hour 
had  come  when  I  must  see  that  this  experience  was  to 
exalt  me  by  severing  me  from  material  organization. 
Therefore  I  took  no  advantage  of  material  or  human 
law  to  maintain  my  position  in  the  material  organiza- 
tion. I  was  building  (in  response  to  my  Leader's 
words    to    us)    "on  a  wholly    spiritual    foundation." 

I  then  saw  even  more  clearly  what  Mrs.  Eddy  meant 
in  her  last  letter  of  advice  to  me,  when  she  wrote, 
"You  know  that  I  love  you.  The  Holy  Bible,  Science 
and  Health  and  the  Mother  Church  Manual  are  your 
safe  guides,  follow  them. "  I  am  and  always  have  been 
absolutely  obedient  to  the  spiritual  import  of  the  rules 
and  By-Laws  of  the  Manual  of  The  Mother  Church. 
Both  I  and  my  loyal  students  faithfully  study  and  obey 
these  By-Laws.  We  interpret  them  spiritually,  and  are 
fast  gaining  spiritual  power  by  obeying  the  law  of 
Spirit,  and  are  fulfilling  the  commandments,  "Thou 
shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  Me"  (Spirit),  and, 
"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 

Since  I  resigned  from  the  material  organization,  the 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City,  I  have 
never  contended  for  personal  rights,  but  have  been  most 
vigilant  and  always  at  my  post  of  spiritual  observation, 
in  defense  of  genuine  Christian  Science,  as  taught  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  have,  in  every  instance,  where 
it  has  been  made  known  to  me,  protested  against  the 
reversal  of  divine  metaphysics. 

A  sacred  charge  has  been  entrusted  to  me  by  my 
beloved  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy, — the  defense  of 


Fruits  of  Experience  1163 

genuine  Christian  Science,  and  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being,  against  the  efforts  of  the  "enemy  of  good," — 
the  claim  of  evil, — malicious  animal  magnetism, — to 
hold  humanity  in  bondage  to  the  belief  in  sin,  sickness, 
and  death.  This  claim  of  a  power  opposed  to  God  has 
failed  to  separate  me  from  my  V  Leader  and  best  earthly 
friend, "  and,  through  the  power  of  Christ,  will  utterly 
and  finally  fail  in  preventing  me  from  protecting  and 
promulgating  the  Christ-mind  healing,  or  legitimate, 
operative,  demonstrable  Christian  Science. 
Sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
June  12,  1912. 

Dear  Mr.  B  .  .  .  : — 

Will  you  kindly  pardon  me  for  not  replying  sooner 
to  your  recent  letter?  This  is  the  first  opportunity 
I  have  had  to  answer  you. 

It  is  true,  as  you  say,  that  throughout  the  history 
of  the  world  there  have  always  been  leaders  of  religious 
thought.  When  Mary  Baker  Eddy  stepped  forth 
before  the  world  as  the  promulgator  of  the  teachings, 
and  the  demonstrator  of  Christ  Jesus'  method  of  heal- 
ing the  sick  and  reforming  the  sinner,  the  last  Leader, 
necessary  for  the  world's  awakening,  appeared. 

As  the  compound  idea,  the  male  and  female  of  God's 
creating,  the  impersonal  Christ-man,  she  will  continue 
her  leadership  and  will  be  visible  and  tangible  to  all 
who  rise  with  her  to  a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness 
{Christian  Science  Sentinel,  vol.  xi.,  p.  390).  Thus 
Christ,  Truth,  will  appear  the  second  time  through 
woman  and  will  reign  and  rule  on  earth.  All  nations 
and  peoples  will  acknowledge  and  obey  God's  represen- 


1 164  Fruits  of  Experience 

tative,  the  ideal  man.  Genuine  Christian  Scientists 
already  crown  him  "  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords. " 
I  believe  the  spiritually  minded  have  discerned  it  to-day, 
and  this  is  the  secret  of  the  wonderful  spiritual  illumina- 
tion which  they  possess.  The  non-recognition  of  this 
spiritual  fact  accounts  for  the  dense  materialism  which 
has  so  beclouded  some  of  the  Christian  Scientists  that 
they  have  drifted  back  to  "  Israel  after  the  flesh. " 

These  are  the  latter  days.  Those  who  discern  Mrs. 
Eddy's  mission  as  a  royal  reflector  of  the  motherhood 
of  God,  and  who  contemplate  the  long  years  of  her 
Christly  ministry,  the  fulfilling  of  the  law  of  Love, 
know  that  she  will  never  be  succeeded  by  another 
Leader.  The  mighty  power  of  her  spiritual,  mental 
influence,  to  which  all  her  disciples  have  for  years 
responded,  and  to  which  they  continue  to  respond,  as 
she  and  her  followers  rise  to  a  "wholly  spiritual" 
consciousness,  this  on-coming  Christ-man  is  stirring 
the  claim  of  error  to  its  final  self-destruction,  and  is 
ushering  in  the  reign  of  righteousness,  the  survival  of 
good  in  human  consciousness. 

The  night  is  far  spent,  and  the  light  of  spiritual 
understanding  reveals  the  end  of  all  evil  to  those  who 
have  followed  the  daystar,  divine  Science,  and  have 
defended  and  protected  the  spiritual  facts  of  being 
against  the  "accuser  of  our  brethren,"  mortal  so-called 
man.  It  must  be  apparent  to  you,  and  to  all  who  have 
spiritual  perception,  that  the  materially  minded  and  the 
spiritually  minded  are  engaged  in  final  combat.  The 
genuine  Christian  Scientists  are  "occupying"  only,  not 
leading,  till  Christ  comes.  They  admit  but  one  Leader, 
the  woman  who  is  to  fulfil  the  law  of  Love,  and  manifest 
the  ideal  man  to  whom  God  gave  dominion  over  all 
things.      Let   the  "'male  and   female'"  {Science  and 


Fruits  of  Experience  1165 

Health,  p.  249),  the  compound  idea,  the  ideal  man, 
appear. 

Our  Leader  will  demonstrate  her  spiritual  identity, 
as  did  Christ  Jesus.  When  the  law  of  Love  has  been 
fulfilled,  there  will  be  no  necessity  for  another  leader. 
Truth  will  reveal  Her  permanent,  visible  Leader  or 
Head.  Until  this  is  demonstrated,  and  consciousness  is 
sufficiently  spiritualized  to  behold  the  ideal  man  in  the 
"image  and  likeness'*  of  God,  until  spiritual  thought- 
force  dispels  false  phenomena — the  results  of  false 
human  concepts,  Truth  will  continue  to  operate  through 
humanity,  and  Her  highest  visible  manifestations  will 
uphold  and  defend  the  spiritual  facts  of  being,  the 
divine  metaphysics  which  our  Leader  gave  to  the  world. 

Christian  Scientists  will  "occupy"  till  she  comes. 
Our  Leader's  resurrection  is  our  resurrection.  The 
true  Christian  Scientist  is  realizing  that  "Spirit  is 
infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all"  (Christian  Science 
Journal,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  697),  and  is  attaining  a  "wholly 
spiritual"  consciousness,  in  proportion  as  he  follows  his 
Leader,  obeys  her  instructions,  and  awaits  her  re- 
appearance. The  Lord  of  the  harvest  is  approaching. 
His  stewards  must  give  account  of  their  stewardship. 
To  those  who  thought  he  was  "taking  a  far  journey," 
and  who  "beat  the  menservants  and  maidens,"  there 
will  be  a  sudden  call  to  judgment. 

Representatives  of  all  theories,  based  on  the  belief 
of  life  and  intelligence  in  matter,  are  engaged  in  subtle 
efforts  to  ensnare  Christian  Scientists,  by  gaining 
influence  over  all  who  are  in  authority  in  the  Field 
of  Christian  Science,  and  thus  control  the  Christian 
Scientists. 

Our  Leader's  faithful  work  in  uncovering  the  dragon, 
and  handling  the  false  claims  of  hypnotism  and  mes- 


1 1 66  Fruits  of  Experience 

merism,  and,  through  the  power  of  the  Word,  proving 
their  nothingness,  must  be  carried  on  by  all  who  have 
the  light  of  Truth,  and  none  must  faint  in  the  race  for 
immortality,  nor  sheathe  the  sword  until  he  hears, 
"Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh;  go  ye  out  to  meet 
him."  The  wise  virgins  are  keeping  their  lamps 
brightly  burning.  Let  us  continue  to  listen  to  the  voice 
of  our  ever-present  Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  who 
never  left  us,  and  from  whom  nothing  can  separate  us 
but  a  belief  that  she  once  lived  and  died  in  matter.  She 
continues  to  lead  us  upward,  onward,  out  of  the  fleshly 
mind,  and  will  manifest  her  spiritual  individuality  to 
all  who  possess  sufficient  spiritual  understanding  to 
behold  the  risen  Christ-idea. 

Humanity  in  the  next  two  years  will  witness  scenes 
that  will  cause  the  stoutest  hearts  to  quail.  The  power 
of  spiritual  thought  is  described  by  Mrs.  Eddy  in  the 
following  words: 

The  inaudible  voice  of  Truth  is,  to  the  human  mind, 
"as  when  a  lion  roareth."  It  is  heard  in  the  desert  and  in 
dark  places  of  fear.  It  arouses  the  "seven  thunders"  of 
evil,  and  stirs  their  latent  forces  to  utter  the  full  diapason 
of  secret  tones.  Then  is  the  power  of  Truth  demonstrated, 
— made  manifest  in  the  destruction  of  error  (Science  and 
Health,  p.  559). 

As  in  Noah's  time  the  floods  swept  away  all  who  were 
not  worthy  to  be  built  into  the  new  era  in  consciousness, 
so,  in  this  hour  of  spiritual  progress,  the  survival  of 
good  will  be  repeated,  and  the  new  era  will  usher  in  the 
millennium. 

The  prophets  of  old  foretold  this,  Christ  Jesus  de- 
clared it,  John  the  Revelator  has  proclaimed  it  for  ages, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  iterates  and  reiterates  the  end  of  this 


Fruits  of  Experience  1167 

material  age,  and  Christian  Scientists  are  looking  for 
and  "hasting "  to  the  end  of  all  belief  in  a  power  opposed 
to  God.  Good  is  immortal.  God's  fiat  to  evil,  evil 
thinkers,  and  evil-doers,  is  self -extinction. 

Let  us  be  patient  watchers,  waiting  for  the  call, 
"Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 
Then  will  begin  the  reign  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the 
phenomena  of  spiritual  thought,  which  evolves  and 
manifests  spiritual  man  and  the  spiritual  universe. 
Our  God-given  birthright,  spiritual  dominion,  will  be 
evidenced  in  the  destruction  of  sin  and  its  effects,  and 
love,  peace,  and  joy,  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  will  con- 
stitute the  kingdom  of  heaven  in  the  hearts  of  men. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


AN  INTERVIEW  REGARDING  TWO  PERSONS  WHO  WERE 
ELECTROCUTED,  AND  WERE  ATTENDED,  DURING 
THEIR  LAST  FEW  DAYS,  BY  TWO  CHRIS- 
TIAN SCIENCE  PRACTITIONERS 


September  26,  1912. 
Ques.  Will  you  permit  me,  Mrs.  Stetson,  to  ask  you 
a  few  questions  in  regard  to  the  case  of  B  .  .  .  G  .  .  . 
S  .  .  .  ,  and  his  treatment  by  a  Christian  Science 
Reader,  Mr.  G...S...P...,  during  the  term  of 
S  .  .  .'s  imprisonment?  I  desire  information  regarding 
the  recent  accounts  of  two  convicted  murderers,  the  lat- 
ter being  C...S...J...,  both  of  whom  have  been 
electrocuted.  These  men  were  attended  during  the 
last  few  days  of  their  earthly  life  by  two  Christian 
Science  healers,  whose  influence  upon  them  does  not 


1 1 68  Fruits  of  Experience 

seem  to  correspond  with  the  teachings  of  Christian 
Science  as  I  have  understood  them  from  a  perusal  of 
the  text-book  of  Christian  Science. 

Ans.  Please  put  the  questions  you  desire  to  have 
answered. 

Ques.  Do  I  understand,  Mrs.  Stetson,  that 
Christian  Science  takes  away  the  remorse  for  crime 
without  the  suffering  which  the  Bible  tells  us  is  the 
penalty  for  sin?  Does  the  treatment  of  a  Christian 
Scientist  deaden  the  moral  sense  and  thereby  prevent 
the  conviction,  remorse,  suffering,  and  reformation  of 
the  sinner?  In  the  case  of  S  .  .  .  there  seemed  to  have 
been  a  lack  of  remorse  or  suffering,  and  he  seemed  to 
exhibit  no  sense  of  the  enormity  of  his  guilt,  for  he  met 
his  doom  "eating  with  relish"  and  "smoking,"  accord- 
ing to  the  newspaper  accounts. 

Ans.  In  reply  I  would  say  that  no  man  recogniz- 
ing his  life  of  sin  which  culminated  in  this  fatal  act 
could  immediately  lose  all  sense  of  his  crime,  experience 
"joy  and  strength"  and  face  his  doom  "eating  with 
relish ' '  and  ' '  smoking. ' '  Instead  of  meeting  the  penalty 
for  his  crime  with  a  self -deceived  sense  of  having  made 
his  at-one-ment  with  God  without  the  necessary  remorse 
and  suffering  which  destroy  sin,  would  he  not  have 
been  in  earnest  prayer  pleading  "  God  be  merciful  to  me 
a  sinner"? 

In  answer  to  your  question  as  to  this  man's  reference 
to  Mrs.  Eddy  as  his  Leader,  Christian  Science,  as 
taught  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  would  contradict  his  claim  to  be 
her  follower,  until,  through  conviction  of  his  sin,  remorse 
for  his  act,  suffering  and  efforts  for  reformation  he 
would  become  her  follower  "as  she  follows  Christ" 
(Message  for  iqoi,  p.  70).  No  Christian  Scientist 
would  attempt  to  avert  the  remorse  and  suffering  which 


Fruits  of  Experience  1169 

alone  awaken  the  sinner,  and  induce  him  to  begin  the 
work  of  reformation,  by  meeting  every  temptation  to 
sin  with  the  resistance  of  good,  which  overcomes  evil. 
Let  me  read  to  you  Mrs.  Eddy's  words  which  apply 
to  this  case.     She  says: 

Three  cardinal  points  must  be  gained  before  poor  human- 
ity is  regenerated  and  Christian  Science  is  demonstrated: 
(1)  A  proper  sense  of  sin;  (2)  repentance;  (3)  the  under- 
standing of  good.  .  .  .  Mortals'  false  senses  pass  through 
three  states  and  stages  of  human  consciousness  before 
yielding  error.  The  deluded  sense  must  first  be  shown  its 
falsity  through  a  knowledge  of  evil  as  evil,  so-called. 
Without  a  sense  of  one's  oft-repeated  violations  of  divine 
law,  the  individual  may  become  morally  blind,  and  this 
deplorable  mental  state  is  moral  idiocy.  The  lack  of  seeing 
one's  deformed  mentality,  and  of  repentance  therefore, 
deep,  never  to  be  repented  of,  is  retarding,  and  in  certain 
morbid  instances  stopping,  the  growth  of  Christian  Scien- 
tists. Without  a  knowledge  of  his  sins,  and  repentance  so 
severe  that  it  destroys  them,  no  person  is  or  can  be  a  Christ- 
ian Scientist  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  107). 

Again  she  says:  "The  knowledge  of  evil  that  brings 
on  repentance  is  the  most  hopeful  stage  of  mortal 
mentality"  {Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  109).  And 
again:  M Sin  will  receive  its  full  penalty,  both  for  what 
it  is  and  for  what  it  does.  Justice  marks  the  sinner,  and 
teaches  mortals  not  to  remove  the  waymarks  of  God" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  542).  She  further  states: 
"sinners  should  be  affrighted  by  their  sinful  beliefs" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  366). 

Had  S  .  .  .  really  awakened  to  a  moral  sense  of  the 
crimes  he  had  committed  he  would  have  been  "af- 
frighted," but  it  would  seem  from  the  accounts  given  of 
him  that  at  the  last  he  had  no  fear  and  believed  that  he 
74 


1 1 70  Fruits  of  Experience 

had  already  atoned  for  his  sins  and  had  made  his 
at-one-ment  with  God.  Notwithstanding  the  belief  en- 
tertained by  mortals  that  so-called  death  ushers  the 
penitent  criminal  into  the  presence  of  God  without  the 
suffering  and  experiences  which  reform,  the  fact  re- 
mains that  here  or  hereafter  sin  will  receive  its  full 
penalty. 

The  electric  chair  can  never  kill  the  real  man,  and  the 
so-called  mortal  man,  taken  in  the  criminal  act  and 
electrocuted,  awakes  in  the  same  condition  of  mind 
which  he  possessed  at  the  moment  of  seeming  dissolu- 
tion. Whatever  sinful  beliefs  or  mortal  mentality 
controlled  him  at  this  moment  will  have  to  be  worked 
out  by  him  hereafter,  before  he  can  be  free  from  the 
carnal  qualities,  or  the  sinful  thoughts  which  lie,  steal, 
murder,  etc.  Whatever  good  he  has  made  his  own  is 
immortal,  and  will  continue  to  unfold  and  will  finally 
destroy  the  claim  of  an  evil  mentality  which  opposes  the 
Christ-man.  The  Holy  Bible  and  Science  and  Health, 
the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  authorize  my 
conclusions. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says: 

If  the  change  called  death  destroyed  the  belief  in  sin, 
sickness,  and  death,  happiness  would  be  won  at  the  moment 
of  dissolution,  and  be  forever  permanent ;  but  this  is  not 
so.  .  .  . 

The  sin  and  error  which  possess  us  at  the  instant  of  death 
do  not  cease  at  that  moment,  but  endure  until  the  death  of 
these  errors.  .  .  .  The  murderer,  though  slain  in  the  act, 
does  not  thereby  forsake  sin.  He  is  no  more  spiritual  for 
believing  that  his  body  died  and  learning  that  his  cruel 
mind  died  not.  His  thoughts  are  no  purer  until  evil  is 
disarmed  by  good.  His  body  is  as  material  as  his  mind,  and 
vice  versa  {Science  and  Health,  p.  290). 


Fruits  of  Experience  1171 

Ques.  Evidently,  Mrs.  Stetson,  you  do  not  believe 
in  capital  punishment. 

Ans.  No,  I  do  not.  I  am  a  divine  metaphysician 
or  Christian  Scientist  and  understand  that  "Life  is 
not  in  matter.  Therefore  it  cannot  be  said  to  pass 
out  of  matter.  Matter  and  death  are  mortal  illusions. 
Spirit  and  all  things  spiritual  are  the  real  and  eternal" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  289). 

Capital  punishment  does  not  kill  man.  It  only 
removes  from  our  view  the  physical  personality.  Mrs. 
Eddy  says:  "As  death  findeth  mortal  man,  so  shall  he 
be  after  death,  until  probation  and  growth  shall  effect 
the  needed  change"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  291). 

Ques.  But,  Mrs.  Stetson,  without  capital  punish- 
ment what  protection  would  we  have  if  criminals  were 
allowed  to  go  at  large? 

Ans.  My  answer  to  that  question  is,  that  the  sinner 
should  be  restrained  here  and  given  opportunity  and 
time  to  reform.  Christian  Scientists  and  all  Christ- 
ian people  should  strive  to  possess  more  of  the  Mind 
of  Christ.  They  should  spiritualize  their  thoughts 
and  so  rise  into  the  power  of  spiritual  dominion,  which 
God  gave  man  when  He  made  him  in  His  "image  and 
likeness,"  that  the  Christly  compassion,  the  reflection 
of  divine  spiritual  love,  which  the  Master  exercised  and 
by  which  he  reformed  the  sinner  and  "cast  out  devils," 
would  awake  the  moral  sense  of  the  transgressor  to  the 
law  of  God  and  the  penalty  for  the  infraction  of  God's 
law.  This  spiritual  thought-force  or  the  Mind  of 
Christ  possessed  by  a  genuine  Christian  Scientist  would 
gradually  nullify  and  finally  destroy  the  evil  influences 
of  the  carnal  mind  which  bring  mankind  to  the  gallows 
and  the  electric  chair. 

Those  who  to-day  believe  in  capital  punishment  must 


1 172  Fruits  of  Experience 

learn  that  the  seeming  death  of  matter  does  not  destroy 
the  sin  nor  the  sinner  which  are  one;  also  that  mortals 
do  not  "accomplish  the  change  from  error  to  truth  at 
a  single  bound"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  77).  "It  is 
useless  to  suppose  that  the  wicked  can  gloat  over  their 
offences  to  the  last  moment  and  then  be  suddenly- 
pardoned  and  pushed  into  heaven"  (Science  and  Health, 

P-  36). 

Progress  is  the  law  of  God.  Mankind  will  abandon 
capital  punishment  as  thought  rises  above  the  material 
sense  of  man  and  the  universe  to  the  spiritual,  and  will 
adopt  the  law  of  divine  Love  which  reforms  the  sinner 
by  destroying  the  sin.  Humanity  must  awake  to 
Christ's  Christianity — patient  forbearance  with  the 
penitent  sinner's  temptation  and  struggle  to  conquer 
sin.  Like  the  Master,  Christian  Scientists  must,  in 
Mrs.  Eddy's  words,  "loathe  sin  and  rebuke  it  un- 
der every  mask"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  30).  They 
must  also  obey  the  instruction  on  page  452  of  Science 
and  Health,  "When  error  confronts  you,  withhold 
not  the  rebuke  or  the  explanation  which  destroys 
error."  This  was  Jesus'  method  and  Mrs.  Eddy's 
method  of  destroying  sin  and,  if  possible,  saving  the 
sinner. 

It  is  the  spiritual  power  which  genuine  Christian 
Scientists  employ  to-day  in  their  healing  of  sickness 
by  the  destruction  of  sin,  which  is  the  cause  of  all 
disease,  sorrow,  and  death. 

Ques.  Mrs.  Stetson,  this  condition  of  S  .  .  .  's 
seemed  similar  to  one  that  occurred  in  a  hospital 
recently.  The  patient  was  laid  on  the  operating  table 
and  the  surgeons  used  what  they  call  hypnotic  sugges- 
tion. When  under  the  influence  of  the  hypnotic  spell 
the  patient  began  to  sing.     The  work  was  begun  and 


Fruits  of  Experience  1173 

the  patient  continued  to  sing  until  the  operation  had 
been  successfully  performed. 

Ans.  The  case  you  relate  is  that  of  hypnotic 
suggestion  or  mesmerism  which  is  not  Christian  Science 
but  is  the  influence  of  one  mortal  mind  over  another, 
changing  a  belief  in  pain  to  a  belief  in  pleasure.  Mrs. 
Eddy  describes  mesmerism  in  these  words: 

Under  the  mesmeric  illusion  of  belief,  a  man  will  think 
that  he  is  freezing  when  he  is  warm,  and  that  he  is  swimming 
when  he  is  on  dry  land.  Needle-thrusts  will  not  hurt  him. 
A  delicious  perfume  will  seem  intolerable.  Animal  mag- 
netism thus  uncovers  material  sense,  and  shows  it  to  be  a 
belief  without  actual  foundation  or  validity.  Change  the 
belief,  and  the  sensation  changes.  Destroy  the  belief,  and 
the  sensation  disappears  {Science  and  Health,  pp.  490, 
491). 

Mrs.   Eddy   also   says: 

The  Christian  Scientist  demonstrates  that  divine  Mind 
heals,  while  the  hypnotist  dispossesses  the  patient  of  his  in- 
dividuality in  order  to  control  him.  No  person  is  benefited 
by  yielding  his  mentality  to  any  mental  despotism  or  mal- 
practice {Science  and  Health,  p.  375). 

And  again  in  the  Message  for  iqoi,  page  55,  she      ^ 
further  adds: 

From  ordinary  mental  practice  to  Christian  Science  is  a 
long  ascent,  but  to  go  from  the  use  of  inanimate  drugs  to 
any  susceptible  misuse  of  the  human  mind,  such  as  mesmer- 
ism, hypnotism,  and  the  like,  is  to  subject  mankind  unwarned 
and  undefended  to  the  unbridled  individual  human  will. 
The  currents  of  God  flow  through  no  such  channels. 

Mrs.  Eddy  once  visited  a  criminal  in  his  cell.     Evi- 


1 174  Fruits  of  Experience 

dently  she  did  not  temporize  with  the  sinner  nor  lull 
him  with  sympathetic  mesmerism  thereby  darkening 
his  moral  sense  of  the  crime  he  had  committed.  She 
condemned  the  evil  and  her  condemnation  of  the  sin 
struck  terror  to  the  sinner  and  awakened  him  to  a 
recognition  of  his  wrong-doing.  She  relates  this  inci- 
dent in  the  following  words : 

I  visited  in  his  cell  the  assassin  of  President  Garfield,  and 
found  him  in  the  mental  state  called  moral  idiocy.  He  had 
no  sense  of  his  crime ;  but  regarded  his  act  as  one  of  simple 
justice,  and  himself  as  the  victim.  My  few  words  touched 
him ;  he  sank  back  in  his  chair,  limp  and  pale ;  his  flippancy 
had  fled.  The  jailer  thanked  me,  and  said,  "Other  visitors 
have  brought  to  him  bouquets,  but  you  have  brought  what 
will  do  him  good"  (Miscellaneous  Writings,  p.  112). 

This  is  how  true  Christian  Scientists  should  minis- 
ter to  sinful,  sick,  and  suffering  humanity.  First,  by 
awakening  the  moral  sense  and  then  by  continuing 
with  Christly  compassion  to  help  mankind  in  the  effort 
for  self -reform. 

The   opportunity   for   repentance   and   reformation 
which  alone  destroys  the  desire  to  sin  was  denied  S  .  .  . 
by  the  human  law  which  demands  '  an  eye  for  an  eye, 
or  capital  punishment. 

S  .  .  .  's  application  to  himself  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  words, 
"His  arm  encircles  me,  and  mine,  and  all"  (Miscellane- 
ous Writings,  p.  389),  will,  in  the  hereafter,  when  he  has 
expiated  his  sins,  be  fulfilled.  He  will  turn  from  the 
carnal  to  the  Christ-mind  and  learn  that  he  is  God's 
child,  one  with  the  Father.  His  divine  selfhood,  his 
real  spiritual  individuality  will  destroy  all  sinful  sense. 
He  will  find  his  atonement  with  God  and  can  finally 
say,  "His  arm  encircles  me,  and  mine,  and  all. " 


Fruits  of  Experience  1175 

West  Point,  New  York, 
February  27,  1913. 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  C.  S.  D., 
7  West  96th  Street, 
New  York  City. 

My  dear  Mrs.  Stetson  : — l 

I  hear  that  you  are  about  to  publish  a  book  entitled, 
Reminiscences,  Sermons,  and  Correspondence,  and  that 
this  volume  includes  an  account  of  your  coming  out  from 
the  temporal  church  organization.  While  I  would  not,  in 
the  least,  discourage  you  in  your  efforts  to  preserve  a  cor- 
rect account  of  your  experience  of  many  years  as  a  pioneer 
of  Christ's  Christianity,  yet  I  apprehend,  and  would  spare 
you  the  fierce  antagonism  of  the  materialists  who  will 
renew  their  opposition  to  your  spiritual  development,  and 
their  endeavors  to  destroy  your  spiritual  power  over  evil. 

I  would  not  have  you  add  more  weight  to  your  cross. 
I  have  admired  your  unflinching  soldierly  courage  in  the 
past,  and  your  brave  fearless  defense  of  your  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  and  her  teachings.  I  feel  that  you  have 
proved  that  you  cannot  be  destroyed  by  the  combined 
forces  of  the  materialists. 

You  have  won  for  yourself  the  high  esteem  of  the  noblest 
Christian  characters  in  the  world,  and  I  trust  you  will  be 
spared  further  conflict  for  your  assured  belief  of  spiritual 
individuality. 

Sincerely  yours, 

H...S...M... 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  4,  1913. 

My  dear  Friend: — 

Your  letter,  just  received,  has  been  carefully  read. 
I  fully  appreciate  your  kind  interest  in  me,  but  I 
recognize,  for  myself,  a  solemn  and  imperative  duty, 

'  This  letter  and  the  reply  which  follows  are  self-explanatory. 


1 176  Fruits  of  Experience 

and  must  chronicle,  and  continue  the  history  of 
Christian  Science. 

I  must,  as  an  historian,  give  to  the  world  a  record  of 
the  events  which  occurred  when  the  separation  came, 
between  the  Christian  Scientists  who  composed  the 
material  organization,  and  the  advanced  Christian 
Scientists  who  had  risen  to  the  spiritual  interpreta- 
tion of  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  our  revered 
Leader's  other  writings. 

The  dawn  of  a  new  era  found  some  Christian  Scien- 
tists ready  to  come  out  from  the  material  world,  in  re- 
sponse to  their  Leader's  request  to  begin  "  to  build  .  .  ." 
on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation, "  and  their  emergence 
was  inevitable.  Therefore  I  fearlessly  stand  for  my 
firm  persuasion  that  Truth  will  deliver  all  who  defend 
Her. 

The  battle  for  the  establishment  of  Truth  and  Love 
cost  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  early  disciples,  the  sacrifice 
of  personal  ease,  personal  pride,  and  personal  self,  for 
their  good,  and  for  the  good  of  humanity. 

I  detect  in  your  letter  a  fear  that  I  may  lose  my 
present  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Christ 
Jesus,  our  Exemplar,  was  most  unpopular  with  the 
material  world.  He  worked  to  please  God,  not  mortal 
man.  He  met  derision  and  persecution  with  a  spiritual 
understanding  of  God's  allness,  and  his  own  oneness 
with  Spirit.  He  knew  that  there  was  no  reality,  no 
substance  in  the  belief  of  a  so-called  mortal  man  and 
material  universe,  both  of  which  he  regarded  as  myths, 
illusions,  without  life,  truth,  intelligence,  or  substance. 
Therefore  he  did  not  fear  the  false  claim.  This  scien- 
tific understanding  of  his  sonship  with  God  won  for 
him  a  sublime  victory  over  his  enemies,  human  beliefs, 


Fruits  of  Experience  1177 

and  finally  enabled  him  to  triumph  over  so-called  death. 

His  words  and  works  have  been  recorded.  The 
united  forces  of  so-called  evil  have  proved  powerless, 
during  all  the  ages,  to  silence  his  voice.  He  declared, 
"Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away  [the  false  mental 
concepts  objectified  in  a  material  man  and  material 
universe],  but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away." 

Truth  cannot  be  silenced  in  this  age  any  more  than 
in  the  days  of  Christ  Jesus  and  his  disciples.  What 
gave  the  disciples  of  the  Master  the  courage  and  deter- 
mination to  record  his  words  and  works,  and  their 
own  experiences,  to  uncover  and  transcribe  for  the 
future  seeker  for  Truth,  the  methods,  words,  and  deeds 
of  the  enemies  of  their  Teacher?  At  that  time  Jesus 
was  regarded  as  "a  gluttonous  man,  and  a  winebibber, 
a  friend  of  .  .  .  sinners."  The  disciples  believed  that 
Christ  Jesus  was  the  representative  of  God,  and  it 
was  the  power  of  Spirit  which  impelled  them  to  pre- 
serve the  history  of  the  battle  between  the  Christ-man 
and  the  carnal  so-called  man, — between  good  and  so- 
called  evil, — between  the  contestant  for  the  reality  of 
man  in  the  image  of  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  and  the 
contestants  for  the  fleshly  so-called  man  in  the  image 
of  sin,  sickness,  and  death. 

Had  the  disciples  failed  to  record  this  betrayal  of 
their  Master  by  his  calumniators  and  persecutors, — 
had  they  failed  to  preserve,  for  future  generations, 
this  history  of  "the  human  footsteps  leading  to  per- 
fection" {Science  and  Health,  p.  254),  and  Christ 
Jesus'  demonstration  of  the  power  of  man  when 
governed  by  God,  also  his  spiritual  ability  to  conquer 
the  claim  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death, — had  they  feared 
to  defend  their  Master  and  his  teachings  and  demon- 
strations,  humanity   would   have   lost   the  chord   of 


u 78  Fruits  of  Experience 

Christ,  and  the  enemy  of  good  would  have  prevailed. 
But  God  and  His  idea  is  one,  omnipotent,  omniscient, 
and  omnipresent,  and  "the  enemy  of  good"  "is  at 
last  stung  to  death  by  his  own  malice"  {Science  and 
Health,  p.  569). 

What  moved  the  female  representative  of  the  mother- 
hood of  God,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  to  write  Science  and 
Health  and  give  it  to  a  world  which  never  before  had 
heard  such  startling  denunciation  of  the  fleshly  Adam, 
so-called  man,  and  the  unreality  of  mortal  mind  and 
its  phenomena?  She  did  not  hesitate  to  take  up  the 
cross,  meet  the  antagonism  of  "the  enemy  of  good," 
and  proclaim  Truth  to  a  world  which  was  ready  to 
rise  and  cry,  "Crucify"  her,  as  they  cried  of  her 
Master. 

Her  trials  and  persecutions,  her  toils  and  unselfed 
love  for  God  and  humanity,  protected  her,  and  lifted 
her,  and  thousands,  to  a  knowledge  of  God  and  of 
their  relation  to  Him.  Had  she  surrendered  to  fear 
and  the  illusion  called  mortal  man,  had  she  shrunk 
from  the  cross,  had  she  yielded  to  the  aggressive 
mental  suggestion  of  the  scorn  and  derision  of  the 
people,  the  world  would  never  have  had  the  blessed 
book,  which,  to  us,  is  the  chart  to  health,  holiness, 
and  immortality.  She  followed  Christ  Jesus,  and 
I  follow  both  the  master  Metaphysician,  Jesus  the 
Christ,  the  masculine  representative  of  the  fatherhood 
of  God,  and  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  feminine  repre- 
sentative of  the  motherhood  of  God.  m.  a.  m  per- 
secuted them.  Let  u.  A.  m.  persecute  me  also.  Truly 
the  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord.  I  must 
emulate  their  example,  drink  of  their  cup,  in  a  degree, 
as  my  beloved  Leader  wrote  me  I  must,  and  make 
my  own  demonstration  of  the  potency  of  the  wholly 


Fruits  of  Experience  1179 

spiritual  consciousness,  which  wiJJ  finally  destroy,  for 
me,  all  illusions  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  God 
impels  me  to  defend  Christian  Science  as  taught  by 
Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  to  prove  the  supremacy  of 
spiritual  power  over  the  belief  of  life  and  intelligence 
in  a  material  man  and  a  material  universe. 

The  opponent  of  good,  so-called  hypnotism,  mesmer- 
ism, malicious  animal  magnetism,  and  all  whom  these 
evil  agencies  control,  would  long  ago  have  destroyed 
me  had  I  not  been  panoplied  in  the  understanding 
of  Truth  and  Love.  The  resistance  to  error  of  my 
Christ-consciousness,  foiled  the  foes  of  Truth  and 
Love,  and  to-day  they  stand  aghast  at  their  inability 
to  silence  me,  or  to  prevent  me  from  protecting  the 
spiritual  interpretation  of  Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  other  writings. 

He  is  my  Rock 

And  in  the  height  thereof 
I  have  the  mastery;  I  stand  above 

And  hold  with  ease  the  key  of  my  defense 
Behind  the  breastwork  of  omnipotence. 

My  weapons  gather  swiftness  as  they  fall, 
To  head  my  foes  if  they  would  scale  the  wall 

Safe  only,  where  I  stand  in  instant  prayer. 

He  is  my  Rock 

Above  the  damp  miasm 
And  lifted  far  above  the  danger  chasm 

The  vital  wafture  of  the  upper  air 
Seems  like  the  breath  of  heaven,  and,  like  a  stair 

The  vista  opens  upward,  till  I  see 
By  faith  the  Rock  of  Ages  where  for  me 

In  love  confessed 
Shall  be  my  home  and  rest.1 
1  Rev.  Dwight  Williams. 


n8o  Fruits  of  Experience 

God  is  giving  mg  grace,  spiritual  strength,  and 
wisdom  to  prove  to  the  world  the  value  of  Christian 
Science.  I  am  confident  that  I  burst  the  bonds  which 
held  me  to  a  material  organization  when  I  finished 
my  church  edifice,  and  taught  Truth  to  those  who  were 
ready  to  assimilate  it  and  rise  higher  and  "build  .  .  . 
on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation." 

When  the  Spirit  moved  me  in  those  noonday  meet- 
ings with  the  students  (which  have  been  so  frequently 
discussed),  to  denounce  as  substanceless  and  unreal 
the  claim  of  a  so-called  mortal  mentality  and  its 
embodiment,  I  struck  the  final  blow  which  turned 
the  wrath  of  so-called  mortal  mind  upon  me.  It  was 
a  psychological  moment  for  my  ejection  from  the 
material  organization,  and  separation  from  all  who 
were  not  ready  to  come  out  from  the  material  world 
and  be  separate, — to  "Trust  in  Truth,  and  have  no 
other  trusts." 

Our  wise  Leader  gave  all  what  they  desired  and 
that  for  which  they  have  been  striving.  Those  who 
had  been  laboring  for  spiritual  riches  are  in  possession 
of  treasures  which  are  laid  up  in  heaven,  eternal 
harmony.  They  have  the  power  of  spiritual  thought- 
force  which  evolves  all  that  is  necessary  during  the 
journey  through  the  dream  of  material  existence  to 
the  realm  of  the  real  and  eternal. 

Eventually  the  faithful  contestants  for  the  Mind 
of  Christ  will  possess  "a  conscious,  constant  capacity" 
{Science  and  Health,  p.  209)  to  reflect  God  in  eternal 
life,  love,  truth,  peace,  joy,  the  affluence  of  Mind,  and 
the  bliss  of  heaven. 

Material  place,  material  power,  and  material  pos- 
sessions have  no  value  to  the  advanced  Christian 
Scientists.     They  have  proved  that  "A  great  sacrifice 


Fruits  of  Experience  1181 

of  material  things  must  precede  this  advanced  spiritual 
understanding"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  16).  They 
know  that  they  must  evolve  from  spiritual  thought 
the  things  which  are  real  and  eternal.  Thus  they  are 
proving  that  "Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all. 
'There  is  no  matter.'" 

I  know  that  the  work  I  am  doing  is  for  my  revered 
Leader,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  I  shall  continue  a 
"scribe  of  Spirit"  (Science  and  Health,  p.  571)  until 
she  demonstrates  her  ideal  selfhood  and  reveals  her- 
self to  those  who  have  risen  with  her,  and  to  the  world. 

I  could  no  more  refuse  to  record,  in  a  book,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  world,  the  material  experiences  of  the 
human  footsteps  which  we  must  all  take  towards  the 
kingdom  of  God,  than  Mrs.  Eddy  could  resist  the 
divine  impulsion  to  write  Science  and  Health  and  her 
other  works.  I  must  hold  up  the  standard  of  divine 
metaphysics,  nor  must  I  permit  Christian  Science  to 
be  adulterated,  and  again  lost  to  the  world.  I  shall 
not  cease  my  spiritual  warfare  for  the  goal  of  eternal 
Life  here,  now,  and  forever. 

I  do  not  fear  the  pointed  bayonet  of  "  the  [so-called] 
dragon  .  .  .  and  his  angels,"  which  once  wrested  truth 
from  the  hands  of  the  masculine  disciples  of  Christ 
Jesus  and  plunged  the  world  in  sin  and  death. 

Timid  conservatism  in  the  men  of  the  past  caused 
the  loss  of  the  life-link  for  ages,  until  Christ  appeared,  to 
human  sense,  through  a  woman,  Mary  Baker  Eddy.  She 
took  up  the  cross,  and  held  it  up  to  a  wondering  world 
as  "the  way"  which  commands  a  sure  entrance  to  eter- 
nal Life.  She  is  behind  the  shadows  keeping  untiring 
watch  over  her  own, — leading  them  mentally  towards 
the  goal  of  spiritual  womanhood  and  manhood,  that,  at 
her  reappearing,  she  may  find  the  faithful  with  their 


n82  Fruits  of  Experience 

lamps  filled  with  the  oil  of  spiritual  light — watching  for 
the  coming  of  their  Lord,  and  will  crown  them  victors 
over  the  material  world,  the  fleshly  mind  and  the 
false  claim  of  evil. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


7  West  96TH  Street,  New  York  City, 
March  io,  19 13. 

My  dear  Mrs.  B  .  .  .  : — 

Your  letter  is  one  of  many  which  I  am  daily  re- 
ceiving from  all  parts  of  the  country.  Five  ladies 
last  week  called  upon  me  personally.  One  was  from 
Montana,  one  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the  others  from 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Maine. 

They  said  that  they  saw  in  my  writings,  true  divine 
metaphysics,  according  to  Mrs.  Eddy's  teachings. 
Also  that  I  had  given  most  convincing  proof  of  spiritual 
power  to  resist  error,  which  had  enabled  me  to  protect 
my  life  against  the  merciless  assaults  of  the  would-be 
mental  assassins  and  mental  malpractitioners,  who 
had  assailed  me  for  promulgating  genuine  Christian 
Science  regarding  present  immortality,  and  scientific 
mental  defense,  and  that  they  were  sure  that  "God 
had  preserved  me  to  do  His  work."  They  told  me 
that  because  of  their  fear  of  the  prevailing  opinion 
in  the  Field  of  Christian  Science,  viz.:  that  I  was 
wrong  in  declaring  that  Mrs.  Eddy  never  died,  and 
the  possibility  of  our  Leader's  demonstration  of  her 
teachings  in  her  reappearance  as  idea, — that  because 
of  this  they  had  become  confused,  and  had  lost  their 
ability  to  demonstrate  Christian  Science,  as  formerly 
they  had  done. 


Fruits  of  Experience  1183 

A  letter  received  this  morning  from  a  gentleman, 
a  practitioner  in  the  West,  asks : 

Is  there  any  difference  between  the  scholastic  teaching 
of  man  as  mortal,  and  death  as  real,  and  the  opinion  which 
is  entertained  and  voiced  by  a  majority  of  Christian  Scien- 
tists to-day,  especially  among  the  male  members  of  the 
Christian  Science  organization?  These  contend  against 
you  for  affirming  that  man  is,  and  always  has  been  im- 
mortal,— therefore,  that  man  cannot  die,  but  will  become 
more  apparent  as  Truth  dissolves  the  cloud  of  material  be- 
lief, consequently  that  Mrs.  Eddy  will  reappear. 

When  Christian  Scientists  persecute  members  of 
the  organization  who  adhere  strictly  to  the  teachings 
found  in  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science,  and  who 
persist,  as  I  have  done,  in  declaring  for  Mary  Baker 
Eddy's  spiritual  individuality  as  forever  living  and 
active, — therefore  that  she  will  eventually  manifest  her- 
self as  the  ideal  woman  of  God's  creating, — when  her 
followers  are  denounced  and  ostracized  by  the  brethren 
for  defending  their  spiritual  convictions,  is  not  this 
as  material,  and  the  same  as  the  religion,  which,  in 
the  past,  has  employed  the  tortures  of  the  "inquisition" 
and  the  fiery  fagots?  Truly  "many  are  called,  but  few 
are  chosen." 

I  wonder  at  the  materialism  of  to-day,  and  discern 
the  too  evident  fact  that  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science 
will  be  defended  and  preserved  by  only  a  "remnant 
of  her  seed"  (Rev.  xii.,  17).  These  only  "occupy" 
till  she  comes.  The  influence  of  the  carnal,  so-called 
mind  in  this  hour,  hypnotism,  mesmerism,  and  the 
subtle  attempts  to  gain  a  hold  on  the  Christian  Science 
movement  is  most  apparent. 

The   Christian    Scientist   who    has   not    developed 


1 1 84  Fruits  of  Experience 

sufficient  spirituality  to  detect  the  mesmeric  mental 
suggestions  and  handle  them  by  bringing  the  spiritual 
thought-force  to  bear  upon  them,  falls  under  their  con- 
tinuous aggressive  mental  suggestion,  which  u  the 
dragon"  is  sending  out,  viz.:  "Failure  of  our  Leader 
to  avert  the  experience  called  death,  and  her  inability 
to  demonstrate  her  teachings." 

This  they  have  whispered  into  the  ear  of  all  who  have 
not  been  watching,  working,  and  praying  for  the  Mind 
to  be  in  them  "which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus;"  who 
have  slept  and  dreamed  in  material  sense,  when  they 
should  have  been  resisting  personal  ease,  and  the 
suggestions  and  gratification  of  the  carnal  senses. 

Many  Christian  Scientists  to-day  are  subjects  and 
victims  of  the  "enemy  of  good,"  and  are  blinded  to 
the  spiritual  facts  of  being.  They  do  not  search  the 
Scriptures  and  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science  to 
convince  themselves  of  the  real  and  eternal  facts  of  being, 
but  seek  and  accept  personal  opinions  of  the  brethren 
who  have  not  themselves  risen  spiritually  to  under- 
stand that  Mrs.  Eddy's  "hour"  had  come,  as  did  the 
Master's,  when  she  had  to  lay  down  her  temporal  sense 
of  life,  that  she  "might  take  it  again"  (John  x,  17), 
and  reveal  herself  to  the  spiritually  illumined,  in  verifi- 
cation of  the  truth  which  she  promulgated.  It  is 
pitiful  to  note  the  condition  of  darkness  into  which 
so  many  have  drifted,  and  who  to-day  are  declaring 
that  our  Leader  is  dead. 

These  virtually  admit  that  they  have  no  Leader. 
They  have  lost  her  spiritual  presence  and  influence, 
and  consequently  are  led  by  physical  personalities 
who  believe  in  sin,  sickness,  and  death.  They  really 
denounce  her  teaching  and  fail  to  recognize  the  im- 
mortal ideal  woman  who  was  from  the  beginning,  is 


Fruits  of  Experience  1185 

now,  and  forever  will  be  an  idea  of  God,  a  reflector 
of  eternal  Mind,  therefore,  never  in,  nor  of  matter. 

To  such  as  fail  to  see  the  spiritual  idea  she  ceases 
to  exist,  and,  as  "  the  things  of  the  Spirit "  are  spiritually 
discerned,  she  will  not  be  visible  to  them.  The  Scrip- 
ture states:  "Unto  them  that  look  for  him  shall  he 
appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation." 
The  spiritually  advanced  "look"  for  the  demonstration 
of  "Immanuel,  or  '  God  with  us' "  in  His  idea  (Miscel- 
laneous Writings,  p.  103).  j 

There  is  much  talk  of  personality,  "worshiping 
personality,"  "personal  control,"  "idolatry,"  etc. 
This  is  another  subtle  argument  of  "the  dragon,"  and 
deceives  many  who  do  not  understand  the  difference 
between  physical  personality  and  spiritual  personality, 
or  individuality.  "God  is  Person,"  says  our  Leader, 
but  this  Person  is  Spirit,  All,  and  its  manifestation 
must  be  infinite  personality,  and  the  members  of  the 
body  of  Spirit,  spiritual  personalities,  or  individual 
ideas. 

Jesus  claimed  his  spiritual  individuality  as  a  Son,  or 
idea  of  God.  He  bade  men  follow  him  as  God's  repre- 
sentative. He  did  not  warn  them  against  his  person- 
ality because  he  admitted  only  his  spiritual  personality 
and  refused  to  acknowledge  any  other  selfhood.  He 
declared  he  was  one  with  God  and  led  them  to  wor- 
ship his  Father  and  their  Father,  his  God  and  their 
God. 

When  John  the  Baptist  bade  the  people  "Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world" 
(John  i.,  29),  Jesus  did  not  rebuke  him,  because  he 
knew  that  John  discerned  his  spiritual  personality 
or  individuality,  his  oneness  or  sonship  with  God. 
But,  when  the  rich  young  man  asked: 


1 1 86  Fruits  of  Experience 

Good  Master,  what  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal 
life? 

And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest  thou  me  good? 
there  is  none  good  but  one,  that  is,  God"  (Mark  x.,  17, 1 8). 

Jesus  knew  that  the  rich  young  man  held  only  a 
material  concept  of  him,  and  to  this  young  man, 
physical  personality  was  real,  while  Jesus'  spiritual 
individuality  was  not  apprehended.  His  rebuke  to 
this  personal  following  was  pointed  in  this  case,  while 
his  acquiescence  in  John's  recognition  of  him,  as  "the 
Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world," 
was  shown  by  silent  approval. 

This  is  what  Mrs.  Eddy  meant  when  she  wrote  her 
article  on  ' '  Personal  Contagion. ' '  Whoever  was  follow- 
ing her  physical  personality  she  rebuked.  Those  who 
followed  her  spiritual  personality  or  individuality  she 
commended  in  these  words:  "...  follow  your  Leader 
only  so  far  as  she  follows  Christ"  {Message  for  iqoi, 
p.  70).  This  has  not  been  understood  by  those  to 
whom  physicality  is  real.  They  do  not  recognize 
the  spiritual  idea,  but  fear  corporeality,  and  thus  fail 
to  perceive  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

Mrs.  Eddy  says:  "God  and  the  real  man  are 
inseparable."  {Science  and  Health,  p.  476).  A  Chris- 
tian Scientist  who  understands  Truth  knows  that 
spiritual  man  is  God — manifest,  is  the  voice  of 
God,  the  mouthpiece  of  God.  This  she  confirms  in 
her  statement:  "Principle  and  its  idea  is  one,  and 
this  one  is  God,  omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omni- 
present Being"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  465).  Christ 
Jesus  bade  men  follow  him,  and  said:  "And  I,  if 
I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto 
me." 

Doubtless  in   that   day  the  scribes   and   Pharisees 


Fruits  of  Experience  1187 

argued,  as  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  of  to-day  argue, 
"personal  following,"  "personal  control,"  "idolatry." 
They  insisted,  as  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  to-day 
insist,  that  men  should  worship  God,  and  ignore  the 
Son,  the  spiritual  idea  or  the  manifestation  of  God. 
The  materialists  of  yore  persecuted  Jesus  and  his 
disciples  for  declaring  for  their  divine  birthright,  their 
eternal  Ego,  their  oneness  with  God. 

Jesus  said:  "This  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might 
know  Thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  Thou  hast  sent."  John  said:  "Now  are  we 
the  sons  of  God."  The  enemy  has  darkened  hundreds 
of  Christian  Scientists  by  its  ancient  argument,  "wor- 
ship God,  but  beware  of  the  influence  of  His  Son," 
the  spiritual  idea,  the  man  and  woman  who  demon- 
strate Principle.  It  hoped  thus  to  silence  the  voice 
of  God  through  woman,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  convey 
its  own  messages  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death  through 
the  physical  personalities — its  mouthpieces,  so-called 
mortal  mentalities.      The  "devil  is  the  ape  of  God." 

It  is  declared  in  Scripture  in  the  words  of  John  in 
Revelation  xii.,  7,  8:  "Michael  and  his  angels  [spirit- 
ual personalities  or  individualities]  fought  against  the 
dragon;  and  the  dragon  fought  and  his  angels"  (phy- 
sical personalities  or  mortal  beliefs),  and  the  latter 
"prevailed  not." 

Mary  Baker  Eddy's  teachings  have  aroused  a 
"remnant  of  her  seed"  to  "cling  steadfastly  to  God 
and  His  idea"  {Science  and  Health,  p.  495),  to  rec- 
ognize the  influence  of  the  spiritual  idea,  to  follow 
it,  and  to  resist  the  subtle  influence  of  the  physical 
personality  or  so-called  mortal  mind,  and  its  argument 
for  the  reality  of  sin,  sickness,  and  death,  and  to 
refuse  to  follow  it. 


1 1 88  Fruits  of  Experience 

The  sons  and  daughters  of  God  endowed  with 
spiritual  understanding  are  wielding  the  "sword  of 
the  Spirit,  .  .  .  the  word  of  God"  which  has  already- 
decapitated  the  dragon,  and  is  silencing  forever  his 
voice  through  "his  angels"  (physical  personalities), 
the  embodiments  of  the  carnal  so-called  mind.  The 
sickle  has  been  thrust  in;  the  separation  has  come 
between  the  spiritually  minded,  who  follow  the  im- 
personal Christ-idea,  and  the  materially  minded,  to 
whom  mortal  concepts  and  their  physical  personalities 
are  real. 

Christian  Science  can  never  be  demonstrated  in 
health,  love,  joy,  peace,  and  immortality,  except  by 
acknowledging  the  spiritual  idea,  known  in  this  age 
as  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  by  adhering  to  her  teach- 
ings as  found  in  the  text-book  of  Christian  Science, 
Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  and  her 
other  writings,  and  by  imbibing  the  spirit  which  illu- 
mines the  Word  of  God,  and  enables  those  who  are 
striving  for  a  "wholly  spiritual"  consciousness  to 
overcome  the  illusion  of  the  belief  that  man  is  sepa- 
rated from  God,  or  that  mortals  are  the  "men"  of 
God's  creating. 

I  trust  that  you  understand  the  spiritual  facts  of 
being  as  well  as  I,  but  I  have  been  replying  to  your 
letter,  and  discussing  the  only  subject  that  appeals 
to  me,  divine  metaphysics,  as  taught,  established,  and 
waiting  to  be  finally  demonstrated  by  our  Leader, 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Augusta  E.  Stetson. 


INDEX 


Absolute,  standpoint  in  Christian 
Science,  217-218;  trial  for, 
Christian  Science  (foot-note), 
229;  Mrs.  Stetson  stands  for, 
Christian  Science,499;  authority 
for,  in  "The  Way  of  Wisdom," 
564-565 

Adam,  thought  in  which  all  die, 
49;  awakening  from,  dream, 
70;  Adam's  generation,  272;  the 
Adam-dream,  588;  663;  677; 
725;  never  born  of  Spirit,  751; 
755;  Jesus  met,  curse,  803 

Address,  of  welcome,  49-53 

Animal  Magnetism,  malicious, 
29;  opposite  of  divine  Science, 
226;  has  no  power,  238;  false 
claim  of  carnal  qualities,  267; 
claims  of,  annulled  by  spiritual 
understanding,  276;  efforts  of, 
are  futile,  339;  is  aggressive 
mental  argument,  347;  claims 
of,  830-831;  the  opposite  of 
Truth,  947;  would  hold  human- 
ity in  bondage,  1 163 

Apocalypse,  Woman  in,  ix 

Avenue,  for  Truth  and  Love,  338; 
Love  reflects  supply  through, 
348;  God's  children,  His,  of 
blessings,  381;  Love's,  in  stu- 
dents, 384 

Awakened,  spiritually  are  free, 
121;  find  the  Christ-mind,  128; 
an  era  of  awakening  conscious- 
ness, 136-137 


B 


Belief,  carnal  mind  produces,  69; 
in  two  powers,  70;  in  power 
opposed  to  God,  235;  dominated 
by  spiritual  sense,  272;  beliefs, 


as  roaring  beasts,  278;  mortal, 
has  no  power  against  Spirit, 
282;  demands  of,  when  to  be 
satisfied,  283;  human,  is  power- 
less, 287;  in  matter-body  to  be 
destroyed,  296;  of  a  corporeality, 
a  lie,  298;  awakened  from  this 
plane  of,  302;  Spirit  dissolves, 
318;  mortal  man  as  fleshly, 
319;  of  self-pity  made  unreal, 
329;  infuriated,  in  battle,  338, 
in  corporeality  to  be  destroyed, 
344;  has  deceived  the  whole 
world  by  lying  claim,  391; 
understanding  and,  723;  nature 
of,  736;  of  spiritualism,  pan- 
theism, 838;  enemy  of  good, 
963;  that  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
has  died,  n  19;  contend  for 
reality  of,  11 30 

Board  of  Directors  of  The  Mother 
Church,  see  Directors 

Body,  Truth  and  Love  recon- 
struct, 263;  288;  of  Christ,  271- 
272;  material,  reflects  what 
mortal  mind  impresses  on  it, 
274;  belief  in  matter- body,  296; 
bearing  dead  bodies  of  luke- 
warm students,  332;  as  our 
thought  so  is  our,  372;  ideas 
compose,  of  Christ,  1 1 1 1 

Book,  sent  forth  on  pinions  of 
love,  vii;  purpose  of,  viii 

Branch  Churches,  rights  and  re- 
lations, 516-519 


Carnal,  sense,  53;  composed  of 
fears,  66;  thoughts,  115;  mind, 
crucified  Jesus,  126;  mind,  131, 
134;  aroused  as  we  assimilate 
Love  and  Truth,  244;  qualities 
of  the  human  mind,  267;  mind 


1189 


1 190 


Index 


Carnal —  ( Continued) 

in  conflict  with  Christ,  289;  sen- 
ses must  die,  290;  mind's  quali- 
ties, 344;  components  of,  631; 
mind  destroyed  by  divine  Mind, 
850;  resists  Truth,  879;  Christ- 
mind  annuls,  11 52;  influence 
of,  1 1 83 

Chemicalization,  defined,  172;  in- 
stance of,  173;  followed  first 
treatment,  283;  moral,  is  uni- 
versal, 480;  normal,  492;  is  con- 
flict between  human  and 
divine,     624;    accompaniments 

of.  735 

Christ,  the  on-coming,  ix;  idea 
manifested,  35;  the  Mind  of, 
89;  Christianity  of,  94;  gave 
power  to  disciples,  96;  mani- 
fests God,  118;  speaks  through 
Leader,  120;  was  one  with  the 
Father,  123;  second  coming 
of  (Sermon),  128-139;  his 
second  coming,  130;  134;  the 
impersonal,  225;  manifested  in 
word  and  deed,  238;  we  are 
members  of  the  body  of,  241; 
Christ- thought  supplies  need, 
261;  will  give  us  light,  263;  we 
must  be  true  to,  in  our  thoughts, 
274;  we  are  members  of  the 
body  of,  280;  reconstructs  the 
body,  288;  inevitably  in  con- 
flict with  carnal  mind,  289; 
presence  of,  perceived  spiritu- 
ally, 426;  qualities  of,  how 
cultivated,  452;  no  evil  in,  747; 
the  master  Metaphysician,  916; 
Mind  of,  963;  967;  1044;  power 
of,  1007;  1026;  followers  of, 
oppose  carnal  mind,  1028;  1029; 
healed  with  Word,  1037;  second 
coming  of,  1063;  carnal  mind 
at  enmity  with,  1100;  mission 
to  destroy  incarnate  error, 
1 102;  1 1 50;  Mrs.  Eddy  planted 
the  standard  of,  11 54;  was 
unpopular  with  material  world, 
1 176;  persecuted  for  declaring 
birthright,  1 187 

Christendom,  accepts  Bible  as 
guide,  77;  worships  Adam-man, 
83;  Love  and  the  Resurrection 
created,  987 

Christ-Mind    (see   consciousness), 


makes  us  heirs  of  God's  power, 
45;  the  power  of,  makes  alive, 
49;  illumined  the  world,  61; 
dominion  of,  over  material 
senses,  62-63;  is  Truth,  64;  is 
wisdom,  69;  life  is  in,  71;  is  the 
healing  power,  75;  world  fails 
to  recognize,  81;  many  putting, 
on  the,  89;  enables  man  to  dis- 
cern Truth,  128;  power  of,  being 
demonstrated,  138;  destroys 
evil,  253;  in  defense  against 
malice  or  M.  A.  M.,  597;  po- 
tency of,  proved,  641;  world's 
hatred  of,  686;  leads  out  of 
belief,  757;  power  of,  837;  839; 
conquering  power  of,  970; 
spiritual  thought-force  of,  103 1; 
qualities  of,  1152 
Christian  Science,  healing  first 
heard  of  (1884),  1  ;Mrs.  Stetson's 
work  in,  foretold,  2;  first  cases 
in,  5;  broken  shoulder  healed  by 
7;  heals  a  case  of  dropsy,  8 
informal  talks  given  on,  10 
Mrs.  Stetson's  lectures  on,  15 
speaks  in  White  Mountains,  on, 
19;  introduced  in  New  York  by 
John  Campbell,  20;  Mrs.  Eddy 
lectures  on,  in  New  York,  22; 
National  Association  met,  24; 
Mrs.  Stetson  proves  loyalty  to, 
38;  is  demonstrable,  immutable 
Truth,  39;  Mrs.  Stetson's  ser- 
mon on,  41-49;  fills  earth  with 
brightness,  43;  unlocks  myste- 
ries of  God,  50;  exposes  carnal 
mind,  70;  destroys  material 
thought,  74;  what  it  is,  77,  78; 
is  divine  metaphysics,  91,  1088; 
ushers  in  glorious  day,  93; 
healing  power  of,  94;  reveals 
mental  method  of  Jesus  the 
Christ,  98;  lifts  humanity,  100; 
a  transforming  power,  101; 
teaches  allness  of  Mind,  105; 
arouses  resistance  of  mortals, 
109;  interprets  spiritual  ideal; 
135;  history  of,  in  New  York, 
188;  absolute  standpoint,  217, 
218;  Spirit  governs  in,  266;  is 
demonstrable  truth,  459;  op- 
poses material  systems,  496;  ab- 
solute, 499;  practice  of,  in  First 
Church,    New    York,    investi- 


Index 


1191 


Christian  Science — (Continued) 
gated ,  508-530 ;  ' '  pretended , ' ' 
charged,  539,  540;  absolute,  in 
"The  Way  of  Wisdom,"  564- 
565;  not  faith-cure,  836;  "What 
Christian  Science  Really  Is" 
(Columbian  Magazine,  May, 
1911),  986-1103;  and  medical 
profession,  1 036-1045;  is  divine 
metaphysics,  1088 

Christian  Scientists,  pioneer  mem- 
bers in  New  York,  20;  buy 
church  property,  34;  '  faithful 
to  Leader,  48;  meeting  of 
(June  27,  1890),  49;  walk  after 
the  Spirit,  78;  have  Christ  as 
Leader,  85;  enlisted  to  lessen 
evil,  87;  heal  by  reflection 
of  Truth  and  Love,  98;  exhorted 
to  fidelity,  101;  learning  Mind- 
healing,  106;  claim  God  as 
Father-Mother,  123;  believe 
Christ  ever-present,  126-127; 
will  not  accept  blind  belief,  127; 
labor  to  destroy  false  belief,  133 ; 
the  children  of  Israel,  141 ;  should 
heal  instantaneously,  275;  must 
speak  with  authority  to  man 
of  sin,  319;  true,  defend  Truth, 
364^;  declare  for  their  immor- 
tality, 460;  must  be  single-eyed, 
631,  692;  two  groups  of,  932, 
934;  methods  and  practices  of, 
1045-1065;  utilize  spiritual 
forces,  1070;  should  not  join 
medical  league,  1131-1155; 
should  possess  Christ-mind, 
1 171;  many,  are  victims  of  the 
enemy  of  good,  1 184 

Church  problem,  conditions  in 
First  Church  investigated,  480; 
report  on,  at  New  York,  519- 
530;  as  disclosed  in  "Findings 
and  Orders,"  532-573 

Church  Problems,  464-502;  of 
First  Reader,  469-471;  dis- 
agreement on,  among  Scientists, 
475-476;  asdiscussed  in  "Letters 
to  Church  Officials,"  574-606; 
"Letters  to  Friends  and  Fellow 
Workers  on,"  608-717 

Comforter,  appears  in  conscious- 
ness, 106;  in  Science  and  Health, 

303 
Committee  of  Inquiry,  500;  report 


of  to  Board  of    Trustees,    and 
Church,  509-530;  members  of, 

515 

Communion ,  service  in  The  Mother 
Church,  31,  54 

Compound,  idea  or  spiritual  con- 
sciousness, 272 

Consciousness,  Comforter  appears 
in  human,  106;  revolution  in 
human,  no;  Christ  Jesus 
awakened  human,  123;  Chris- 
tian Scientists  merge  into  im- 
mortal, 127;  God  voices  Him- 
self through,  136;  higher  spirit- 
ual, won,  152;  symbols  dis- 
appear before  spiritual,  196; 
immortal,  237;  spiritual,  a  holy 
habitation,  245;  immortal,  as 
a  goal,  250;  the  true  spiritual, 
our  divinity,  256;  what  belongs 
to  divine,  256;  resurrection  to 
spiritual,  256;  a  spiritual  atmos- 
phere, 268;  a  slum,  though  on 
Fifth  Avenue,  269;  in  spiritual, 
we  have  dominion,  272;  the 
Christ-consciousness,  278;  1123- 
1124;  of  life  from  Principle, 
283;  spiritual,  brings  dominion, 
285;  man  is  spiritual,  296; 
spiritual,  reveals  our  reality, 
298;  uplifted  by  contest  with 
error,  311;  no  death  in  spirit- 
ualized, 315;  spiritual,  man's 
birthright,  315;  eternal,  is  our 
life,  318;  our  only  safety  in 
spiritual,  373;  the  world  as, 
493;  immortal,  to  be  realized, 
589;  treasure  in  spiritual,  619; 
the  spiritualized,  795;  divine, 
897;  rising  to  a  "wholly  spirit- 
ual," 935;  1 164;  1 188 

Contributions,  by  First  Church, 
New  York,  to  Concord  Church , 
35;  to  The  Mother  Church,  38; 
to  C.  S.  Publishing  House,  Bos- 
ton, 38;  to  build  First  Church. 
New  York,  143;  to  The  Mother 
Church  Extension,  179-180 

Convention,  of  National  Christian 
Scientist  Association,  24;  Ad- 
dress of  Welcome  at,  49~§3 

Corner-stone  of  First  Church 
laid  (1899),  34 

Creeds,  ancient,  wanting  in 
spiritual  power,  1 28 


1 192 


Index 


Dawn,  appearing,  xiv 

Death  (so-called)  (See  Letters 
of  Comfort,  297-322);  a  falsity, 
282;  only  a  seeming,  299;  recog- 
nition after,  301;  brings  no  real 
separation,  305,  307;  sensuous 
appetites  bring,  313;  in  spirit- 
ualized consciousness  is  no,  315; 
mental  activities  continue  after 
seeming,  328;  deliverance  from, 
657;  Lazarus  raised  from  belief 
of,  802;  how  to  overcome  belief 
of,  989 

Dedicatory  Address  (New  York, 
Nov.  29,  1903),  140-158 

Deity,  false  concept  of,  disap- 
pearing, xii 

Demonstration,  how  to  proceed 
in  (read  a  page,  etc.).  290;  by 
spiritual  understanding,  292; 
of  the  Christ-mind,  362;  de- 
pends on  attainment  of  spiritual 
understanding,  632;  of  immor- 
tality, 635;  demanded  of  Chris- 
tian Scientists,  640;  of  dominion, 
of  individuality,  674;  when  we 
are  making  a,  731 

Dickey,  Adam  H.,  at  Chestnut 
Hill,  17-18;  present  at  Mrs. 
Stetson's  latest  meeting  with 
Mrs.  Eddy,  18 

Directors  of  The  Mother  Church, 
spiritual  understanding  of  the, 
tested,  218;  forbid  Mrs.  Stetson 
to  teach  classes,  346;  corre-, 
spondence  of,  with  New  York 
Trustees,  504-511;  consider 
case  of  Mrs.  Stetson,  506-508; 
relations  to  branch  churches, 
516-518;  have  charge  of 
material  organization,  556; 
contend  for  material  beliefs, 
568;  alleged  letter  respecting, 
587;  Mrs.  Stetson's  letter  to 
(Nov.  6,  1909),  600;  drop  Mrs. 
Stetson's  name,  602;  publish 
obituary  notices  of  Leader, 
107 1- 1 072 

Discipleship,  test  of,  1 13 

Disloyal  students,  192 

Divine,  wisdom  brings  power 
(Sermons),  57-75;  love  impelled 
Jesus,    112;    Principle   and    its 


idea — man — abides  forever,  113; 
Mind  dissolves  human  con- 
cepts, 202;  love  purifies  men- 
tality, 250;  self,  ever  denying 
sense  testimony,  279;  Mind 
destroys  fleshly  mind,  850 
Dominion  (spiritual),  whence  it 
comes,  60;  produces  buoyancy, 
70;  as  God's  ideas  we  have, 
267;  rejoice  in,  281;  comes  with 
choice  of  spiritual  conscious- 
ness, 285;  will  get,  by  denounc- 
ing belief,  291-292;  the  Christ- 
mind  gives,  295;  battle  for 
your,  335;  how  gained,  449; 
the  price  of,  1038;  over  all 
illusions,  1092;  reflection  of 
Spirit,  1 167 


E 


Eddy,  Mrs.  Mary  Baker,  lecture 
by,  1;  asks  Mrs.  Stetson  to 
join  class  (1884),  3;  attends 
Mrs.  Stetson's  readings,  4; 
fails  to  appear  at  Reading,  15; 
receives  Mrs.  Stetson,  16; 
calls  that  day  "the  happiest 
day  of  my  life  on  earth,"  18; 
gives  letter  of  introduction  to 
Mrs.  Lathrop,  19;  lectures  in 
New  York  (Feb.,  1899),  22-23; 
confers  upon  Mrs.  Stetson 
title  of  "Reverend,"  24;  re- 
quests preaching  without  notes, 
25;  requests  anthem  at  dedi- 
cation, 27-29;  invites  First 
Church  members  to  Pleasant 
View,  30;  has  pilgrimage  to 
Concord  omitted,  31;  acknow- 
ledges gift,  36;  has  taught 
thousands,  85;  Founder  and 
Discoverer,  95;  "Tribute"  to, 
as  Leader,  150-15 1;  letters  to, 
from  Mrs.  Stetson,  159-232; 
thanks  Mrs.  Stetson  for  glori- 
ous work,  179;  two  letters  from, 
referring  to  Composite  Letter, 
223-224;  joy  of  serving,  as 
Leader,  236;  is  making  de- 
monstration, 256;  the  imper- 
sonal Christ-idea,  257;  imitating 
example  of,  329;  will  make 
demonstration,  360;  God's 
interpreter    to    this    age,    363; 


Index 


"93 


Eddy,  Mrs.  Mary  Baker 

— (Continued) 
God's  anointed  in  this  age,  400; 
the  spiritual .  idea,  400;  bears 
cross  for  mankind,  420;  will 
make  demonstration  over  death, 
496;  representative  of  mother- 
hood of  God,  501;  demonstra- 
tion of,  969;  work  of,  980-981; 
manifests  the  Christ-mind, 
10 13;  materialists  misunder- 
stand life  and  work  of,  107 1- 
1090;  immortality  of,  1094- 
1117 

Error,  has  no  power  when  met 
by  Truth,  234;  cannot  prevent 
spiritual  dominion,  242;  has 
no  presence  where  true  con- 
sciousness is  understood,  248; 
assaults  of,  attract  the  forces 
of  protecting  Love,  263;  never 
had  a  voice,  266;  says  that  age 
is  real,  326;  driven  to  self- 
extinction  by  Truth,  365 

Evil,  is  erring  false  sense,  97; 
made  unreal,  evil-doers  will 
disappear,  268;  the  sting  of  the 
so-called  serpent,  329;  never 
concede  power  or  reality  to, 
345;  is  impersonal  but  embodies 
itself  in  physical  personalities, 
377;  thoughts  produce  world 
of,  387;  handle  with  truth  and 
love,  impersonal,  440;  the 
Christ  denounced  impersonal, 
expressed  in  physical  personali- 
ties, 446 


Fatherhood  and    motherhood  of 

Love,  272 
Fear  (so-called),  a  tyrant,  287 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City,  Charter  se- 
cured and  first  service  held,  20; 
other  places  of  worship  of, 
21-22;  Mrs.  Stetson  ordained 
as  pastor  of,  25-26;  moved  to 
48th  Street,  34;  corner-stone  of, 
laid  at  96th  Street  (Nov.  30, 
1899),  34;  presents  $10,000  to 
Concord  Church,  35;  sermons 
by  Mrs.  Stetson  in  (1887- 1889), 
41 ;  Dedicatory  Address  of  (Nov. 


29.  1903).  140;  organized  with 
14  members,  143;  seven  years 
on  West  48th  Street,  144; 
progress  of  church  plans  of, 
145-149;  Mrs.  Eddy's  letter 
to,  at  dedication,  152-153; 
contemplated  new  branch  of 
The  Mother  Church,  203-204; 
annual  meetings  of,  unanimous 
votes  at,  214;  in  splendid  condi- 
tion (1909),  341;  exonerated 
Mrs.  Stetson,  499;  contribution 
of,  to  The  Mother  Church,  598; 
Mrs.  Stetson's  letter  resigning 
from,  603 

Frye,  Calvin  A.,  at  Pleasant  View, 
32 

Fruits  of  Experience,  969-1188 


Generation,  material  and  spiritual, 

638 
"  Give  God  the  Glory,"  1045- 1065 
God,  allness  of,  apprehended,  99; 
only  source  of  life  and  power, 
102;  God-thought  came  to  con- 
sciousness, 117;  Jesus  the  Christ 
manifested  Immanuel  — God 
with  us,  118;  is  Father  and 
Mother,  All,  289;  the  Ego- 
God,  460;  the  real  man,  the 
child  of,  548;  manifest  through 
mediators,  687;  Mrs.  Eddy, 
anointed  of,  947;  Mary  Baker 
Eddy,  the  feminine  representa- 
tive of  motherhood  of,  985; 
must  meet  belief  in  power 
opposed  to,  1088 


II 


Harmony,  "house  not  made  with 
hands,"  276;  heaven  is,  394; 
spiritual  sense  catches  tones  of, 
404 

Hatfield,  E.  F.,  Chairman  of  Board 
of  Trustees  of  First  Church, 
21-36;  letter  to  Mrs.  Stetson, 
223 

Healing,  of  Mrs.  Stetson's  first 
patient,  5;  of  girl  (spinal 
invalid)  at  Skowhegan,  6;  of 
dropsical  woman,  8;  of  bedrid- 
den woman,  9 ;  by  reading  Science 


1 194 


Index 


Healing —  ( Continued) 

and  Health,  10;  cases  of,  re- 
ported in  Christian  Science 
Sentinel,  11-12;  instantaneous, 
at  Reading,  15;  address  on 
Christ-mind  (sermon),  75-89; 
Science  and  Health  teaches,  106; 
of  so-called  cancer,  1 71-174, 
182;  of  case  of  gall-stone,  239; 
by  reflection  of  good,  333; 
condition  of  success  in,  1043; 
1050-1051 

Heaven,  is  here  and  now,  345;  is 
spiritual  consciousness,  348; 
not  far  off,  398;  a  heritage  of 
the  spiritually  minded,   1019 

Human,  so-called  mind,  carnal 
qualities  of,  malicious,  267 

Humanity,  blessed  by  revelation 
of  Christian  Science,  92;  urged 
to  awake,  m;  suffered  in  war 
of  senses,  130;  our  mission  to 
relieve  suffering,  285;  selfish 
sorrow  keeps,  in  bondage,  304; 
governed  by  mortal  thought, 
448;  Jesus  manifested  to,  687; 
man's  possibilities  revealed  to, 
811;  learns  way  of  eternal  Life, 
871;  must  awake,  11 72 

Hypnotic  (so-called),  influences, 
287;  self -hypnotism  is  nothing- 
ness, 292;  claim  of  hypnotism, 
450 


Idea,  correct  sense  of  visible, 
necessary,  159;  God's,  your 
spiritual  self,  266;  God's,  has 
dominion,  267;  God's,  His 
glory,  272;  is  compound  in  male 
and  female,  272;  beholding  the 
substance-idea,  273,  280;  di- 
vinity of  every  one  is  God's 
idea,  290;  Christ  the  Father's, 
319;  God's  ideas  the  only  real 
people,  320;  Love  works 
through,  to  bless,  348;  presence 
of  the  impersonal,  felt,  356; 
spiritual  man  is  Love's,  365; 
is  spiritual  personality  or  in- 
dividuality, 493;  as  spiritual 
Leader,  495-497;  man  is  now 
God's,  728 

Ideal,   man   revealed,   how,   276; 


man,  324;  appears  m  process 
of  unfoldment,  336 

Illusions,  exposed  by  Christian 
Science,  109;  mental,  destroyed 
136;  a  belief  of  fear  that  dis- 
appears upon  finding  God,  234; 
Truth  frees  from,  273;  held  in 
bondage  to,  279;  claims  of 
matter  are,  415 

Immortal,  man  is  now,  282;  man 
is  now  perfect  and,  625 

Immortality,  the  verity  of  eternal 
Life,  124;  great  anthem  of, 
139;  immortal  consciousness, 
a  crown  of  reward,  235;  not  to 
weary  in  struggle  for,  452; 
Boston  Directors  disagreed 
with  Mrs.  Stetson  on  present, 
495;  Mrs.  Stetson  stands  for 
present,  499;  as  understood  by 
Christian  Scientists,  987;  pro- 
gress towards,  1 1 15 

Independent,  "The  Demonstra- 
tion of  Mary  Baker  Eddy," 
969-985;  "Christian  Science 
and  the  Medical  Profession," 
1036-1045 

Individual,  spiritual  idea,  107; 
spiritual  man,  226;  be,  254;  self- 
hood gained,  256 

Individuality,  divine,  202;  spirit- 
ual, 226;  no  separation  in  our 
real,  243;  spiritual  individuali- 
ties are  God's  representatives, 
255;  Mind  (divine)  is,  274;  is 
felt,  330;  spiritual,  is  appear- 
ing, 344;  spiritual,  is  chosen, 
346;  put  off  the  false,  370; 
spiritual,  versus  physical  per- 
sonality, 414-463;  Mrs.  Eddy 
to  manifest  a  "wholly  spiritual," 
497;  spiritual,  one  's  Christ 
mentality,  1013;  spiritual,  nil 

Interview  and  Answers,  regard- 
ing two  prisoners,  1167-1174 

Interviews  and  Answers,  1014- 
1022 


Jesus  the  Christ,  secret  of,  power, 
81 ,  the  works  of,  102 ;  life  mission 
of,  132;  best  exponent  of  Mind- 
healing,  133;  testified  against 
carnal    mind,     134;    expressed 


Index 


1 195 


Jesus  Christ — (Continued) 

spiritual  ideal,  135;  demon- 
strated dominion,  427;  defined 
devil,  444;  human  and  divine 
personality  of,  450;  the  spiritual 
Teacher,  455;  never  lost  spirit- 
ual consciousness,  990;  earthly- 
career  of,  1 00 1 

Journal,  Christian  Science,  quoted, 
cases  healed  by  Mrs.  Stetson, 
11;  Mrs.  Eddy's  lecture  in  N. 
Y.,  22-23;  Mrs.  Stetson's  name 
removed  from,  as  teacher  and 
practitioner,  346;  "where  God 
is  we  can  meet,"  745;  teachings 
of  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  1 1 19 


Lathrop,  Mrs.  Laura,  associates 
with  Mrs.  Stetson's  work  in 
New  York,  19-22;  organized 
Second  Church,  New  York 
(Oct.,  1891),  33;  letter  to,  575- 

577 

Law,  of  Truth  and  Love,  978;  of 
God,  980;  of  eternal  Truth, 
1001;  progress  the,  of  God, 
1028;  of  healing,  1 155 

Law  and  order,  spiritual,  209; 
divine,  533~534 

Lecture,  by  Mrs.  Eddy  at  Charles- 
town,  1;  in  Boston,  2;  by  Mrs. 
Stetson,  15;  by  Mrs.  Eddy  in 
New  York  (Feb.  1,  1889), 
22-23 

Letter,  Mrs.  Stetson  to  Christian 
Science  Journal,  11-12;  Mrs. 
Stetson  to  Clerk  of  First  Church, 
N.  Y.  (1887),  25-26;  First 
Church,  N.  Y.,  to  Mrs.  Eddy, 
35-36;  from  Mrs.  Eddy  to 
First    Church,    N.    Y.    (1904), 

36-37 
Letters,  to  Mrs.  Eddy,  159-232; 
accompanving  gift  sent,  162- 
163;  "The  Dream,"  163-166; 
from  Readers  and  Trustees, 
166-167;  The  Reply,  168;  Com- 
posite Letter,  216-222;  of  Mrs. 
Eddy  to  Mrs.  Stetson,  223-224; 
Mrs.  Stetson's  reply  to,  224- 
228;  other,  to  Mrs.  Eddy  from 
Mrs.  Stetson,  228-232;  on 
Encouragement     to     Students, 


233-277;  to  Patients,  278-295; 
of  Comfort,  297-322 ;  of  Thanks, 
323-367;  on  Building  the  Home, 
368-404;  to  Children,  405- 
413;  on  Individuality  versus 
Personality,  414-462;  on  Church 
Problems,  463-501;  to  Church 
Officials,  575-606;  to  Friends 
and  Fellow- workers ,  607-7 1 7  '< 
of  Instruction  and  Counsel, 
718-831;  to  the  Press,  832- 
968 

Life,  spiritual  consciousness  is, 
etc.,  256;  is  in  Mind  and  its 
idea,  279;  man's  birthright  to 
reflect  and  enjoy,  283;  wisdom, 
understanding,  is  spiritual,  497 

Love,  divine,  annihilates  so-called 
carnal  mind,  53;  "Love 
Watches  over  All"  (Poem), 
39-40;  cannot  produce  fear,  96; 
binds  us  to  the  infinite,  137; 
divine,  meets  human  needs, 
176;  the  divine  Principle,  216; 
sustains  its  ideas,  233;  is  always 
flowing  through  Her  channels, 
243;  purifies  human  character, 
253;  consciousness  radiates 
Life,  Truth,  and,  256;  as  father- 
hood and  motherhood,  as  male 
and  female  or  compound  idea, 
272;  heals  by  destroying  fear, 
282;  we  are  Love's  ideas,  365; 
divine,  gives  wisdom,  377;  the 
only  consciousness,  500;  im- 
pregnable in,  627;  no  power 
but,  761;  clothes  every  idea, 
766;  made  manifest  on  the 
flesh,  772;  reflect,  till  sinless, 
782;  ideal  woman  reflects,  954; 
the  only  causation,  971;  as 
law,  978;  as  a  gospel,  1001; 
spiritual  man  in  image  of,  105 1 

Loved  ones,  are  not  lost  to  us, 
305,  306;  never  died,  309;  we 
lose  only  false  sense  of,  326 

Loyalty  of  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City  to 
Mrs.  Eddy  (letter),  166-167 

M 

Male   and   female,   compose  the 

compound  idea,  272 
Malicious  animal  magnetism,  29; 


1 196 


Index 


Malicious  animal  magnetism 

— ( Continued) 
the  false  claim,  267;  claims 
of,  annulled  by  spiritual 
thought-force,  276;  attempts  of, 
futile,  339;  claim  of,  a  power 
opposed  to  God,  347;  claim  of, 
has  no  power  to  overcome  good, 
424;  powerless  before  Word  of 
God,  471;  must  go  out  of  con- 
sciousness, 492;  strives  to  si- 
lence spiritual  sense,  498;  met 
by  qualities  of  Christ-mind, 
499;  its  claims  impotent,  500; 
is  the  so-called  carnal  mind, 
559;  methods  of,  591;  handling, 
with  the  sword  of  Spirit,  595, 
728;  defined,  864-865;  "What 
is  m.  A.  m.?"  1022-1036;  bond- 
age to,  1 1 63 

Malpractice,  mental,  177;  de- 
fined by  Mrs.  Eddy,  483;  a  true 
Christian  Scientist  could  not, 
484;  spiritual  mental  defense 
versus,  488-490;  use  of  names 
is  not,  559-564;  is  a  denial  of 
Truth,  596;  phases  of,  defined, 
864-865 

Man,  mortal,  not  God-made,  92; 
*is  asserting  dominion,  99;  is 
immortal  consciousness,  241; 
falsity  of  mortal,  269;  generic, 
271;  ideal,  revealed  by  self- 
immolation,  276;  power  of  Ego- 
man  in  Christ  Jesus,  293;  is 
spiritual  consciousness,  296; 
is  mental,  spiritual,  300;  mortal 
so-called ,  as  "  mortal  molecules , ' ' 
310;  the  real,  never  died,  318; 
spiritual,  the  only  real,  318- 
320;  behind  fleshly  form,  the 
ideal,  350;  the  manifestation  of 
Principle,  351;  spiritual,  God's 
representative,  371;  there 
is  but  one,  the  spiritual,  391; 
praying  for  the  manifestation 
of  the  ideal,  502 ;  a  mental  being, 
638;  a  member  of  Christ's  body, 
648;  as  spiritual  consciousness, 
1 106;  reflects  Deity,  mo; 
spiritual,  is  God  manifest,  1186 

Manual,  "The  Mother  Church," 
observing,  216;  Mrs.  Eddy 
commands  observance  of,  217; 
instruction    to     students,    751; 


prayer  from,  844;  By-Law, 
"Abide  in  Truth,"  1009;  is 
the  law  of  God,  1 136;  spiritual 
import  of,  11 62 

"Martyrdom,  Mrs.  Stetson's  Call 
to,"  1 156, ff 

Massachusetts  Metaphysical  Col- 
lege,  3-4;  taught  power  and 
supremacy  of  spiritual  thought- 
force,  916;  spiritual  sense 
awakened  in,  1 105 

Materia  Medica,  must  investi- 
gate Christian  Science,  51;  is 
condemned,  73;  Jesus  made 
methods  of,  futile,  80;  on  effects 
of  hatred,  115;  matter-physician 
versus  metaphysician,  965; 
medical  profession,  1036-1045; 
future  of,   1 134 

Material,  conclusions  must  be 
revised  (Retrospection  and  Intro- 
spection), 1;  emergence  from, 
organization,  151- 152;  universe 
unreal,  269;  body,  274;  men- 
talities in  conflict,  274;  ideal 
man  overturns,  world,  1064 

Material  senses  (so-called),  Sci- 
ence reverses,  67;  mortals  ac- 
cept testimony  of,  130;  are 
shadows,  139;  produce  mesmer- 
ic stupor,  155;  destruction  of, 
299 

Mental  suggestion,  how  to  handle, 

745 

Mentality,  the  false,  illusion  of 
material  sense,  62;  putting  off 
the  false,  193;  spiritual,  to  be 
demonstrated,  258;  a  slum,  269; 
disease  from  false,  281;  must 
work  in  spiritual,  337;  carnal, 
is  mortal  so-called  mind,  346; 
false,  laziness,  432;  the  Eve, 
682;  the  material,  is  false,  1033 

Message  to  The  Mother  Church, 
on  personality,  225 

Metaphysics,  demonstrates  di- 
vine democracy,  797;  divine,  as 
taught  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
960;  1 188 

Method,  scholastic,  must  give 
place  to  Christ's,  94;  of  Jesus 
contrary  to  people's,  103;  of 
healing,  124;  of  mental  treat- 
ment and  mental  defense  in  di- 
vine Science,  523-524;  539"545; 


Index 


1 197 


Method — (Continued) 
558;  of  Jesus'   mighty  works, 

639 

Mind  (God),  the  ever-present 
(Science  and  Health),  42;  power 
of,  proved,  45;  harmony  with, 
displaces  material  sense,  49; 
God  fills  thought  with  the  one, 
60;  ideas  see,  feel,  etc.,  64; 
makes  own  heaven,  79;  divine, 
creates  only  good,  92;  our 
birthright,  96;  destroys  sin, 
98;  the  Father's  house  (con- 
sciousness) ,  99 ;  the  only  power, 
121;  putting  on  the  new,  124; 
is  creative  power,  131;  bursts 
bonds  of  sense,  132;  miracles 
done  by,  132;  pure,  attunes  its 
representatives  to  harmony, 
251;  governs  vocal  organs,  252; 
in  Mind,  God  is  one  with  man, 
267;  supreme  over  belief,  281; 
is  health,  holiness,  and  im- 
mortality, 281;  created  the 
universe,  including  man,  287; 
the  only  power  and  presence, 
291 

Miscellaneous  Writings,  "or- 
dained," 25;  Satan,  liar,  109; 
kingdom  of  heaven,  147;  no 
organization  needed,  205;  in- 
finite calculus  of  Spirit,  227; 
on  divine  Love,  233;  spiritual 
sonship,  1058;  belief  and  reality, 
1064;  the  solemn  call,  1090;  in- 
dividual spirituality,  1100;  on 
the  Commandments,  1121-1122; 
Christ  the  divine,  1 123 

Mortal  mind  (so-called) ,  no,  or  cor- 
poreality in  Truth,  258;  enemy 
of  good,  332;  evolves  material 
environment,  345;  never  rises 
to  spiritual  apprehension,  357; 
patterns  Herod,  428;  would 
hold  Leader  in  grave,  497; 
manifestations    explained,    551 

Mortal  thought  (belief),  the 
commander  of  suppositional 
evil,  133;  utter  falsity  of  mortal 
man,  269;  casts  a  shadow,  282; 
immortal  Mind  destroys,  286; 
evolves  discordant  environment, 
345-346;  process  of  putting 
off,  998 

Mother  Church,  The,  dedicated, 


27-29;  building  fund  collected 
for,  38;  grateful  to,  156;  manual 
of,  quoted,  2 10-21 1;  Directors 
of,  wrote  Mrs.  Stetson,  230- 
231;  trial  of  Mrs.  Stetson  by  Di- 
rectors of,  496,  Directors  drop 
from  membership  sixteen  of 
Mrs.  Stetson's  students,  500; 
authority  of  Directors  of,  over 
branch  churches  limited,  517; 
"Findings  and  Orders"  of 
Directors,  531-572 


X 


New  York  City  Christian  Science 
Institute,  143;  members  send 
assurance  to  Mrs.  Eddy,  176 


O 


Ordination,  of  Mrs.  Stetson  (1890), 

Organization,  time  when  material 
church  shall  need  no,  205; 
emergence  from  material,  ac- 
complished, 218;  material,  must 
finally  be  abandoned,  by  whom, 
481;  Mrs.  Stetson's  emergence 
from  material,  495;  experience 
in,  671;  Mrs.  Stetson  comes  out 
from  temporal,  11 75-1 182 

Overflow,  services  abandoned,  203 


Passage,  from  sense  to  Soul,  224; 

347 

Peace  Congress,  in  New  York, 
186-187;  fl&g  presentation,  195 

Personality,  spiritual,  202;  the 
human,  224;  the  infinite,  225; 
human,  versus  spiritual  in- 
dividuality, 226;  false,  227; 
physical  and  spiritual,  818; 
996;  Jesus'  spiritual,  or  in- 
dividuality, 1057;  the  physical, 
1060 

Pharisees,  governed  by  false  men- 
tality, 120 

Physicians,  admit  the  Christ- 
mind  healing,  94 

Pleasant  View  visited  (1897), 
30-31 


1 198 


Index 


Power,    limiting    God's,    93;    of 

food  over  evil,  99;  Mind  alone 
as,  237;  error  seems  to  have, 
266;  secret  of,  of  God's  child, 
271;  of  spiritual  understanding 
proved,  276;  belief  is  not,  279; 
of  Christ-mind  proved  in  heal- 
ing at  First  Church,  341;  there 
is  but  one,  350;  of  spiritualized 
consciousness,  448;  no,  but 
Love,  627;  the  claim  to,  op- 
posed to  God,  775;  to  prove 
oneness  with  God,   1092 

Practitioners,  sixteen,  652 

Preaching,  by  Mrs.  Stetson,  12; 
by  Mrs.  Eddy,  at  Hawthorne 
Hall,  13;  Mrs.  Stetson  appoint- 
ed for,  20;  first  Sermon  by 
Mrs.  Stetson,  41 

Principle,  "Is  God  the  divine 
Principle  or  a  person?"  23; 
condition  of  understanding, 
159;  interprets  phenomena, 
205;  not  obscured  by  mortal- 
mind  argument,  257;  prove, 
266;  334;  our  Father  is,  272; 
the  only  creator,  280;  lifts  its 
steadfast  adherents,  347;  leav- 
ing results  to,  750;  of  divine 
Mind-healing,  1044 


R 


Reality,  found  in  spiritual  con- 
sciousness, 298 

Recognition,  after  belief  of 
death,  301 

Reflection,  we  are  reflectors  of 
good,  284;  spiritual,  manifests 
Mind,  292;  of  Love  as  pro- 
tection from  error,  343 

Reminiscences,  of  Mrs.  Stetson, 
1-40 

Resurrection,  Leader's,  must  be 
ours,  246;  364;  Jesus'  followers 
lost  power  of  Christ's,  1127 


Scholastic,  methods,  94,  Theology, 

115 
Science  and  Health,  regarding  ma- 
teria  medica,  95;    God  speaks 
through,  119;  demonstration  of , 
is,  "Immanuel,    or    God   with 


us,"  128;  Resurrection,  140-141; 
definition  of  Church,  155;  self- 
government,  213;  God's  de- 
mands, 267;  man  reflects  divine 
power,  545;  the  Comforter,  721; 
subordination  of  human  will, 
789;  eternal  Life  proved,  803; 
Tenets,  847 ;  on  divine  origin  of 
Jesus,  993;  man's  immortality, 
1002;  earth  and  woman,  1004; 
misuse  of  mental  power,  1029; 
teaching  children,  1042-1043; 
Spirit,  "the  great  First  Cause," 
1067;  mortals  not  God's  chil- 
dren, 1080;  death nota  stepping- 
stone  to  Spirit,  1088;  Christian 
Science  and  Scriptures,  1 144; 
1 1 70;  to  be  spiritually  inter- 
preted, 1 176 
Science  (or  suffering),  necessary 
to  prove  nothingness  of  matter, 

273. 
Scientific     statement     of     being, 

293 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, New  York  City,  organized 
(1890,33 

Sensualism,  must  never  sink  into 
the  darkness  of,  260;  sensuous 
appetite  brings  death,  313 

Sentinel,  Christian  Science,  quoted ; 
Leader's  request  to  build  on 
spiritual  foundation,  216;  790; 
miscellaneous  quotations,  830; 
902;  956;  981;  Father-Mother 
God,  1 105 

Sermons  and  Public  Addresses, 
by  Mrs.  Stetson,  41-158;  on 
Love,  41-53;  on  Divine  Wis- 
dom, 57-75;  on  Christ-mind 
Healing,  75-89;  on  Spiritual 
Illumination,  89-102;  on  "The 
Son  Hath  Power,"  1 02-1 13; 
on  "His  Sheep  Hear  His 
Voice,"  1 13-127;  on  "Christ's 
Second  Coming,"  128-140 

Spirit,  lifts  out  of  sense  into  Soul, 
240 

Spiritual,  perception,  35;  domin- 
ion, 70-71;  discernment,  79, 
334;  man,  83;  revelation,  86, 
217,  499;  sermon  on,  illumina- 
tion, 89-102;  realization,  107- 
108;  sense,  119,  126;  dominion, 
125;  significance  of   Composite 


Index 


1 199 


Spiritual — (Continued) 

Letter,  216;  development,  217; 
freedom,  218;  individuality,  226; 
idea  in  Christian  Science,  227; 
thought  our  house,  234;  sense 
excludes  discord,  235;  atmos- 
phere peopled  with,  ideas, 
239-240;  consciousness,  a  holy 
habitation,  245;  individualities, 
God's  avenues,  255;  man's 
divinity,  256;  resurrection  into, 
consciousness,  256;  secret  of, 
power,  257;  love  reaches  untold 
numbers,  276;  is  the  only  exist- 
ence, 282 ;  consciousness  brings 
dominion,  285;  understanding 
in  demonstration,  292;  con- 
sciousness expressed  in  Christ, 
296;  only  in,  consciousness  can 
we  find  our  reality,  298;  con- 
sciousness, man's  birthright, 
315;  unfoldment,  317;  work  in, 
mental,  337;  meaning  of  word 
"home,"  368;  interpretation, 
495;  pioneers  for  "wholly 
spiritual"  consciousness,  496; 
thought  force,  498;  standard  in 
church  organization,  534; 
thought,  554;  sense,  620;  621; 
building,  699;  atmosphere,  759; 
illumination,  811;  judge  all 
things,  1064;  quicken  humanity 
by,  instruction,  1 105- 1 106 

Stetson,  Mrs.  Augusta  E.,  preach- 
er, teacher,  and  practitioner, 
vii;  chronicles  experiences, 
viii;  climbing  hill  of  Christian 
Science,  ix;  a  pioneer  of 
Christian  Science,  ix;  striving 
for  spiritual  freedom,  xi;  eter- 
nal Life  goal  of,  xiii;  one  desire 
paramount,  xiii;  bursting  the 
shell  of  fruitless  faith,  xiii; 
"teaches  by  healing  and  heals 
by  teaching,"  10 ;  Mrs.  Eddy 
requests  account  of  cases,  10; 
writes  to  Christian  Science 
Journal,  n-12;  preaches  at 
Mrs.  Eddy's  request,  12-13; 
asked  by  Mrs.  Eddy  to  go  to 
New  York,  14;  lectures  at 
Reading,  15;  visited  Mrs.  Eddy 
at  Brookline  (1908),  16;  taken 
to  drive  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  16-17; 
memorable  benediction  in  Mrs. 


Eddy's  room,  18;  summers  in 
White  Mountains,  19;  goes  to 
New  York  (Nov.,  1886),  19; 
first  Service  in  New  York 
(Dec,  1887),  20;  conducts  ser- 
vices at  various  places,  21-22; 
ordained  pastor,  First  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 
City  (1890),  24-26;  preaches 
three  years  from  manuscript,  25 ; 
takes  students  to  Concord,  32- 
33;  proved  loyalty  to  Leader, 
38;  Dedicatory  Address  by, 
140-158;  Thanksgiving  Testi- 
mony of,  153-158;  does  not 
fear  misrepresentation,  162;  at- 
tempts of  the  "enemy  of  good  " 
to  separate, from  Mrs.  Eddy,  19 1 ; 
sends  Mrs.  Eddy  letters  from 
25  practitioners,  215;  resigns 
from  Board  of  Trustees  of  First 
Church,  229-230;  praying  al- 
ways for  student-body,  246; 
abandoned  conventionalities 
of  society,  340;  forbidden  to 
teach  and  practise  Christian 
Science,  346;  absorbed  in 
Christian  Science  for  25  years, 
349;  preacher,  pastor,  and 
reader  in  First  Church  in 
New  York,  352-353;  explains 
the  Leader's  reappearing,  359; 
declares  allegiance  to  Principle, 
Leader,  and  students,  365 ;  gifts 
from  students  for  furnishing 
home  of,  370,  374,  394;  ex- 
presses appreciation  of  Church 
Choir,  398-400;  arduous  work, 
401-402;  protects  self  and 
church  against  malpractice, 
487;  defended  her  convictions 
of  present  immortality  and 
mental  practice,  which  were  de- 
nounced by  Board  of  Directors 
of  The  Mother  Church,  495: 
differences  indicate  beginning  of 
new  era  in  Christ's  Christianity, 
496;  states  position  as  against 
Directors,  499-500;  has  taught 
Truth,  501;  case  of,  before  Di- 
rectors, 507-509 ;  report  of  Com- 
mittee of  Inquiry  endorsing 
teaching  and  practice  of,  519- 
530;  explains  "Findings  and 
Orders,"    531-573;     Letters    to 


1200 


Index 


Stetson,  Mrs.  Augusta  E. 

— (Continued) 
Church  Officials,  574-606;  re- 
affirms faith  in  Leader's  demon- 
stration, 970-985;  criticism  in 
Current  Literature,  1156-1160 

Students,  Mrs.  Stetson's  fidelity 
to,  365;  of  Mrs.  Stetson  demon- 
strate Truth,  383;  are  Love's 
avenues,  384 

Suffering,  as  means  of  learning 
nothingness  of  matter,  273; 
brings  out  true  sense,  288; 
destroys  false  claim,  290;  out 
of  flesh,  609-610 


Teachers,  National  Christian  Sci- 
entists Association  of,  177-178 

Theology,  the  theme  of,  76;  being 
weighed  in  God's  balances,  137 

Thought-force,  598,  710,  723; 
power  and  supremacy  of,  916; 
spiritual,  dispels  false  phenom- 
ena, 1 165 

Therapeutics,  spiritual  mental, 
912 

Trial,  of  Mrs.  Stetson  before 
Board  of  Directors  of  The 
Mother  Church,  effect  of,  496 

Trustees,  eight  of  the  nine,  of 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, New  York,  stand  with 
Mrs.  Stetson,  on  spiritual  inter- 
pretation of  Science  and  Health 
and  mental  practice,  20-21 

Trustees  (Board  of),  report  of, 
503-531 ;  Mrs.  Stetson's  resigna- 
tion from  (Nov.  22,  1909), 
603;  Resolution  of,  605-606 

Truth,  calls  to  humanity,  86;  an 
infallible  antidote  for  a  lie,  91; 
annuls  disease,  99;  opposes 
material  worship,  127;  altera- 
tive influence  of,  131-132;  no 
mortal  mind  in,  258;  and  Love 
reconstruct  the  body,  263;  stirs 


carnal  qualities,  267;  sets  free 
from  illusions,  273;  obedience 
to,  builds  "house  not  made 
with  hands,"  276;  remanded 
mortal  man  to  dust,  548;  is  be- 
hind the  shadows,  782;  handle 
claim  of  evil  with,  782;  Life, 
and  Love,  the  only  causation, 
971;  as  omnipotent  law,  978; 
not  forever  hidden,  992;  de- 
mands of,  1033;  as  a  mental 
force,  1033;  man  in  image  of, 
1 051;  mortal  man  cannot  wit- 
ness for,  1054;  eternal  energies 
of,  1 1 16 

U 

Understanding  (spiritual),  de- 
stroys fear,  234;  makes  unreality 
of  belief,  256;  is  life,  282;  is 
home  of  Christian  Scientists, 
368;  regarded  as  oil  in  lamps, 
497;  imparts  peace,  1128 

Unfolding,  mental,  described,  398 


Volume,  Reminiscences,  Sermons, 
and  Correspondence,  will  ful- 
fil mission,  x 

W 

Weather,  thought  expressed  in 
phenomena,  255 

"Wholly  Spiritual,"  building 
enjoined,  591;  consciousness, 
653,  700;  the  way  into,  con- 
sciousness, 687;  foundation,  708 

Will,  of  God  antagonizes  so-called 
human  will,  659 

Woman  Suffrage,  equal  rights  and 
privileges,  710-713 

Word,  Jesus  healed  by  the,  104; 
potency  of  the,  no;  554; 
meaning  of  the,  117;  a  vital 
force,  1005 

World,  feels  the  neutralizing  ef- 
fect of  Truth,  260 


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